Colossians, Chapter 2
© Copyright 1997 Darroll Evans, all rights
reserved
Colossians 2:1 For I
would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at
Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Paul wanted the
The struggle was for them and those in
The conflict mentioned in Philippians 1:30 is
the same conflict reported in Colossians 2:1.
It is the same conflict within each of us as
Satan tries to regain control of our lives.
What is the conflict?
Paul was the Apostle of grace.
The conflict was over the message of grace.
That message was not well received among the
people of his day.
It is not well received today.
In this day, many so-called preachers of
Christ ignore grace and instead preach and teach works as the way to gain
and/or maintain salvation.
Gal
5:4 You have become estranged from
Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
(NKJ)
Anybody who transfers their allegiance to the
Law has become estranged from the Savior, Christ Jesus.
The Greek word translated
"conflict" (Gr. agoona-agwna) is an athletic term
indicating a struggle.
The great struggle of Paul's life was to
bring the freedom of God's grace to Gentiles.
There is no liberty is Satan or in works of
the Law.
Serving Satan by means of the law places us
under bondage.
The Church of the
The two Churches were just 11 miles apart.
Let's take a short glance at what Revelation
has to say about that Church.
Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans write; These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God;
Jesus is identified
as the Amen, and the "beginning," or origin of creation. That speaks
of His work as the agent of creation.
John
1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was
made.
(NKJV)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth.
(The Laodiceans were void of any vision of their work for
Christ. Consequently, they were an ineffective Church. Today, there are many Laodiceans among the Church. They have no prophetic vision, and so they
operate under human rules and regulations, under human law.)
17 Because thou sayest, I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(They had a
mistaken view of their importance. The Church was wretched, miserable, poor,
blind, and naked---and in all that, they did not know their true condition.
Many Churches today preach a watered down gospel of tolerance for open sin.
Consequently they are Laodicean Churches.)
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.
(God treats His
sons as sons to teach them. His motivation for chastisement is not anger. It is
love.
It is to this
wayward Church that Christ makes a most often quoted promise---"Behold, I stand
at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
The Laodiceans were a Church without the fellowship of Christ.)
21 To him that overcometh will
I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne.
(Christ's promise
to those that respond to His call is glorious.
We overcome through
faith in Christ Jesus. Faith is the only
basis for overcoming.)
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full
assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of
the Father, and of Christ;
"Being knit together" expresses the
thought that individuals are brought together to work for a common cause.
We are called and put together to work for
the cause of Christ in proclaiming the gospel.
The phrase "full assurance"
declares that Paul wanted the Colossians to be fully persuaded.
Christians are to be fully persuaded that
Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Our belief must be beyond doubt.
There is a translation difficulty in most
translations.
"Of the mystery of God, and of the
Father, and of Christ" is not accurate.
The literal translation is "of the
mystery of the God of Christ."
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
All the treasures of godly wisdom and
knowledge are available to us when we acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
In Christ Jesus, we are called, set aside, and
redeemed.
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any
man should beguile you with enticing words.
When Satan came to Adam and Eve he did not
demand anything of them.
Satan used "enticing words" to
deceive.
We can trace every sin back to someone's
"enticing words."
Vain flattery is a method of deception.
Satan is the Deceiver.
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in
the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order,
and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Joying indicates a calm happiness.
It does
not imply wild ecstasy.
Paul told the Colossians that if he is
absent, their lives are to be lived in a manner consistent with Christ.
We are to be consistent in our relationships.
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
We are to walk, or live in a manner
consistent with the salvation we have received.
Christ will not lead us to condone sin.
It is contrary to His nature.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him,
and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
“Rooted” indicates that we are to be like a
strong tree that has a good root system.
Some trees blow over easier than other trees,
because their root systems are inadequate.
You have been rooted in Christ.
He provides life and stability.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Be on guard lest you become a victim of
philosophy, seducing you into the error of men's traditions.
