More than Jams and Pies

“Now there were some Greeks (Greek God-fearers) who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip came and told Andres; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. And Jesus answer them, saying, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” (John 12:20-23 [NASB])

I remember going to a farm and picking berries when I was a child. A few times mom and I picked strawberries, and other times we picked blackberries. Just thinking about them-puncturing their skin with my teeth and the sweet juice bursting across my taste buds-was enough reason to want to get to the farm quickly. With that idea on my mind, I and sure I ate half the berries in the first fifteen minutes I picked. I did not think of what more I could do with them. I just wanted to taste those sun-ripened berries in my mouth immediately.

This same idea applies to the Greek God-fearers in John 12:20-21. They had heard about Jesus and the miraculous things He did and taught, so they wanted to see Him. These Greeks approached Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples, and said just that. He said, “We want to see Jesus.” They did not mentally fathom God had a greater meaning to Jesus’ life on earth. These Greeks wished just to see this famous man-teacher and miracle-worker.

Jesus’ reply to Andrew and Philip, when they told Him about the Greeks, seems not to answer what these two men said to Him. He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” What?! How does Jesus’ statement relate to the what Andrew and Philip told Him? Look again at what Jesus said and for what the men asked. The Greeks literally wanted to see Jesus. They did not seek Him as the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the Messiah. These Greeks did not see Jesus’ purpose beyond His earthly life. They were not the only ones. The Jews who laid palms on the ground as the donkey carrying Jesus trod into Jerusalem saw Him as a warrior King who would take back the lands Israel had lost since Solomon’s reign (vs 13). Before that, Judas did misunderstand the symbolic significance of Mary washing Jesus’ feet with perfume (vs. 1-8). He saw the act as wasteful. The crowd of Jews went to see the man (Jesus) who raised Lazarus from the dead (vs. 9). The chief priests saw Jesus as interfering their leading the Jews (vs. 10) Each of these individuals and groups of people only saw the man, Jesus. They did not look beyond the immediate to the eternal and spiritual purpose of His life on earth.

Going back to our berry picking analogy, if when I picked berries, I thought ahead to the jams and pies I could make with them, that is, if I looked beyond the berries themselves to what they could become, I might have been able to take more home for future purposes. A similar thing could have occurred to each of the people in John 12. If they had looked beyond the body of the man, Jesus, beyond their blinders and biases, they could have seen Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God, and the Messiah. These people would have believed, and Jesus would have saved them from their sins and into eternal life with God. Instead, they just saw the miracle-worker, teacher, and man. These people saw what their earthly eyes saw and nothing more. They did not look at Jesus through spiritual eyes. The Greeks and Jews wanted the Messiah but did not expect Him yet or did not expect Him to be in the form in which He arrived.

Because of this, Jesus answered the request by the Greek God-fearers to see Him with verse twenty-three. He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” People clamored to see Jesus, but they did not see accurately. When a person sees the truth about Jesus Christ, then he or she will lay down his or her right to his or her life, just as Jesus did. That means they will die to themselves and live following and serving Jesus, so they will bear fruit. They will live as Jesus did, so that all people may come to know Jesus truly, in heart, mind, and spirit. When people follow and serve Him instead of seeking their own way, those people abide with Christ and the Father, and the Father will honor them.

Berry picking is much more significant than just getting the berries from the plant into our mouths. Seeing Jesus is much more significant than recognizing Him. Seeing Jesus should cause us to see who He is as the Christ and what His purpose is for now and the future then following and serving Him. The hour has come for Him to be glorified in us.

The pies and jams cannot get made if we eat all the berries when we first touch them. Jesus is more than just for now, the moment we first see Him. God has a plan for more than one moment. His plan is for eternity because of His love for each of us. See beyond the first moment with the berries. Make jams and pies, then share them with your neighbors and friends. Jesus is for everyone. Share Him with your neighbors and friends.

“And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.’” (John 12:44-45 [NASB])

Hide and Seek

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2 [NASB])

I remember as a child playing hide and seek. The biggest fear I had then was being found. Sometimes those hiding places became hideouts as I got older and faced hard realities of my young life. Eventually, as an adult, I found other places to hide. At first, as a child, I hid to play a game. Next, hiding was not a game, but a life-preserving action.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about fear and hope. He had just told them during their supper that one of them would betray Him and the others would desert Him. The disciples anxiously looked around, wondering who the betrayer was about whom Jesus spoke and fearing what Jesus said about their desertion. Would they run to a hiding place?

Jesus began this chapter with the words, “Do not let you heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me” (14:1). He ended the chapter giving them peace, reminding them they could not get true peace from the world, and explaining He will do the Father’s work even though it seemed scary.

The men would go hide after the soldiers took Jesus to the Jewish leaders. Their hiding places would not hide them for long because they’d have to face the reality of what was occurring to their Teacher, the Son of God. Yet, Jesus offered them a place of permanent refuge at the beginning of this consoling chapter. The peace they could get from the world was fleeting, and what it offered them during that time would not give them unending protection. Jesus’ peace does not fade or fluctuate with eras or epochs. The disciples could find it only in Jesus and in God’s house of many rooms.

