This week we have been looking at Colossians 2:4-15 and the concept of being prepared in regards to growing and maturing in our faith. We first saw how we need to be prepared in order to stand in our faith when we encounter false teachings so as not to be blindsided by them. Then last time we saw how we need to keep a vigilant watch over teachings so that we are not led astray by them. Today we will finish off by looking at how we need to keep focused on our faith; as Paul said in Ephesians, for it is by grace and through faith that we are saved. In Colossians 2:11-15 we see, “You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.”

No Works

The teaching Paul refutes here is that of Jewish legalism as well as those that taught the adherence to a set of strict rules as a means to become more spiritual. What Paul states here it is not the works that save us or even make us more spiritual; rather it is Christ Himself and our faith in Him. One of the main Jewish Laws that false teachers were claiming needed to be followed was that of circumcision; this was a sign of God’s covenant with the Jewish people, it was to be a physical representation of a spiritual action. Even today we have people that look at the physical representations as being the means that save them; actions such as baptism, Communion, or even saying the sinner’s prayer. The thing is if Christ is not in your heart those actions mean nothing.

Alive In Christ

Paul then next uses the illustration of baptism to show how we are now alive in Christ. Verse 12 is often one I have heard used when performing a baptism. You see as mentioned in verse 13 when we are still in our sin, we are spiritually dead; but through Christ’s work on the cross God has made us alive in Him. This was all done through faith, just as mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” Being dead spiritually there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, that is why our salvation is not by works, only God can bring us to life.

Canceled Debt

It was not only that we have been made alive in Christ, but through His work on the cross our debt to sin and the law has been canceled. While gentiles did not have the Ten Commandments, all of humanity has had God’s holy standards written on their hearts. This is a standard which we are unable to live up to and carries a penalty we are unable to pay. Jesus through his death on the cross paid that penalty, erased the debt incurred by all of humanity in regards to God’s holy standard.

Victory

The final aspect of our faith that Paul presents here is the victory we have obtained through Jesus. You see Jesus didn’t just deal with sin and the Law with His death on the cross, but He also dealt a crushing blow to Satan. All of this comes to us through our faith in Christ, nothing else. Just as Paul told the Colossian church that nothing else needed to be added to the Gospel, we need to remember all we need to be prepared in our Christian walk is the Gospel and our faith and trust in Christ.

Semper Paratus the motto of the US Coast Guard means to always be ready, this concept is also one that Paul impresses on the Colossian church regarding to stay true to the faith. The first thing that Paul lets the Colossian church know is that they cannot just be stagnant, they can’t just sit around and wait for issues to come up and only react then. This is just like the Coast Guard, they do not sit around and wait for a call to action regarding a rescue at sea, but they are constantly working and keeping their skills honed so they can be the most effective when the need arises. In Colossians 2:4-7 we read, “I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.”

Why Should We Be Prepared

The first thing that Paul mentions is our need for being prepared. “I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.” This is why as Christians we need to be prepared, we need to be constantly in the word and prayer, Satan will use extremely appealing words and arguments to draw us away from our faith and make us less effective as Christians. So you see it is not a question of if, but when we will face arguments and logic used in a way to lure us away, that is why as Christians we need to be prepared.

How Should We Be Prepared

Once Paul instructs on the need for being prepared regarding our faith he illustrates how it looks to be prepared. The first example Paul uses is that of the military. When Paul in verse 5 talks about order and strength, he is using military terms in relation to the actions of soldiers on the battle field in that they know where to be positioned and to be ready to face the enemy, as Christians we need to be prepared with similar discipline and obedience.

The next three illustrations regard the role of faith in our lives. The first is that of a journey in which we are to walk by faith. Despite what the Gnostic teachers claimed the Christianity starts with Christ and by faith and must continue with Christ and by faith. Then there is the tree, where we as believers not only need to walk in faith but be rooted in faith. Just like a tree that has good and healthy roots will thrive so will our Christian life as long as we are rooted in our faith in Christ. Finally there is the building, when we have a solid foundation through our faith in Christ we can then grow spiritually.

The final two illustrations Paul uses are that of the school and a river. With the school we need to remain faithful to what we have been taught. As Christians we need to hold fast to the truth of the Word of God, it is through the Bible that we learn of and come to faith in Christ. Unfortunately just as the Gnostics did in Paul’s day there are those that deny the truth of God’s Word. Then with the river as we grow in our faith we find ourselves with a great desire to praise God, even to the point where it bubbles out of us much like a river overflowing its banks.

As Christians we are constantly in the midst of a spiritual battle, and we have been given the tools and the training needed to get through. The only problem is that many of us neglect to use what we have been given and wait for the bullets to start flying pas our head before we react. Rather Paul explains we need to be prepared, we are better off if we are ready for the attack rather than to be surprised by it blindsiding us.