In this case, most agree that the Philosophy
is the legalistic Jewish traditional theology.
Christians are God’s children by grace, not
philosophy.
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily.
This verse is so simple and direct.
Within the person of Jesus Christ all the
abundance of the Godhead lives.
The Holy Spirit is of course a Spirit.
But, God the Father is also Spirit.
John
4:24 "God is Spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (NKJV)
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power:
The word "complete" announces that
we are crammed full of Christ Jesus.
You may not feel that way, but if you accept
Him you accept all of Him.
Christ Jesus is at the right hand of the
Father.
He has been restored to His place of power
over all other physical and spiritual governments and powers of every kind.
"Which is the head of all principality
and power" speaks of a current condition, not something is a distant
future.
Do you realize that God is now the Controller
of all human powers?
When we acknowledge Christ as Lord, it does
not change His status.
It changes ours.
Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body
of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
In Christ Jesus, we were circumcised with a
circumcision not done with hands.
Romans 2:29 “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose
praise is not of men, but of God.”
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead.
"Buried with" (Gr. suntafentes-suntafenteV) means assimilated, or "buried together
with."
It is a reference to our symbolic burial with
Christ.
Please notice the Greek prefix sun.
It means no discernable difference.
I have very strong feelings concerning adult
immersion in water.
Baptism in water is not necessary for
salvation.
It is advisable, but not necessary.
Immersion in Christ and the Holy Spirit is
infinitely more effective in the area of righteousness.
The Bible speaks of certain things as shadows
of the true.
Many have taken baptism and made it into a
burden rather than a joy.
The Greek word translated baptism (Gr. baptismoo-baptismw) means
to dip, immerse, or submerge.
Immersion without initial regeneration is
futile.
Water does not regenerate.
The Holy Spirit regenerates us.
According to Hebrews 6:1-2,
"baptisms," along with laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead,
and eternal (eonian) judgment, is a doctrine of Christ.
Please notice that Hebrews speaks of
"baptisms," or immersions.
There is baptism in water, and baptism in
Christ, in the Holy Spirit and fire.
Rom
6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us
as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Gal
3:27 For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Biblical baptism is always immersion.
In Acts 10, Cornelius was received the Holy
Spirit prior to being baptized in water.
There are times when immersion in water is
not possible.
Some practice an unbiblical regenerational
baptism.
Others follow the Roman Catholic mandated
sprinkling method, which is also unbiblical.
Did God appoint you, or the Pope to decide
what is acceptable in His sight?
Not long ago, I spoke with a “Christian” who
claimed that Christ was “baptized” in three inches of water.
How she knew that I do not know.
I don’t think she was there.
But her ignorant pastor told her a lie.
But, I do know that that attitude of personal
born of biblical ignorance, and spiritual egoism.
Neither of those justify
false teaching.
It is universally accepted among Christians
that the children of God are led by the Spirit of God.
Does the Spirit of God lead us into rebellion
and ignorance?
Absolutely not.
Christ Jesus gave us two commissions that run
in tandem.
The first is what we call the Great
Commission.
To the unregenerate heart, following Christ
is always a burden.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen. (KJV)
That is a universal commission to all
Christians.
It is not meant for just a few.
Each and every Christian is commissioned to
"go."
It speaks openly concerning baptism, but it
is not specific in which immersion is being referenced.
The second commission is found in the book of
Acts.
Acts 1:8 But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in
This too is a universal commission.
Here Christ Jesus is more specific in telling
us the conditions of going forth to witness.
We should not go out until the
Holy Ghost comes upon us.
It is my opinion that that reference is what
I call baptism, or immersion in (or with) the Holy Spirit.
This baptism is not for salvation, but for
service.
The baptisms Jesus spoke of in Matthew and
Acts represent the same baptism. John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize
you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I,
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize (immerse) you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire"
(Matthew 3:11).
Most ignore any baptism with fire. It is a baptism of suffering.
