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Study: The Colossians EpistleNext Sunday Morning (July 24th): No Colossians (out of
town) The Supremacy of Jesus Christ in Complete Atonement; Part 2Colossians 2:13-15 Colossians 2:9-15 (NKJV): 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. IntroductionLast week, we began a two week study of verses 11-15 entitled, "The Supremacy of Jesus Christ in Complete Atonement." These verses are really a continuation and expounding of verse 10 where Paul writes, "you are complete in Him," (i.e., Jesus Christ). Specifically, we studied: 1. Our Completeness in Jesus Christ's Circumcision(Colossians 2:11 (NKJV)): In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
2. Our Completeness in Jesus Christ's Baptism(Colossians 2:12 (NKJV)): buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. That is where we left off last week. Now, this week's text. 3. Our Completeness in Jesus Christ's Deliverance(Colossians 2:13 (NKJV)): And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, A. Delivered From Spiritual DeathColossians 2:13 (NKJV): And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, Dead- The Greek is "nekros" from which we get our English word "necro" which is a medical term simply meaning "death." Out of 132 occurrences in the AV, all are translated as "dead" and never as "weak," "sick," "ill," "comatose" or even "almost-dead." It simply means "dead" (i.e., "one which has breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life, without life, inanimate"). Metaphorically, when referring to spiritual death, it means, "destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God, because (it has been) given up to trespasses and sins." Every human being begins physical life spiritually dead. Before spiritual life in Jesus Christ, we are all afflicted with complete spiritual death (i.e., completely unable to perceive divine revelation, Scriptural truths or respond to any spiritual stimuli whatsoever because all our spiritual capacities were completely destroyed by the sinful nature we inherited from Adam). In other words, the Fall of man into sin so ruined and rendered inoperative his spiritual capacities, that we are all born spiritually dead whereby we are completely locked in sin's grasp. As such, we are not spiritually weak, spiritually sick, in a spiritual coma nor are we spiritually "almost-dead." Instead, we are completely locked in spiritual death. The spiritually dead man can no more heal himself spiritually than a physically dead man can heal himself physically. In the simplest of terms, dead is dead! 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV): But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Romans 8:5-8 (NKJV): 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Un-circumcision of Your Flesh- In speaking primarily to Gentile Colossians, this phrase simply reinforces the idea of their spiritual death. Lightfoot- "The "trespasses" are the actual definite transgressions, while the "un-circumcision of the flesh" is the impure carnal disposition which prompts (those transgressions). The external fact is mentioned for its symbolical meaning. In other words, the outward un-circumcision of the Gentiles is a type of the their un-chastened carnal mind." This is consistent with the spiritual un-circumcision back in verse 11. B. Delivered Into Spiritual LifeColossians 2:13 (NKJV): He has made alive together with Him, Being spiritually dead, we can do absolutely nothing to achieve spiritual life. Instead, spiritual life must be imparted from God according to His sovereign pleasure and infinite grace. How so? Regeneration- The instantaneous, initial, work of God whereby He imparts spiritual life to us; thus, delivering us from spiritual death. It comes before saving faith, not vice versa. Ephesians 2:1-6 (NKJV): And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), All of us who are now complete in Christ were once spiritually/hopelessly dead (i.e., carnally minded; walking according to the world, our flesh and Satan). So much so, none of us were any less spiritually dead than Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader, Timothy McVeigh, etc. The only difference between us and them is God's infinite grace. Application- Fully comprehending this results in genuine/abundant humility, forgiveness and love (for both God and man). With Him- Stresses our spiritual union with Christ (see vv. 10, 11 and 12). C. Delivered Unto ForgivenessColossians 2:13 (NKJV): having forgiven you all trespasses, Not only were we completely dead spiritually and made completely alive in Jesus Christ, but we are also completely forgiven from all our trespasses. What exactly does this mean? 4. Our Completeness in Jesus Christ's Cross(Colossians 2:14 (NKJV)): having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Here we see Paul elaborate on our completeness in Jesus Christ whereby we have been delivered unto complete forgiveness. A. The Cancellation of Our IndebtednessColossians 2:14 (NKJV): having wiped out the handwriting of requirements Handwriting of Requirements (NKJV) / Certificate of Debt (NASB)- Speaks literally of "a note written with the hand; an autograph; or a bill of debt." MacArthur's research indicates, "it was a certificate of indebtedness handwritten by the debtor in acknowledgement of his debt." Here, it is a written promise to obey God, signed by our own hand. However, by our sinfulness, this very document exposes our immense guilt and indebtedness before a thrice holy God of justice. In short, this certificate exposes our utter spiritual bankruptcy! Wiped Out (NKJV) / Canceled Out (NASB)- Means "to wipe off" like erasing a marker board. Again referring to MacArthur's research, ancient documents were commonly written either on papyrus (i.e., a paper-like material made from a plant) or vellum (i.e., which was made from an animal's hide). Since the ink used then had no acid in it, it did not soak into the writing material but instead remained on the surface. So, it could be wiped off if need be. So Paul is here saying that God has completely wiped away our certificate of indebtedness. Not a trace of it remains to be held against us. Instead, our forgiveness is absolutely complete. B. The