That game of hide and seek I played as a child helped me realize I needed and wanted a place of solace. I carried that need and want for solace with me as I grew and faced the realities of life. Sometimes this seeking enabled me to find ephemeral peace. I eventually understood these hiding places and the peace found in them are transitory. Enduring peace can only be found in God’s dwelling places within His house. Only in this place can I find His peace. I would not have to flee my hiding place and run to safety before being tagged. Living in God’s house with His peace is my place of safety, my shelter in the storm.

No matter how old you are, you play a form of hide and seek. Sometimes you hide from your past and other times you hide from frightening current realities that assault your senses and steal your peace. As you hear Jesus knocking on your heart’s door, your sense of panic may rise. Perhaps, you do not want to let Him in. You fear to change from what you know, even though living often brings fear and panic to your heart. Possibly, you try to hide from Jesus, but He knows where you are. Jesus sees you. He loves you and offers the best anyone could ever have or need.

Unlike the game you played as a child where the finder determinedly searched to find you and broke into your safe hiding place, Jesus does not force Himself into your heart. “Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful,” He said (14:27). Jesus offers His peace, the lasting true peace that comes from knowing and being in a relationship with Him. He offers His hiding place, a place in His Father’s house where no evil, frightening, or peace-stealing thing can take you from His hand.

Jesus prepared a place for you in His Father’s house. You will never have to run to safety. You will already be safe in the Father’s house. Make Him the sole source of your peace. Accept His offer of life in the Father’s house.

“You are my hiding place. You preserve me from trouble. You surround me with sons of deliverance. Selah. [Stop and think about that.]”  (Psalm 32:7 [NASB])

Chosen

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” (John 15:16 [NASB])

This Bible verse reminds me of when I was a child playing with the other children on our street. About 14 of us would get together after school and on weekends to play in the front yards of each neighbor. Sometimes, we would play football, ride our bikes, skate, skateboard, and play hopscotch or hide and seek. No yard was out of bounds. We had a carefree time just being kids, except for one thing. Choosing sides for the teams. I don’t know about you, but I was always nervous about the choosing of teammates. I was afraid a team captain would not choose me until last, when one of them had to choose me. For my fragile ego, this fear overrode the anticipation of fun.

Jesus explains throughout the Gospels that before He came to walk on the earth and we had the chance to hear, see, and be with Him, He loved us. Jesus loved us enough to lay aside the comforts of His heavenly home to live with us. That speaks volumes. What speaks louder to the child still in me is that Jesus chose me. He did not have to say, “Eeny meeny miny, mo.” I was not the first or the last, but I was chosen; I am chosen. What makes this child melt into God’s arms is what Jesus said in verse fifteen. He said, “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Not only am I chosen, but I am His friend. An endearing title.

Time still remains for people to accept Jesus’ calling of their name to be on His team. No one will be the last chosen by Him until His return to earth to take His followers to His kingdom. Jesus will call His “friends” at that time to follow Him. He will make them perfect and complete. Right now, the captains stand opposite each other and call out the names of people to be on their teams. Only two options exist. Towards which captain will you walk and make your allegiance, Jesus or self?

Triumphant Freedom

Overview of Earlier Colossians Bible Studies

Through the first eleven Bible studies of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ve learned of the background of the letter to the Colossians and have studied Colossians 1:1-2:10. The study called Background of Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae taught us about the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of Asia minor that affected the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. We learned how Paul identified himself and Timothy with the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea and helped those Christians identify with them in the Bible study titled Identification. In the Bible study called Thanksgiving in Colossians, Paul thanked God for the Christians in these cities. He continued his prayer, as studied in Glorious Might, by asking God to give the Colossian and Laodicean churches His spiritual wisdom and understanding so they would bear fruit in good works. Paul continued to intercede for the believers to God asking Him to strengthen them with power, steadfastness, and patience, and that they joyously give thanks to Him.

In Colossians 1:13-20, Paul told about God and Jesus Christ, and how Jesus’s sacrifice is enough for salvation. He taught in the study titled Snatched and Delivered that the Father is the one who rescues believers and transfers them to Jesus for salvation. Paul explained Christology in Colossians 1:15-20. Jesus is the exact embodiment of the Godhead, Paul informed them, as written about in Superabundant Peace. The study titled Attaining Hope covers Colossians 1:21-23 and shows how Paul used if… then clauses  as a teaching tool. With this technique, he explained who the Christians were before their salvation by Jesus and then what Jesus would do if they exercised the faith God gave them. If the people would believe in Jesus, He would save them from their sins and death. Paul continued speaking about God in Colossians 1:24-29. In this passage, he told of his calling by Jesus and his stewardship to God. Paul explained that Jesus told him to proclaim the “mystery of God,” Jesus Christ is for all people, not just for the Jews. Jesus died to cleanse people from their sins and give salvation from sin and death to each person who trusts in Him. Paul taught God calls to people with gentle persuasion. Later he would contrast the way and purpose of God’s calling with the false teachers’ method of proclamation. The study titled God's Power and Gentle Persuasion teaches about Colossians 1:24-29.

In Colossians 2:1-5, Paul returned to a favorite topic of his, rejoicing while or because of suffering. In this passage, he showed his pastoral care and concern for the Colossian and Laodicean Christians as noted in the Bible study titled Rejoicing During Trials. Paul encouraged the Christians to stand strong and unified in love so they would attain “to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, Jesus Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3 [NASB]). He taught this so the false teachers would not trick the Christians with persuasive arguments and would not delude them about the surety of their salvation and their hope of glory. Paul continued to remind the Colossian and Laodicean churches of their salvation by Jesus through faith in Him. In Overflowing Gratefulness, He told these believers that because they trusted in Jesus and received salvation from Him, they could know they were rooted firmly in Him. Paul told them that though their salvation was in the past, they were to continue being rooted in Christ, being built up, and being established in their faith. These present continuous verbs showed growth as a Christian happens throughout a person’s life and comes from an active staying in a close relationship with God. Salvation happens at a point in time, but growth and sanctification should be the continuous aim of each believer.