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your
sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you all trespasses;
As a Believer in Christ, you were (past
tense) dead in trespasses and "uncircumcision/sin."
That is in the past.
When the Spirit comes in to us He cuts away
the old flesh of carnality.
Don't pick it up and dust it off.
Leave it in the past.
In the Greek, the phrase "hath he
quickened together" is only one word.
It indicates that our lives and Christ's life
are brought together in the same manner as when two people marry where
"they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).
2 Corinthians 11:2b---“for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Let’s read one section again, "having
forgiven you all trespasses."
To those of us who are now alive in Christ
Jesus "all trespasses have been forgiven."
All trespasses indicates all sins---past,
present, and future.
Most have little trouble with past and
present sins, but cannot accept the forgiveness of future sins.
Forgive me for being blunt, but the
forgiveness of future sins is in God’s hands and He does not ask the opinion of
a Pope, President, Preacher, or congregant.
The word “espoused” (Gr. heermosameen-hrmosamhn) used in 2
Corinthians 11:2 is a carpentry term.
When two boards of limber are joined, nailed
together, they are “espoused.”
When we are baptized into Christ, we are
espoused to Him.
We become one spiritual flesh with Him.
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
"Blotting out" (Gr. exaleiphō-ἐξαλείφω) means to completely erase, or to obliterate.
God has completely erased the old, Jewish
traditional legalisms that are not founded in grace.
Read this carefully.
To the Christian, only one law applies.
Romans
8:2---“For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
To those that follow Christ, Moses Law, in
all points has been abolished.
Those that are led by the Spirit need not be
reminded that there is but one God and we are to worship Him alone.
Those that are led by the Spirit need not be
reminded that we are not to steal, murder, commit fornication, etc.
John
8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
The Ten are still the best guide for those
who are not Christians, but we are to be led by the Spirit of God, not by
ordinances that are “against” us.
Even the Ten are “against” us.
Deuteronomy
31:26 “Take this book of the law, and
put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may
be there for a witness against
thee.”
Does that mean that the Ten canceled?
NO.
The Mosaic law has been completely nullified, but the ten still stand.
For those that reject the grace of Christ,
the Ten are still the standard.
For those of us that have been chosen to
follow Christ, He is the standard and we are led by the Spirit of God.
1 John 3:4 was written after Christ Jesus was
resurrected.
1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of
the law.”
I must admit that I followed the teaching of
men who followed the Ten.
But, Christians are subject to the Law of the
Spirit, and to us sin/rebellion is rebellion against the law of the Spirit.
The law was not given to bring us to
salvation.
It was given to show our need for Christ
Jesus (Galatians 3:24).
It was our school master bringing us to
Christ.
When we graduate, we are still obedient to
law, but now it is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Please keep in mind that the law of the
Spirit will not lead us in opposition to the Ten, but for those that follow
Christ, it now supersedes the ten.
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them
in it.
Christ spoiled, or completely stripped
Satanic rulers and authorities of their power.
Jesus Christ publicly displayed his triumph
over Lucifer to all the heavenly hosts and to all that believe.
The only power Satan now has is the power to
make us think he has power, deception.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or
of the Sabbath days:
Don't let anyone judge you in things you eat
or drink or in special feasts, new moons or man's sabbaths
(small s).
Christ is our judge.
Now, this is not permission to abandon God’s
holy days and establish other days and traditions in place of those established
by God.
The Roman Catholic church acting under
threats by Emperor Constantine, threw out biblical godliness and replace
biblical teaching with Constantine-ism.
The papacy now rules almost all of what
passes Christianity.
Southern and Independent Baptist have bowed
to the papacy and kissed the Pope’s ring.
They celebrate
They celebrate a false Pentecost instead of
the true Pentecost.
They celebrate Christ-mass as taught by the
papacy.
The bible states explicitly, "There is
no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus" (Romans
8:1).
But, are those who flout Christians’ freedom
in deference to God’s precious Son truly Christians?
