Reviewing Col. 2:9-23, we realize that in Christ:
Dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (verse 9), being the head of all principalities and power (10)
We are complete (verse 10)
We were circumcised spiritually – without hands, cutting off the works of the flesh – sin (verse 11)
We died and were buried with Him through baptism (verse 12, Galatians 2:20)
We were raised through faith in His resurrection (verse 12)
All our trespasses have been forgiven (verse 13) by wiping out all the charges against us because of sin (verse 14) – through His completed work on the cross.
All powers and principalities have been disarmed (verse 15) on the cross, making a public show of them. Praise God.
Therefore, we should live in the freedom that Christ has brought us, not allowing ourselves to be judged or cheated by those in false humility and worship of angels (verses 16-23). In Colosse at the time Paul was writing this epistle, there was a dangerous mix of spiritual ideas that were brought into the church, so Paul had to warn people not to get carried away with the various philosophies of those ideas, which Christians had died to. There was Hellenism, which preserved Greek philosophies, teaching that one could use reasoning to understand the mysteries of the spiritual realm, at the expense of faith. There was Judaism, teaching that one could get right with God using ritual observances. There was also the local pagan culture, which promoted cultism and mystical rites.
This “add-and-choose blend” is referred to as “syncretism,” which was disrupting and dividing the Colossian church. It is this syncretism that Paul advised the church of Colosse to stay away from, stating that they “did not need the beliefs, rituals, or rules of other spiritual systems to experience God.” (Apply The Word Study Bible, Thomas Nelson, 2016).
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Now Chapter 3
Things Above vs. Everyday Idolatry
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:1-2
The instructions, “seek those things which are above,” and “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth,” may erroneously be interpreted to mean that heavenly things matter and earthly things do not. To the contrary, however, Paul uses “things above” to mean the life that Christ offers, versus “things on the earth,” which means the life spent outside of Christ (leading to spiritual death). Set your mind on the new life in Christ, instead of old ways of peril.
Setting our minds on things above does not mean that wanting a bigger house, a new car, or a better job is evil. It only means that the motive for desiring them and the attitude we put on once we have them are to be examined.
Those “things above” are listed in verses 12-15: “mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, … love, peace, and thankfulness.” Pray that God will help you.
“Things on the earth” include those listed in verses 5 & 8: “fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language.” Pray that God will help you.
Praise God, because we have been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), and raised with Him through faith (Col. 2:12), we now need to set our minds on the life we find in the living Christ (Col. 3:1-2), no more in the dead life that we used to live (Col. 3:7).
Why focus on things above instead of things on the earth? To avoid the wrath of God
“Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,” (Col. 2:6).
Another “thing on the earth” yet to be listed is PREJUDICE – shown in verse 11.
“where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”
The Greeks had a dominant cultural heritage in the Roman world
Jews prided themselves as God’s chosen people
Barbarians lacked social standing because they didn’t speak Greek
Scythians were warlike, wicked people from the north
Slaves were workers at the bottom of society ladder
All these ethnic and cultural differences gave room for problems stemming from prejudice, which produced anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying, etc. (Col. 3:8-9).
When we live in Christ, we are new people (verse 10), so prejudice/discrimination has no room in our lives anymore. This is how to set our minds on the things above, away from the things on earth. Praise God for Jesus Christ.
