IV. The Victory and Freedom of Faith (Colossians 2:4-23)

IV. The Victory and Freedom of Faith (2:4-23)

2:4-5 Paul’s concern was that the Colossians would go to false teachers who were offering supposed insider, secret spiritual understanding that was inconsistent with Christ. Lies can sound reasonable (2:4), but they’re still lies. Remember, the Bible is our standard for discerning truth from error. Only the full understanding of Christ can keep believers from being deceived by persuasive arguments. Paul was delighted in how these particular believers were standing fast on the truth even in his absence (2:5).

2:6-7 The Christian life is to continue as it began—with faith in the gospel message. Like mighty trees fed by strong roots, believers are to remain rooted in Jesus Christ, both in knowledge and in practice. That way, growth will occur and protection from false teachers will be provided.

2:8-10 We are not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition (2:8). Rather, we are to be captive to Christ because the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in him (2:9; see 1:19), and he is the head over every ruler and authority (2:10).

When Satan—the once glorious angel—rebelled, God judged him (see Isa 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-16). Then God created man, a creature made “lower than the angels” and “subjected everything under his feet” (Heb 2:7-8). Man was to rule over creation on God’s behalf (Gen 1:26-28). God planned to show what he could do with “less” (when less was devoted to him) in contrast to “more” (when more was in rebellion against him). But Adam abdicated his role as manager of creation (Gen 3:1-19), turning rule over to Satan—“the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4) and “the ruler of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2).

But the “last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45), Jesus Christ, succeeded where the first Adam failed. He came to solve the problem. As the Second Person of the Trinity, he possesses “the entire fullness of God’s nature” (Col 2:9). But he also became a man, because God the Father intended that man would rule over his kingdom on earth and defeat Satan. Through his sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan’s legal authority and reclaimed the earthly kingdom.

2:11-13 Since Jesus is “the head over every ruler and authority,” we are called to realign ourselves to God under the rule of Christ and thus reverse the rule of the devil. As a believer, “you have been filled by” Jesus, so you are lacking nothing that you need (2:10). God made you alive with Christ. Spiritual death because of sin has been replaced with spiritual life. Though you were dead, you have been made spiritually alive (2:13). You have been raised with him (2:12) who is enthroned over all. Therefore, by your connection to Christ, God can overrule your difficult circumstances.

Note the recurring theme: “by him” (2:10), “in him” (2:11), “with him” (2:12[x2]; 2:13). Paul is expressing the great theological truth of our union with Christ. By faith, we are united inseparably with him, like cream stirred into coffee. That means you don’t have to be defined by your struggles. Align your life under his rule, and your King’s agenda will be demonstrated in your situation.

If you watch a replay of yesterday’s football game—and you already know the final score is in your team’s favor—you won’t get upset if your team falls behind. Knowing how the game ends will have a stabilizing effect. Scripture tells us where everything is going. Scripture tells us how everything is going to turn out. If you are trusting in Christ, you can have confidence whatever your struggles because you know how the story ends. Jesus is already victorious, and you are in union with him.

2:14-15 By means of his death on the cross, Christ erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us (2:14). When a person was executed under Roman law, the sentence was attached to the accused’s cross (see John 19:19). But Jesus took our sentence away, effectively nailing our certificates of debt to his cross. He paid our penalty; he died for our guilt. God “made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). In doing so, he also disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities—Satan and his forces—disgraced them and triumphed over them (2:15). A fallen angel is no match for the Son of God, who took away Satan’s rulership.

Satan is actually the transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “adversary” or “accuser.” He is “the accuser of our brothers and sisters” whom he “accuses . . . before our God day and night” (Rev 12:10). He accused Job (see Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5) and Joshua the high priest (see Zech 3:1). But in light of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, Satan’s accusations are empty.

If somebody has a gun pointed at you, whether or not it’s loaded is a huge deal. The devil doesn’t want you to know that his gun has been emptied by the cross of Christ. Now, if you don’t know that, you’re still going to cower and run, living in fear and shame. But you don’t have to listen to him. Though he is right about your sin, your debt has been paid by Christ. You are free to live for God. Satan still has power, but he no longer possesses final authority in history.

2:16-17 Old Testament sacrifices were like a layaway plan. But ultimately, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:4). At the right time, God sent his Son to offer the perfect sacrifice for sin once and for all (see Gal 4:4: Heb 10:10-14).

Therefore, since the price has been paid and you have your spiritual reward, don’t let anyone deceive you by saying that you must do this or that ritual (2:16). The shadow of the Old Testament was meant to point to the substance of Christ (2:17). Why would anyone want a mere shadow when they can have the thing that cast the shadow?

2:18-19 Don’t let a puffed-up false prophet tell you that you are in trouble unless you know some secret information to which only he has access (2:18). What you need is to be part of the body, the church, which is connected by ligaments and tendons and vertebrae and nerves and muscles to the head, Jesus Christ. This is the only way to receive ongoing spiritual growth from God (2:19). Any unchurched Christian will be a spiritually malnourished one.

2:20-23 We don’t belong to the kingdom of this world anymore, so we shouldn’t act like we do. We have spiritual freedom in the kingdom of God, so we should not submit to regulations from the world (2:20). Adding to God’s commands might sound wise and religious, but such human commands are going to be destroyed (2:22). They carry no authority, and they strip away your freedom in Christ. Add-on rules function like extra carry-on bags: they’ll rob you of the freedom to fly. Self-made religion has no power to control self-indulgence (2:23). The world’s decrees and precepts don’t help a person to be truly spiritual. They are of no value in the eternal kingdom of God.