With Colossians 2:8-10, Paul taught more about the “mystery of God” of which he wrote in Colossians 1:26. He taught in depth about the philosophical thoughts the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea faced in Colossians 2:8-10. Paul taught that the false teachers proclaimed human, empty, and deceptive philosophies that came from the elementary principles of the world. He contrasted them with Christ’s teachings that came from His full divinity and made believers complete. Paul wrote Jesus Christ is head over all rule and authority. The Bible study called Freedom from Deception teaches about this passage.

The Fullness of Christ in Believers

With Colossians 2:11-15, Paul explained about the completion Jesus gives. He taught in six statements what each believer receives through the fullness of Christ when He completes him or her. The surety of salvation through and power from Jesus, through His indwelling Spirit, gives each Christian the ability to reject teachings of philosophy from men and women that offer nothing compared to the superabundant fullness, the completion and perfection, that comes from Christ.

Spiritual Circumcision occurs by Jesus Christ

“… and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision (performed by) of Christ.” (Colossians 2:11 [NASB])

This verse written by Paul speaks of one law Moses gave to the Israelites, the circumcision of a son on the eighth day of his life. Paul brought this up to highlight two important things about the Colossian and Laodicean Christians and each Gentile believer; they were not Jews. They did not have the privilege of sonship or daughtership of God under the Mosaic law. Gentiles are not part of the people of God because of their non-Hebrew lineage. From this, the Gentile people understood they were outside the law and outside God’s old covenant. Twice in chapters one and two, Paul told them of the mystery he received from God to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. In these two Bible passages, people can understand the salvation from Jesus is for each person born in and outside the people of Israel.

When we look at the Greek words of this verse, we realize Paul meant, “In Christ, you also received the sign of circumcision from Him that shows your dedication to Him, your eradicating the fleshly desires with His power and strength, and His removal of your sins. God, not man, does this circumcision. Instead of the foreskin being removed, God removes the from the body the human nature that alienates each person from Him.” Each Gentile experienced alienation from God in two ways, by non-Jewish birth (covenant) and by fleshly sins (law). Yet, Christ, by His death and resurrection, made a relationship with God possible for each person who lives. Because Gentile Christians had not received circumcision by human hands, that did not mean they needed it when they became Christians. Paul said their God circumcised their hearts when they trusted in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God.

Jesus, with His death and resurrection, broke down the two walls between God and Gentiles, the walls of ancestry and sin. His death and resurrection provides the circumcision each believer needs to be in a covenant relationship with God. God gave the Mosaic law to lead people to Him. The Messianic covenant provides access to and relationship with God through salvation and reconciliation. The Mosaic law did not reconcile people to God. Sacrifices required in it did not remove a person’s sins and empower them to avoid sin. It reminded them of their sinfulness, but they still felt guilt for those sins.

With verse eleven, Paul taught against the false teachers who reasoned that the body and all material things were evil and all things spiritual were good. To them, circumcision and uncircumcision did not matter in the long run since it occurred to the body. To say Jesus gave a spiritual circumcision was laughable to them since Jesus lived in bodily form and, in their minds, was not God.

Spiritual Circumcision is Baptism

“… having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12 [NASB])

With verse twelve, Paul used a death-resurrection metaphor to explain how a believer’s spiritual circumcision is their baptism in Christ. The two actions of dying/being buried and then rising to new life relate to immersion baptism and circumcision. Immersion baptism, going down into water and then rising above it, is dying to self and rising to Christ.

When a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation, that person dies to him or herself, to fleshly, human desires, and rises to newness of life given through Him. This reflects Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection to life. Baptism symbolizes this death and new life. The spiritual circumcision Christ gives is His removing the sins of each person, those who die to his or her right to him or herself, from the sin-hardened heart. That reflects the dying to self and gaining new life in Christ when He removes the hard part. The removal of sins from each believer allows a right relationship with God. Jesus reconciles that believer to God.

Each person knows he or she sins. He or she carries the guilt of it. When the person faces his or her sinfulness, the guilt weighs on him or her. A person’s recognition of his or her sin and feeling the weight of that burden separating him or her from God is the way a person shares in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Jesus carried the weight of each person’s sins. The believer bore the weight of his or her sins. Jesus’ death took the weight of sin away and the person’s repentance, getting right with God, took the weight off him or herself. (Galatians 2:20 speaks of Paul’s understanding of being crucified with Christ and living his life with Christ living in him.) This reflects the initial part of baptism and circumcision, carrying of the weight of sins, realizing one’s separation from God.

Paul taught repentance and dying to self is a person’s burial together with Christ. The next part of immersion baptism, going down into the water, reflects repentance and giving up one’s right to his or her life to God for His purposes. Spiritual circumcision of the heart conveys the same thing. Only Jesus can do both actions-spiritual baptism and spiritual circumcision. He will not demand them, but only does this upon a person giving his or her life to Him.

