Expositional Study – Part 7

The Triumph of the Cross Text: Colossians 2:9-15 Sub Series: Colossians Expositional Study part 7 Series: Truth, Judgment and Eternity

Breakdown of Verses :15 The Triumph of the Cross 2:14 The Written Code Nailed to the Cross 2:13 Dead to Sin, Alive with Christ 2:12 Buried in Baptism and Raised Through Your Faith 2:11 Put off the Sinful Nature 2:10 We are Full in Christ 2:9 The Deity of Christ

The Deity of Christ  Colossians 2:9 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” (NIV)  One of the proof tests in checking someone’s absolute faith in Christ is to find out the sincerity of their belief that Jesus Christ is actually God incarnate.  If Jesus is not God then our faith is useless.  If just an ordinary man called Jesus laid his life down for the sins of men, then there is absolutely no power in that sacrifice to save men through faith in it.  However, we believe that the fullness of the Deity lived in Christ and that all things were created through Christ and are held together by Him, therefore only He had the power to carry the weight of the sins of the whole world.

We are Full in Christ  Colossians 2:10 “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (NIV)  The Amplified reads, “ And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].”  The ultimate reason for life is to find the life giver Himself, the One who created all things, and gave life to all things and who is the Head over all rule and authority, power and dominion.  "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24 (NIV)

Put off the Sinful Nature  Colossians 2:11 “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,” (NIV)  When we are ruled by the flesh, we are ruled by the sinful nature which is contrary to the spiritual nature and the Word tells us that this corrupt carnal nature was spiritually cut off us by Christ Himself.  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 (NIV)  At conversion, Christ cut our carnal nature away, however we must crucify its passions and desires daily, this is the die daily attitude.

Buried and Raised  Colossians 2:12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (NIV)  Clarke’s commentary tells us that this is, “Alluding to the immersions practised in the case of adults, wherein the person appeared to be buried under the Water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth.”  This verse does point out the importance of the act of mature age water baptism, however, as we profess faith in Christ, our carnal nature is buried with Him and Christ raises us from the dead, born again in Him, a new creation.

Dead to Sin, Alive with Christ  Colossians 2:13 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,” (NIV)  But God raised us up with Him through our faith in Him. It’s like we stepped into an air balloon by faith and the balloon raised us up into the air.  “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 (NIV)  We are told here to count ourselves dead to sin, if we are dead to the earth we live in it no longer.

The Written Code Nailed to the Cross  Colossians 2:14 “having canceled the written code, with its regulations, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (NIV)  Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled the exacting requirements of the law of God which no man up to that time and since, had ever been able to fulfill.  According to the Law of God, no man is justified before a Holy God, for the written code stood against us and condemned us.  When Jesus was nailed to the cross, the Law of God was nailed to the Cross with Him, and by that sacrificial act, He took on Himself the condemnation we deserved according to the Law and because of this “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24 (NIV)

The Triumph of the Cross  Colossians 2:15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (NIV)  Jesus triumphed and was victorious on the cross and disarmed the powers and authorities, these were those who controlled the death realm.  “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18  Jesus now holds the eternal destiny of every soul He created in His hands in the form of keys.  “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3:7