Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians
December 14, 2025
Opening Prayer
Colossians 2:11-15
11 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, 12 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. 13 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, 14 by canceling the
record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside,
nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and
authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them
in him.
Paul connects baptism and circumcision here.
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Again, the false teachers want to reject the
flesh, but there is more to it than getting rid of some skin.
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This passage echoes Romans 6 – connected to
Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and new life in baptism.
What does this passage teach us about Baptism?
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Who is doing the work?
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What is being done?
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Who is baptism for?
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What is the ultimate significance of baptism?
2:16-19
16 Therefore let no one pass
judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a
festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a
shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let
no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of
angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason
by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding
fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through
its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
v. 16
Therefore …
Let no one condemn you in
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Food – there was a Jewish element to the heresy
in Colosse – selective mimicry
o
There were (and are) other religions with
dietary restrictions.
o
Why are we allowed to eat all food?
§
3 Reasons:
§
3 Laws
§
1 Comment
§
1 Vision
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Drink
o
Scripture condemns drunkenness, not drinking
alcohol.
o
Jesus drank wine.
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Festival
o
Like Passover.
o
What about Christmas?
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New Moon
o
Jews offered monthly sacrifices
o
Other religions were focused on the moon’s
cycles, too.
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Sabbath
o
This is not about “going to church”
§
3rd Commandment
o
Human Laws tied to how to observe the Sabbath
§
This is true of all of the above.
v. 17
Shadows and substance
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All the rituals point to one ultimate reality
v. 18
Let no one disqualify you …
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This is not talking about actual sin – we are
called to repent.
What would be the basis of the attempted disqualifications
in Colossians?
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These reveal some things about the Colossian
heresy.
According to his sensuous mind – according to the mind of
his flesh.
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Flesh is often used to describe the evil, sinful
nature of people.
There are two authorities to watch out for, and they are
often in partnership
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Fallen spiritual beings
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Our sinful nature (Jeremiah 17:9 – The human
heart is deceitful above all things…)
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Both work within all kinds of created authority
o
Personal – Cult of Personality and evil leaders
o
Impersonal – governments and institutions
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Authority is not evil, in and of itself, but it
can be used for evil, as can all created things.
v. 19
Not according to the Head
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What does it mean for Jesus to be the head?
This passage speaks of growth, but obviously not the
physical kind.
Christians and, by extension, the Church, grow stronger when
we
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Hear and believe God’s Word
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Cast away erroneous teaching
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Hold firmly to true doctrine
Where does the growth come from?
2:20-23
20 If with Christ you died to
the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive
in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not
handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to
things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and
teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom
in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body,
but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
v. 20
If you died with Christ … (and by the way, if you’re
baptized, you did!) … you died to the elemental spirits of the world.
Why, then, as if you were still alive in the world, do you
submit to its regulations?
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Is the problem that there are regulations?
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The problem is that the teachings they are
worried about are according to … (v. 22)
v. 23
These have the appearance of wisdom …
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But where do we find true wisdom? (2:3)
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Discernment is an important part of the
Christian life.
o
Read/Listen to the Word
o
Pray for guidance
o
Seek reliable sources
Self-made religion, asceticism, and severity to the body …
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Monasticism
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When does discipline (1 Cor. 9:27) move into this
abuse Paul describes in Colossians?
What is the value of such self-made religious activities?
Should we seek to stop the indulgence of the flesh? If so,
where do we turn? What strategies should we employ?
Colossians 3-4
Paraenesis – moral advice, instruction, or exhortation.
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Does morality matter?
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How do we know what is moral and what is not?
Colossians 3:1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the
things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of
God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and
your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When
Christ who is your/our life appears, then you also will appear
with him in glory.
According to this passage, why should we seek the things
that are above?
What does Paul mean by “above”?
What is the promise of this passage? What is its timing?
Wrapping Up
What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that
you hope to hold onto from these verses?
How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your
faith life?
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