Jesus’ resurrection expresses another part of baptism and circumcision, the arising. With baptism, a person must rise from the water after being immersed in it. This rising up is rising to new life in Christ. Just as Jesus came back to life after bodily death, a believer comes to life after being dead because of sins. The spiritual circumcision Christ gives to each believer is the removing of the hardened skin from his or her heart that occurred because of sin and gave a hardened heart. With spiritual circumcision, the heart can beat with God’s heart and will.

Both spiritual baptism and spiritual circumcision express the new life Christ gives by His victory over sin and death. Jesus victoriously reigns and gives each believer this victory upon repentance and death to his or her old way of living. The Christian lives a new life in God’s will with His wisdom, knowledge, power, and strength through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Spiritual circumcision and spiritual baptism are synonymous. They express death to the old way of living and resurrection to new life in Christ. This Christian life continues throughout the person’s lifetime. It begins at the moment in time when a person trusts in Jesus as Savior and repents of his or her sins. It carries on throughout the person’s life as he or she lives growing to know God more and become made more in the image of Christ each day. Christ will perfect the person upon entrance into His kingdom upon the Christian’s death. Until then, each Christian has the fullness of Jesus available to live each day walking with Him and growing to be more like Him. Paul made sure Gentiles knew Christ died for them, too, by his declaring the mystery of God, salvation for all people through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Paul taught that the false teachers of that time did not understand bodies could return to life. They considered bodies evil. These false teachers thought each person’s goal was to rise to a state of spirituality. Bodies were unable to be spiritual. Since this was impossible, in their reasoning, Jesus could not save people from death or sins. Paul taught otherwise when He said God raised Jesus from the dead and His death and resurrection allows His followers to have resurrection life.

Covenant Relationship comes by Jesus

“When you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him (Christ)…” (Colossians 2:13a [NASB])

Once again, Paul returned to what had been the Colossian and Laodicean Christians’ obstacles to having a relationship with God. They were not Hebrews, and they were sinners. Paul said, because they had these two barriers between themselves and God, they were dead. This “dead” Paul used means spiritually dead and not devoted to God, but to sinning. From verses eleven and twelve, we understand the Colossians and Laodiceans were not Jews before becoming followers of Jesus. They were uncircumcised Gentiles. Because of that, they were not in a covenant relationship with God. These Christians were dead because of their sins and uncircumcision before they believed in Jesus Christ. They had been hostile to God because they and separated themselves from His divine influence. Yet, God had a plan. He made them and each person who believed in Jesus alive through Christ.

Nothing the Gentiles were able to do would earn them a reprieve from their just punishment. Nothing could make them Jews. They had a double strike against them. It seemed to obstruct any possible relationship with God. Those human issues did not stop God. He loves each person. God had a plan to reestablish a relationship with each person since before He created the world.

With this verse, Paul aimed at the false teachers in Colossae and Laodicea. As stated earlier, they did not believe in bodily resurrection. These teachers also did not believe God intervened in the lives of people. He was too distant from humanity. For them, God was always transcendent, never imminent. Yet, Paul taught God wants a relationship with each person, about which the Gnostics scoffed. The Christians in these two cities received this reminder from Paul so they would stand strong in their faith.

Assured Forgiveness comes through Christ

“… having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13b-14 [NASB])

In this verse, Paul wrote of two things Christ gives superabundantly to His believers. Christ gives assurance of forgiveness and He gives freedom from the law. Jesus forgives a believer of his or her sins. He cancels the debt certificate of sin. Jesus Christ erases the judgment against the Christian the law requires.

The separation from God for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea had occurred because of sins and ancestry, Paul said. God’s plan made a way for that to change because He loves each person. Did this plan involve people doing certain things to receive forgiveness? Did sacrifices make a person clean from sin forever and remove the guilt from those sins? Can a person do enough good things to erase the rebellious actions he or she has done? Nothing any person can do will ever be enough to erase his or her sins and remove the guilt to provide a sinlessness that will allow him or her to be in the presence of holy God.

Paul explained how God made Christians alive with Christ. For each person who trusts in Him, He raises them to new life without sin. God forgives the transgressions of each person who believes in Jesus Christ. This forgiveness Paul spoke of comes from the Greek word charizomai and means to favor, pardon, and show grace. Because God wanted renewed relationship with each person and holy God will not be where sin is, just as light cannot be where darkness is, He freely showed His favor to people by granting forgiveness upon their belief and repentance of sins. God knew nothing a person can do can erase the judgment for sins, so He showed His favor towards people. Paul explained this to the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. God favored them and showed them grace.

Jesus’ love enacted through His sinless life, excruciating death on the cross, and resurrection provides total forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Paul said, though ancestry and sins alienated the Colossian and Laodicean Christians from Him, God’s love made a way for them to have a saving and righteous relationship with Him. Their deadness due to sins and ancestry kept these people from life. Yet, their death to sin by faith in Christ made them alive.

