Complete in Christ...Colossians 2:8-12

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We've Always Done it That Way

Why is it that people are so unwilling to give up their traditions?  Well, frankly, it's because it's a tradition!  "We've always done it that way," is probably the most annoying phrase in the English language to someone who is trying to make changes.  A close second might be, "Well, I'm just set in my ways."

Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

When we move into the spiritual realm, the basis for our actions should never be tradition, but the Word of God. As clearly stated in Colossians 2:8, we are to be on the lookout for those who try to seduce or corrupt our beliefs through their empty, worthless philosophies, traditions, and principles.  I am not claiming to be the wisest, I only claim to judge them all by my source of wisdom - the Bible.

On what do I base my haughty opinions? 

Colossians 2:9-10 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

Colossians 2:9-10 explains how Christ is fully God and was fully God in His earthly body.  We are complete in Him!  Note: It doesn't say we used to be, or we could be someday.  If we have received Christ, we ARE complete in Him.  I don't need ANYTHING else.

There are those who would whisper..."You're right, but you also need to..."  Fill in the blank with whatever you want, but don't be offended when I respond, "I am COMPLETE in Christ."  I cannot deny the truth of God's Word.

In verses 11 and 12, Paul begins to deal with one aspect of the Jewish faith that was leading some astray.  In the Old Testament, the outward sign of God's people was circumcision.  Paul explains that in Christ we have the circumcision "made without hands."  Circumcise means to "cut off".  We are cut off from the power of sin to rule over us, and we have been set apart to live for God.

Ephesians 4 further explains in detail the "putting off the body of the sins of the flesh".

Our outward sign of being part of God's family is baptism, but on the inside our circumcision is circumcision of the heart.  In Christ we are not the same as we used to be.

We do not need traditions, experiences, or philosophies to bring us closer to Him.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."   2 Corinthians 5:17