Made Alive Together with Christ

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:8-15 ESV)

Now, primarily in the book of Galatians, but also here in Colossians and in Romans, and perhaps in other New Testament writings, we have the subject addressed to us that has to do with the transition from the Old Covenant God had with his people Israel to the New Covenant God has with his people Israel who now also include Gentiles, and who now only include those of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. For all those who chose not to believe in Jesus Christ were cut out and all Gentiles who believed in Jesus were grafted in.

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; John 8:18-19,38-47; Jude 1:5; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]

But since this was during that transition time, Paul had to deal with a lot of questions and misunderstandings and false teachings which were arising and which were troubling the church. But we can apply these teachings to our lives today, too, on the basis of the overall general message, even if we personally are not dealing with controversy over circumcision and Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, and dietary laws and restrictions. But we still have Judaizers today convincing Christians to be more like Jews.

So, what is the message here for us who never had to deal with such things? We are still warned against being taken captive by any kind of philosophy and empty deceit, which is according to human tradition, and according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ and his teachings and the teachings of his NT apostles. So, for one, we are not under the Old Covenant, so we don’t have to obey those liturgical and ceremonial and dietary laws and restrictions. But we still have to obey God.

But this isn’t just about the Old Covenant. This has to do with any teachings which are of the flesh and not of God, and which make requirements of us that are not of God, and which try to force upon us human customs and traditions which are not biblical. And this is about any teachings or doctrines or forms of religious practice which were created in the minds of humans and which do not agree with the Scriptures, in context. And this includes any teachings which deny the teachings of Christ and of his NT apostles.

For, by genuine faith in Jesus Christ, because of what Jesus did for us on that cross, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies to obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (Romans 6:1-23).

So if someone is trying to convince you that you can just “pray a prayer to receive Christ” and now all your sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but regardless of how you live, and with no requirements for death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord, then they are not telling you the truth. For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we still walk in sin, and not in obedience to God, we don’t have life in him.

[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6]

Now, this is where it sometimes gets sticky when we read passages out of their full context. For God making us alive together with Christ and us being forgiven of all our sins must be preceded by us dying with Christ to sin so that we now walk in holiness and in righteousness and no longer in sin. But this is not a one time thing and then it is a done deal. The Scriptures teach progressive salvation and of the critical nature of us continuing to walk in obedience to our Lord and no longer in sin if we want eternal life with God.

[John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 2:24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.