This forgiveness of sins by Jesus’ death and resurrection “canceled out the certificate of debt comprising decrees against” them, Paul said. Just as when a person promises to pay a financial debt and signs it, so a moral debt causes a decree of judgment against a person unless repaid. Yet, a person cannot repay moral debt because no sinless person exists to pay the sinner’s debt.  Nothing any person can do, say, or think is good enough for repayment because it would come from a sinful person. Paul explained this in Romans 3:23 when he said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [NASB]. Anything a person offers to repay the sin debt is tainted by sin. For these debts, decrees (laws) declare the guilt of people, just as the Mosaic law did. These decrees are against every person. They declare his or her sinfulness. No person can be sinless in his or her own strength. But God, in His love, forgives each person and cancels (erases, obliterates) the certificate of debt against each person who trusts in Jesus Christ. Though God meant for the Mosaic laws to lead people to Him, they reminded each person of his or her sins. People carry the guilt since they are unable to be sinless in their own strength.

Jesus Christ did not just erase the debt of sin; He nailed it to the cross. Christ caused their sins and guilt to die. He carried the sins of all people to the cross. Jesus bore the burden of those sins in Himself. He canceled the sin debt for each person who would believe in Him by dying to him or herself. A believer’s dying to him or herself is dying with Christ in His sufferings. That person puts off the old fleshly ways of living and rises with newness in Christ. He or she rises with His power to defeat temptations and His cleansing to be in relationship with God.

For the Christians Paul wrote to in this letter, he taught them they can know they have forgiveness of sins and a relationship with God because Jesus the Christ walked on earth, died, and rose from the dead.  His death canceled their sin debt. The decrees that held them in debt, bondage to this life, no longer had a hold on them. Jesus victoriously rose from the grave and broke those bonds. He paid the judgment penalty for each person’s sins, so sin and death no longer would have hold on them.

Paul wanted the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea to know the empty and deceitful philosophizing by men held no weight. This philosophizing was wrong because Jesus was a man and is fully God. His body did not stay in the grave, but defeated death, sin, and earthly decrees so that each person who trusts in Him would have a relationship with God. The Gnostics thought of God only as transcendent. They taught people are unable to ascend to the level of God and have a relationship with Him. Paul taught God always wanted a relationship with people. Ancestry and sin do not thwart His plans and desires. Jesus Christ gave the Colossian and Laodicean Christians, and all who believe in Him, access to God, as Romans 5:2 and Ephesians 2:18 say. The Gnostics taught sins occur because all material things are evil, including the body. Instead, a person can try to rise to the spiritual plane, they reasoned. These Gnostics taught that God did not interact with people. Paul taught that God loves people very much and wants to have a relationship with them. God made this possible through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Freedom from Demonic Powers comes from Christ

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Colossians 2:15 [NASB])

In this verse, Paul wrote of another thing Christ gives superabundantly from His fullness to His followers. Jesus Christ gives His victory over demonic powers to Christians. In the first part of verse fifteen, Paul said Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities.” With His death and resurrection, Jesus proclaimed His victory over demonic powers. This means He defeated demonic rulers and authorities and completely stripped them from people He claims for Himself. Jesus emphatically denounced these rulers and authorities before God and other beings. Christ claims the lives of each person who trusts in Him. He makes His power available to them so they can have victory over these rulers and authorities. His victory came in other ways, too. As part of the Godhead, Jesus created all things. As Creator and Redeemer, He is the most powerful of all beings. These demonic powers (rulers and authorities) have no ultimate power over each person who believes in Jesus Christ. Jesus gives the ability to defeat demonic powers from His fullness to His people so they can stand against rulers and authorities. God’s fullness for us is more than visible, tangible things like food and wealth. It includes spiritual power, surety, and victory.

Paul continued in this verse by saying Jesus made a “public display” of these rulers and authorities. He paraded them, as an example, in front of witnesses. Consider the young man who had many demons living in him. Jesus cast the legion out of him into a herd of swine (Mark 5:1-17). Jesus has and makes available to believers the ability to resist demonic powers. Through Him, Christians can have victory over them. Jesus took it a step further and said his public display of these demonic powers included a triumphal procession, a parade, celebrating God’s victory over them through His death. He conquered them as their supreme head and Creator and as the Redeemer of humanity.

The Colossians and Laodiceans had Christ’s victorious power available to them to defeat the demonically influenced teachers. Jesus gave it to them from His superabundance, from His fullness. Jesus will make Christians perfect when they get to heaven. They will have fullness on earth now because Jesus already has the victory over all beings, including evil powers. The Gnostics taught a spiritual lesson contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These false teachers allowed Satan to confuse and convince them of the rightness of this philosophy. They did not exercise the faith God gives each person to believe in Jesus. Instead, they took the rational way because of Satan’s deception. These false teachers philosophized and taught this deception, hoping to lead people away from Jesus and gain followers for themselves. The Christians in Colossae and Laodicea could have Christ’s strength and victory over these false teachers. They could proclaim triumphantly with Christ of their freedom from sin, the law, and demonic powers.

