Colossians 2:14-15 (NKJ)
Gordon E. Johnson
Rio Grande Bible Institute
In the context of Col. 2:11- 13, Paul has led us through the steps of faith in vital union with Christ: circumcised [cut off from the old life at the cross] (2:11); baptized or identified with this death to sin and raised to newness of life (2:12); made to live fully forgiven of ALL trespasses [never to be indicted] (2:13). In this same sequence in Ephesians he adds at this point: "and raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). As glorious as this may be, he has yet more to add.
Paul sees the (Mosaic) law which condemned us to God's wrath (Rom. 3:19, 20) as no longer our adversary. We have died to the law and our futile self efforts to keep it. The apostle has dedicated a full chapter to this liberating truth in Romans 7; he has used himself as an honest example of one who once felt the full weight of its condemnation "but now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6). Again "for I through the law, died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me; . . ." (Gal. 2:19, 20). This is no small reality, freedom from self effort and struggle. The Christian life is not best described as a struggle but rather a rest. We make it a struggle by not resting in our death to the law and accepting by faith our spiritual marriage to a risen Christ. (Rom. 7:4: Eph. 5: 25-27, 32)
How did this happen? Christ washed away, wiped out even the memory of the past, canceling our certificate of indebtedness to the law (Col 2:14). This bill of bankruptcy was against us, hostile to us. We had neither the means nor the will to pay. Our debtorship to the law is no longer in sight (Rom. 8:13). How and where did he do it? He nailed it to the Cross. It died when he died. Now we are free to become servants of true righteousness (Rom. 6:18). But still there is more than this in our union with Christ.
"Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15). Such a declaration of total victory over demonic powers is the final triumph of the Cross. Paul's language is graphic. He "undressed," he exposed, if you will, displaying them as his cosmic conquests. In a similar usage but a different context he describes our victory in Christ. The same verb appears:" Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses his fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Cor. 2:13). The picture is the returning conquering Roman general who enters the arch of triumph displaying his conquered foes. In Corinthians we are the conquered ones who proudly display our being his slaves. We march in the train of his triumph. In the Colossians text it is Satan himself and his hosts whom he leads in absolute triumph.
What does all of this add up to? We share in his death, in his burial, in his resurrection and his exaltation. This heritage is ours by virtue of his work on the Cross. This is the «finished work of Christ». We often hear that term in reference to the forgiveness of our sins. But Paul enlarges our limited view and says each Christian shares this full heritage by grace through faith. This becomes our point of departure, our union with Christ. From this departure Paul will address the issues of the Colossians. But there can be no victory without this gracious work of the Spirit of Christ in us."As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Col. 2:6).
Gordon E. Johnson
Rio Grande Bible Institute
Nov. 16, 2005