Those who claim to be baptized in the Spirit are some of the most
ignorant.
The Holy Spirit will not lead any person to
abandon God’s leadership in favor of man’s leadership.
When this verse was written, Paul’s day of
worship was the “Sabbath” or Shabbat.
There is no, absolutely no evidence that Paul
or any of the Apostles considered Sunday a special day or day of worship.
The Sunday tradition resulted from early
Gentile hatred of Jews, and not from biblical mandate.
The majority of Christians worship on Sunday,
because Roman Emperor Constantine was a pagan sun god worshipper, and he
decreed that all Romans should worship on the “venerable day of the sun.”
Contrary to traditional teaching, Jesus was
not resurrected on Sunday.
In fact, the phrase “the first day of the
week” does not appear in any ancient Greek NT text.
The Roman Catholic Church claims to have
instituted Sunday worship despite biblical mandate and almost all Churches have
kissed the ring of the Pope in that matter.
Sunday begins at midnight Saturday night.
The Sabbath ends at sundown Saturday.
Sunday does not qualify as a Sabbath except
in the minds of anti-Jewish Gentiles.
Colossians 2:17 Which
are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Many things within the Church are only
shadows of things to come.
The Church is not a shadow.
The things mentioned in the verses previous
to this one are mere shadows, and that includes the law.
Heb
10:1 For the law having a shadow of good
things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with
those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers
thereunto perfect.
Shadows have no physical worth.
All of the lambs that were offered as sacrifices were
just a shadow of Christ Jesus. The city of Jerusalem and its temple were just
shadows of the New Jerusalem and the New Temple that shall come.
They are fleeting worthless illusions of what
is real.
Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of
your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into
those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Worshipping angels or claiming that other
human beings (such as Mary or the Pope) are co-mediators with Christ Jesus is
an abomination.
Many so-called "princes of the
church" (no caps) have no knowledge of Christ or the power of prayer.
It is sad when so many believe that only one
humanly elected man can fellowship with The Lord of Glory.
Please keep in mind that, as a Christian, you
are part of the body of Christ.
As such, allow no person make you a victim of
false piety, false humility, and worshipping angels, or other such religious
displays.
Colossians 2:19 And not holding the Head,
from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and
knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Pretenders within the churches refuse to
honor the Head of the Church, which is Christ Jesus.
He is the source of our spiritual
nourishment.
Don't be afraid to challenge false teaching.
Those who love Christ will not be offended.
Those who hate Christ are always offended by
the truth.
Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead
with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the
world, are ye subject to ordinances,
As a Christian, you have died with Christ and
have been set free from the spirits that seek to rule the universe.
The word "rudiments" refers to the
elements of the natural universe.
In Romans 6:2 Paul asks, "How shall we,
who are dead to sin, continue to live in sin?"
In Christ, we have been freed legalisms by
God’s grace.
But, we have not been freed to
sin.
We have been freed from sin.
Those without Christ have no choice.
They must continue in sin.
The world is linguistically challenged.
It does not understand the definitions of
grace and license.
They are not synonyms. they
are antonyms.
Colossians 2:21-22
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the
using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Those in Christ
teach freedom.
Those outside of
Christ still teach the “do not’s,” because they do not have the
freedom to do otherwise.
Colossians 2:23 Which things have indeed a
shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not
in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Certain teachings are a corruption of
Christ's freedom. One of the teachings is “will worship” (Gr. ethelothrēskia-ἐθελοθρησκία), self-devised worship. Many today who attend Church worship their personal will!
Will worship is the worship of self! In essence they believe that their
personal will is sufficient to achieve their spiritual goals.
We are not to be victims of self will,
fables, and commandments of men.
We are to reject such things. And, we are to
seek the truth that is in Christ.
So, you “made” Christ the Lord of your life!
Isn’t that wonderful! Christ Jesus is Lord of all whether you know it or not.
Christ does not need you to justify Him. Instead you need Him to justify you!