Thoughts to Consider

            Paul warned the Colossae and Laodicean Christians in verse eight about the trickery of the false teachers’ lessons concerning spirituality. Do not fall prey to secular wisdom, he told them. With verses nine and ten, Paul reminded these Christians, with a more focused lens, about Jesus having all the fullness of the deity. Because of that, Jesus makes perfect each person who believes in Him. He gives from His fullness, just like He gives His wisdom, knowledge, strength, etc. Jesus Christ gives from His fullness to make each person full (perfect/complete) and keep them growing toward perfection. The perfection the Gnostics taught was not true perfection. Only Jesus can make a person complete because He reigns over all rule and authority and is the Creator of everything that is. Because of who Jesus is, Christians can know with absolute certainty that all the fullness of Christ is available through the Holy Spirit to them. This means circumcision by human hands does not give salvation. God makes spiritual circumcision available for all people for those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent, and die to themselves. All other teachings and proclamations come from human reasoning and do not provide salvation or a relationship with God. Believers in Jesus Christ can know they are part of the new covenant with God. Because of this covenant with God, Christians realize they have forgiveness of sins and freedom from the law. Jesus canceled the sin debt certificate and judgment against each person who believes. He is supreme head, Creator, and Redeemer, He disarmed the rulers and authorities, the demonic powers. Each person who trusts in Jesus has this same power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her to combat these beings who teach and go against God’s truths. Christ’s fullness is available to each believer through the Holy Spirit to teach what each needs to know and to remind of all Jesus said.

Questions:

• Is there a teaching you have heard that keeps you from believing in Jesus?
• If not a teaching, what keeps you from trusting Jesus Christ as the Savior who died for your sins and offers you eternal life in a right relationship with God?
• As a believer, do you feel you are fighting a losing battle? Remember, you have the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Conqueror of rulers and authorities, available for you to stand strong against those demonic beings.
• If you are a Christian, what keeps you from telling other people about Jesus, the One who died so all humankind can receive cleansing from sin, cancellation of sin’s debt, and relationship with God?

For next week, re-read all of Colossians 2 and pay close attention to verses 16-19.

“Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize…” (Colossians 2:18a [NASB])

Freedom from Deception

Overview of Earlier Colossians Bible Studies

Without going into too much detail, before this Bible study, which covers Colossians 2:8-10, we studied the background of the Letter to the Colossians and from Colossians 1:1 to Colossians 2:7 through ten different Bible studies. The study titled Background of Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae taught us about the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of Asia minor that affected the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. Identification helped us understand who Paul and Timothy were and how they identified with the Colossians and Laodiceans. This helped the Christians there understand and identify with them. The Bible study titled Thanksgiving in Colossians explained Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for these Christians. Paul continued his prayer for these Christians in Colossians 1:9-12, as we studied in Glorious Might. In these verses, Paul asked God to give the believers the knowledge of His will with His spiritual wisdom and understanding so they would please Him by bearing fruit in good works. He asked, too, that God would strengthen them with power, steadfastness, and patience and that they joyously give thanks to Him.

In Colossians 1:13-20, Paul began telling about God, Jesus Christ, and how Jesus is enough for salvation. In Snatched and Delivered, he taught that the Father is the one who rescues believers and transfers them to Jesus for salvation. Superabundant Peace explained Paul’s Christology, who Jesus is. Paul proclaimed Jesus is the exact embodiment of the Godhead. In Attaining Hope, which covers Colossians 1:21-23, Paul used an if… then clause to explain who the Christians were and, if they would exercise the faith God gave them, Jesus would save them from their sins and death.

The Bible study titled God's Power and Gentle Persuasion, which covers Colossians 1:24-29, told us of Paul’s calling by Jesus and the stewardship he has to God. God’s call on his life was to proclaim the Gospel. This proclamation included telling people about the “mystery of God,” that Jesus Christ is for all people, not just the Israelites. Jesus died to cleanse the sins from each person who believes in Him and to give them salvation from death. God speaks to each person through the Gospel with gentle persuasion telling of His love for each person and the salvation Jesus offers.

Rejoicing During Trials is the Bible study teaching about Colossians 2:1-5. In this passage, Paul showed his pastoral care for the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea. He struggled for the church because of his love for them, which Jesus put in him. Paul encouraged these Christians to stand strong and unified in love so they would attain “to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, Jesus Christ Himself, in who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3 [NASB]) He taught this so the false teachers could not trick the Christians with persuasive arguments. Paul explained this to them this so they would not succumb to the false teachers and their persuasive arguments. He told these believers he cared for them and did not want the Gnostics to delude them about their surety of salvation and hope of glory.

In Overflowing Gratefulness, which teaches from Colossians 2:6-7, Paul reminded the believers of their salvation by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through faith in Him. Because they trusted in Jesus and received salvation, they could know they were rooted firmly in Him. As these Christians learned and grew, Paul encouraged and reminded them that Jesus saved them at a point in time and firmly rooted them in Himself. Though their salvation happened in the past, the Christians were to continue being rooted in Christ, built up, and established in their faith. These present continuous verbs show growth as a Christian comes from our actively staying in a close relationship with God. Salvation happens at a point in time, but growth and sanctification should be the continuous aim of each person. It should compel him or her to learn, follow, and be in a closer relationship with Jesus.

Empty Philosophy and Christ

Paul returned to what he had alluded to in Colossians 1:23 and the “mystery” of God in Colossians 1:26. God had called him to preach about these. In Chapter 2:8-10, Paul taught in depth about the philosophical thoughts the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea faced. He explained again who Christ is and how His sacrifice for salvation is sufficient. For Paul, repeating himself several times was not a difficulty. He wanted to make sure these false teachers did not take the Christians captive with their deceit.

Empty Philosophy

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 [NASB])

Paul described the false teaching in four ways. He said this teaching was philosophical, deceiving, manmade, and according to elementary principles. When we do a word study of this verse, we learn Paul meant, “Discern what is empty philosophy and deception and do not let them captivate and capture you. Do not let these empty philosophies lead you away from the truth so you become a slave to them.” He wanted the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea to understand that what they heard from these false teachers was empty. It had no truth in it so they should not let these false teachers deceive them.

