“Don’t let any voice of doubt diminish the power of your conquering king.”
Continuing through the book of Colossians, Ben Stuart shows us how we can live hopeful, confident lives as we walk in the triumph of Jesus.
Key Takeaway
There is nothing we can do to repay the record of debt against us. We have violated what God has put in place. But through Jesus, our debt was canceled when He was nailed to the cross. We no longer stand accused. There is no debt against us. He purchased our freedom with His blood.
The Church at Colossae had placed their faith in the finished work of Jesus. They were safe and secure, but other teachers came along and started to make them question things. They were told they had to do certain things to gain God's approval.
Whether in a religious or secular setting, the message of you have to do, do, do to feel safe and secure is powerful. It's power comes from the sense that we don't feel good about ourselves. For us to feel and have peace, we have to fix our eyes on what's already been done through Jesus, not what we think we have to do. He's done it all!
Colossians 2:13
There is something wrong with you- you're dead! You are spiritually dead and powerless to create inner peace.
Trespass- consciously and deliberately taking a step where you know you weren't supposed to go. See Romans 5: 12-21. Your activities and decisions condemn you.
Uncircumcision- Circumcision represented a covenant with God. Jewish baby boys were circumcised on the 8th day. Without any doing on their own, the act entered them into a covenant with God. For believers in the New Testament, the outward symbol is not necessary, but the inward change of heart is. What's dead is cut away, and what's alive can come forth. It's a living and vital relationship with God. He is the only one who can bring us back to life. Paul has reminded us of our identity and status.
Paul, in the Greek, is driving the point home. "You all were made alive together with Him. You! With Him!"
How did God do this?
He forgave us. The Greek says he graced us. It's His kindness that forgave ALL of our trespasses. The word is plural. He forgave every single one.
Colossians 2:14
God canceled the record of debt. Record means "handwritten." In the Greco-Roman world, if you bought something on credit, you wrote what you bought and how much was owed in your own handwriting. There was a paper trail, a tab of what you have done.
The book of Deuteronomy is constructed like a legal contract that God's people signed. They did not keep up their end of the bargain, so God brought judgment. Romans 2:14-15 explains that we did not sign a document, but we have a conscience that shows us the better way to live. We have consistently violated that. Our record of debt condemns us. We are all guilty. It's hostile towards us because it's against what God has put in place.
Yet, Jesus took the document and...
- Canceled it- He wiped it away
- Set Aside- lifted it up and got it out of our midst
- Nailed it to the Cross.
He canceled your trespasses so He can redeem you. Grace is free to us because it was so costly for Him. All of our transgressions were paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He didn't nail a piece of paper to the Cross. He was nailed to the Cross.
Colossians 2:15.
Rulers and authorities are the spiritual powers that the Colossians thought they had to placate in order to not feel bad about themselves. Paul assures them that Jesus is superior over those forces.
Satan disturbs us by constantly reminding us of our real-world failures. He accuses you with the truth of what you've done and tries to condemn, judge, and kill you. Jesus puts a cross over that debt. There is no debt against you. There is no condemnation. You have been set free from sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities. He reigns in triumph over them. A triumph is an actual event. It's not the victory; it's the after-party. The defeated one is bound, in mourning, and tugged along for all to see. He is powerless. Today, it's in the same vein as the victim getting to speak to their victimizer after they have been accused, tried, convicted, and judged. They are regaining their identity. They are getting to say that the guilty one no longer has any power over them.
"He cancels your trespasses so He can redeem you."
Discussion Questions
- Ben shared a story about the first house he and Donna bought. What they thought was safe a secure was taken from them. Has any decision you made that you thought was stable turned out to leave you feeling vulnerable?
- People often say that religion is constant doing in order to please a god. How does this play into the secular sphere as well?
- What does the first part of Colossians 2:13 say? What is wrong with us?
- Can you define trespass and explain circumcision/uncircumcision?
- What is Paul emphasizing in the Greek when he wrote that we are made alive in Christ?
- How did Ben's example of clean, fresh water and water with cow dung in it represent what Jesus did to our debt?
- Read Colossians 2:14. What is the importance of the verbs found in this verse? What was nailed to the Cross?
- What are the "rulers and authorities" that Paul referenced in Colossians 2:15?
- If we know that Jesus is superior over all forces and we have no fear of rulers and authorities, how does Satan try his best to disturb us?
- We learned that a triumph is an event. What happens to the defeated one? How does this give you hope for today and for the future?
Scripture References