Nature of Our IndebtednessColossians 2:14 (NKJV): the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us Because the document exposed our immense guilt and indebtedness, it was contrary (NKJV) or hostile (NASB) to us. That is, it exposed our rightful condemnation to eternal judgment and Hell. Galatians 3:10 (NKJV): 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." James 2:10 (NKJV): 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. Many will remember the Jewish Rabbi on Larry King Live. Responding to a comment by John MacArthur who said "we don't want justice, we want grace," the Rabbi said, "first of all, when you take an exam, not everybody has to get 100. It's preposterous to think that when you say righteous conduct you mean perfect specimens. Human beings are not perfect specimens. In God's world, they will be accepted to eternity or eternal heaven if they pass the exam. What's a passing grade in heaven? I don't know. Maybe 67 and not 65. But the fact of the matter is if you -- if you live the decent life that is credible, you don't have to be perfect." The Rabbi has two major flaws in his doctrine: 1) God is holy, holy, holy and, as such, His passing score is 100 and 2) man does not come even close to a score of a 67 or a 65; in fact, man cannot achieve a zero because he is 100% sin and 0% righteous (see Isaiah regarding our "filthy rags" and Zechariah regarding our "filthy robes"). In other words, the Jewish Rabbi grossly underestimates God's holiness and grossly overstates man's righteousness. God's passing score is 100 and only Jesus Christ achieved that; doing so in His absolute divine righteousness which man's righteousness does not even begin to compare with (i.e., the two are not even measured on the same scale). Sin oozes, bleeds and seeps into and permeates and stains our every thought, word and action. As Whitney once put it, "If sin were the color blue, even our very best works are tinted blue." Only by God's infinite grace can we ever do anything righteous. As Piper puts it, "As opposed to repaying God's grace with good works, our good works only make us more and more indebted to His grace." In other words, in our obedience, we only borrow from God's grace, not repay it! C. The Destination and Satisfaction of Our IndebtednessColossians 2:14 (NKJV): And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Jesus Christ took away our certificate of indebtedness (i.e., the document which exposed our immense guilt and indebtedness) and "nailed it to the cross" (i.e., just as the charges were nailed over Jesus Christ's head by Pontius Pilate). The result? Complete forgiveness through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. This is the main theme of all of Scripture! As Barnhouse puts it when summarizing the entirety of Scripture, "Man's complete ruin in sin, and God's perfect remedy in Jesus Christ!" Put differently, "Man's ruin in Adam, man's redemption in Jesus Christ!" God forgives the sins of those who trust in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, and He forgives completely! Think of you worst sin ever. If you no longer trust in yourself (i.e., any human merit, effort, virtues or works) but instead trust only in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, it is nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ! And in that, you have complete forgiveness!! Instead of eternal judgment, condemnation, destruction and separation from God, which you so rightfully deserved, you now, by God's infinite grace through Jesus Christ, have an eternal glory which awaits you! Eternity in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! To worship and adore God's Holy Lamb, Jesus Christ, perfectly and eternally! Psalm 32:1-2 (NKJV): 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, Psalm 130:3-4 (NKJV): If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV): 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV): 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Phillips- "He has forgiven you all your sins: Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over His own head on the cross." 5. Our Completeness in Jesus Christ's Triumph(Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)): Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. The "principalities and powers" here refer to demonic powers aligned against Jesus Christ and His beloved Church. By making "a public spectacle of them" the picture is of a triumphal procession through the streets in celebration of a military victory with the defeated rulers put on display (ESV: put to open shame). Goes back to verse 10 which refers to Jesus Christ as "the head of all principality and power." Hughes- "In the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Father achieved a great victory over the evil powers of this world, making a public spectacle of them. He wants us to see that though they still exist, they are defeated. Satan's demons have been sentenced to be in the train of God's victory parade. Thus, we need no longer fear the outcome of our battle with evil. Christ has conquered!" MacArthur- "Though we still wrestle against the forces of evil (Eph. 6:12), they cannot be victorious. Christ, the crucified, risen Lord of all, reigns supreme in the universe. To be united with Him is to be free from Satan's dominion." See also Romans 8:37-39. ClosingThe death and literal/physical/bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ brings complete deliverance from spiritual death to spiritual life (i.e. regeneration), complete forgiveness and complete triumph. In short, our spiritual union in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, results in complete salvation. Jesus Paid It All I hear the Savior say, 'Thy strength indeed is small, Child of weakness watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.' 2 Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow'r and Thine alone, Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone. 3 For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim; I'll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. 4 And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete, 'Jesus died my soul to save,' My lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. Teacher: Darin Lawson |