This philosophy taught ideas contrary to the Gospel Epaphras taught the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. The word “philosophy” Paul used in this verse comes from the Greek word philosophia. Philosophia is a secular philosophy or thought as compared to the wisdom of God. It serves to elevate human wisdom over God’s wisdom. This teaching, Paul said, was philosophical, from man’s ideations.

Paul continued about this false teaching by saying, it was “empty deception.” In the Greek, these two words mean foolish pretension without truth, and made with the motivation to deceive. These false teachers sought to trick people and gain followers by teaching them they must do more to be spiritual.

Paul added, this false teaching is “according to the tradition of men.” The traditions of men mean generations of people pass the teaching down to the following generations. Divine teaching derives its starting point from God. In an oral society, as in New Testament times, a father or grandfather taught the sons and so the false teaching carried from one generation to the next. The form of Gnosticism during the time of this letter was in its earliest stages. Gnostics continued to teach it from then, and it still deceives people today. Paul taught this false teaching of the Gnostics came from the minds and logic of humanity, not from God. This teaching came from the tradition of men.

Lastly, Paul said these false teachings are “according to the elementary principles of the world.” The word phrase “elementary principles” comes from the Greek word stoicheion. It comes from the philosophy structure of first principles upon which other points build. For the Gnostics, these elementary principles, these thoughts, dealt with heavenly bodies. It served to aid people in attaining the highest principle of life, the highest spiritual stature. Remember, for them anything material was bad and anything heavenly or spiritual was good. Because of that, since Jesus lived in bodily form, He could not be God to them. This meant they aimed to rise in philosophical thought, so they would become a heavenly being, like an angel. This goal was in their minds. To them, no human could be God. They imagined they could get as close as possible to that level by being angels or other heavenly beings. Their minds could conceive of nothing higher than this level to get near in stature to the Godhead.

Each of these four things showed the false teachings in that region directly opposed the Gospel. They taught philosophical, deceiving, manmade, and elementary principles of the world. The instigator of these philosophical thoughts was Satan. As he has always done, he twists the truth of the Gospel to trick people into considering salvation needs more than Jesus provides. Satan wants people to imagine Jesus is not able to save people. This would cause unbelief in Jesus and fewer people in heaven. Yet, repeatedly, the Bible teaches Jesus paid the sacrifice for all people to receive salvation from their sins and from eternal death, eternal separation from God. Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself for the sins of humankind occurred because of God’s love. Satan’s trickery comes from his desire to keep people from receiving eternal love from God. The difference between these two motives is Satan wants to gain and keep people from heaven. God wants people to be saved. Satan is self-focused. God’s love makes Him people-focused.

Who Jesus Christ is, Reiterated

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10 [NASB])

Paul wrote in Colossians 1:15-20 about Jesus being fully divine, though living as a man on earth. He said Jesus Christ created all things, was preeminent before all things, holds all things together, is the head of the Church, is the firstborn from the dead, has all the fullness of deity dwelling in Him, and reconciles all things to Himself through the blood of His cross. In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul reiterated, “In Him (Christ) all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form.” Jesus is completely God. He has divine fullness in Him. In and through Jesus Christ, the superabundance of the Godhead dwells and emanates because He is fully divine, fully God, though He lived in bodily form while on earth.

Paul continued in verse ten by saying, “And in Him you have been made complete.” Completion is not being born with ten fingers and toes. This “completion” is a present perfect verb that began working in the past and continues into the present and future. This verb is in the indicative form; it is factual. Paul meant, “You can know truly, because Jesus Christ is fully divine and is your Savior, you will be brought to completion.” This completion Paul wrote comes by Christ making the believer fully perfect upon that his or her entrance into heaven. The word “complete” comes from pleroo and has the same root word as the word “fullness” (pleroma) that tells of Jesus Christ’s being fully divine. Christ is complete, perfect, fully divine. He gives of His fullness to make each Christian complete, perfect. Jesus makes each believer totally complete, perfect, upon the believer’s entrance to heaven. The life of the Christian from the point of belief and salvation through entrance into heaven shows the continuousness of the verb “have been made complete.” What Jesus begins in each person from when he or she trusted in Him for salvation, that person continues with His grace, strength, etc. given through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit while on earth so that that he or she grows to be more like Jesus Christ each day. Jesus then completes that being made perfect upon entrance to heaven. In Jesus Christ alone, Paul said, the Colossian and Laodicean Christians could know perfection, completion because of their salvation by Jesus Christ. They did not need to add any other philosophy or teaching to get the salvation and perfection Jesus Christ gives. Jesus Christ is fully divine and gives of His fullness to everyone who trusts in Him for salvation from sin and death. Believers in Him “have been made complete.”

Paul said in Colossians 1:16, “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him.” [NASB] He reiterated in Colossians 2:10, because of Jesus’ authority and power, He is head over all rule and authority. Nothing and no one has authority or rule over Jesus Christ since He created them, as Paul said in Colossians 1:16. The word “rule” comes from the Greek word arche, which means principality. Paul used this word to include angels and demons. Jesus, the fullness of God, is the head over them like He is the head of the Church. He exercised His headship over all authorities, too. The word “authorities” comes from the Greek word exousia, which means power and authority. These powers ad authorities include the physical, spiritual, and moral power and authority. As fully divine and as Creator preeminent before all things, Jesus Christ is the head of all things, including spiritual and natural beings who rule and have authority over parts of His creation. Jesus Christ rules and reigns over all things.

Because of this, Jesus is greater than Satan, sin, and death. He gives a sufficient salvation to each person who believes in Him as the Messiah sent from heaven. Paul, with this reiteration, said Jesus provides complete, full, perfect salvation and brings believers to perfection, completion, and fullness because He is fully God. No other sacrifice is necessary for salvation. Nothing more is required for salvation to occur for any person who wants to be saved. No one can add to belief in Jesus to make it more perfect. The idea the Gnostics had of becoming more perfect is a deception. A person cannot become more perfect than what Jesus gives from His fullness, His superabundance. You cannot perfect perfection. Each Christian is being made complete. It started when they first believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus will complete it when they enter heaven. Paul taught the churches in Colossae and Laodicea that all Christians can have freedom because of Christ. John said it this way in John 8:36, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” [NASB]

Thoughts to Consider

People often want to feel better or greater than others. To do this, they devise ideas to teach and trick people into feeling smaller so they themselves feel more powerful and knowledgeable. Sometimes these ideas and deceptions cause people to question their faith and consider adding something more to make it salvation more effective. Paul told the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea the false teachings they heard were philosophies based on human reasoning. They were empty and deceptive. These teachings were “nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 [NASB]) They came from the traditions or men. In addition, these false teachings were according to the elementary principles of the world, like astrology or Gnosticism. They were fanciful human beliefs to make those teachers feel secure. Instead, their sole purpose was deception.

The Lord knows people try to plan their every step, but they cannot gain salvation without Christ. Psalm 94:11 speaks of this. It says, “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath.” Instead of thoughts that are only a mere breath, which passes after its exhalation, Paul wrote to the Colossian and Laodicean Christians to remind them Jesus Christ is the fullness of Deity. Jesus never passes away like people, their thoughts, and their philosophies. He will perfect His followers, when he or she enters heaven. Jesus gives from His fullness, from His superabundance, so people may receive perfection.

Paul said Jesus Christ is above all things and the Creator of all things. He is the ruler over all rule and authority. Psalms 33:10 speaks of this, “The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.” God has supremacy. His plans and power are greater than anything people can imagine. Nothing can thwart Him.

Paul said the church can stay free from false teachings by remembering who Jesus is. The Church, Christians, can stay free from these and all false teachings by accepting the fullness Jesus Christ gives from Himself. The salvation He gives is enough to save each person and bring them to fullness, perfection. No one ever needs to add anything to make salvation perfect. Nothing mankind plans lasts forever or has the fullness of power from Deity. The LORD is almighty and all-knowing. He directs the steps of people. (Proverbs 16:9) Jesus gives from His superabundant perfection to make each believer perfect. Perfection cannot be perfected. Neither people, principalities, rulers, or authorities can make more perfect what God through Jesus Christ provides and perfects.

Questions:

• Are there steps or processes you required of yourself and/or others to make sure you get to heaven when you die? If so, is that working for you? Is it keeping other people from knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior?
• Do you have the peace of assurance in God because of knowing the perfection through salvation He gives is enough to save and keep you? Isaiah spoke about this peace when he said, “You (LORD) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 [NASB])
• What keeps you from accepting and acting on the faith God gives you to believe in Jesus as His Son?
• What keeps you from teaching the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice for sins is enough to make each person complete and perfect in Him?

For the next Bible study, re-read Colossians 2. Specifically, look at Colossians 2:11-15.

“Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 [NASB])

The High Diving Board

On this Women’s Day, I reflect on two of my favorite Bible characters, Ruth and Esther. Both these women proved their faithfulness to God. To get there, each had to do scary things – go to a foreign land where she only knew her mother-in-law (Ruth) and stand strong for God and His people against a hateful leader (Esther). Those were their big leaps of faith. Yet, first, God raised them up to that point in their relationship with Him.

Ruth married an Israelite and came to know his God for herself. She showed her dedication to her husband’s family and their ways by choosing to return to Israel after her mother-in-law’s, Naomi’s, husband and two sons died. Ruth listened to Naomi’s advice, gleaned grain from a kinsman’s field, and proved her love to her, the Israelites, and Yahweh.

Esther, an orphaned girl raised by her cousin, Mordecai, stayed true to God and His moral laws when the king’s servant chose her to present her before the king as a potential queen. While in that role, she heard of Haman, a leader of the king’s, plotting to annihilate the Hebrew people. Esther sought the counsel of her family elder, Mordecai, and obeyed what God said through him. Eventually, Esther considered herself less important than her people’s lives and asked for an audience with the king. She risked her life and new status with the king to tell him of Haman’s plot.

Both these women faced death, but with their faith in God and their obedience to Him, they stepped out to follow His will for their lives. God walked them through one faith step after another to get them where He wanted them in time and place, and in their faith for these big decisions and stances. They allowed God to prepare them to jump from the high diving board. God does that with each of us still. He grows us gradually for His purposes. We learn we can trust Him in all things. I’m glad God doesn’t give up on us when we choose not to jump from the high diving boards in life. I rejoice that He loves us, has a purpose for us, and is always faithful. What step of growth is God leading you to take today?