Old Testament Reading: Psalm 1

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Colossians 2:8-15

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 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, 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. 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, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:8–15, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

When Paul wrote to the Colossians, he addressed them as true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He rejoiced over their faith (see Colossians 1:3-5) and even commended them for their good order and the firmness of their faith, and, in so doing, encouraged them to continue therein (see Colossians 2:5).

His stated concern for them was that they would grow in the faith, being “filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him…” (Colossians 1:9–10, ESV). Paul was concerned for them because there were false teachers in their midst. And it appears that this particular form of false teaching was a distortion, not so much of the doctrine of justification, but of the doctrine of sanctification. This is why Paul lays such a heavy emphasis on walking worthily in this epistle. This is why he has so much to say about wisdom and where true wisdom is found. In this epistle, Paul insists that Jesus Christ is an all-sufficient Savior. Not only is he able to justify us in the beginning and to save us in the end, but he is also able to sanctify us completely from the beginning to the end (see Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).  In other words, in Christ we find everything we need to walk worthily before the Lord so as to please him.

Paul’s concern for the Colossians was that they would walk worthily in Christ Jesus. And so, in Colossians 2:6, he issued this command: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7, ESV). 

The question is, what do we need to walk worthily in a way that pleases the Lord? 

Colossians 1:9-10 mentions two things: One, we must be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. That is to say, we must know God’s commandments—the moral law as summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments and the positive precepts of the New Covenant. Two, we must be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. As was said in the previous sermon, it is possible for someone to be very smart and to have a lot of information crammed into their head, and yet be a fool. A fool may know the truth and yet not live according to it. But a wise man knows the truth, understands what God requires of him, and strives to live or to walk according to the truth he knows. 

But a question remains. How can we, who are sinful by nature, walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord? In other words, even if we have the truth concerning God’s will for us in our heads, and even if we possess spiritual wisdom and understanding in our hearts, how can we possibly walk worthily, given the guilt and corruption of sin that resides in us by nature?   

I do believe this is the question the Apostle addresses here in Colossians 2:8-15. Why does Paul describe philosophies that are rooted in human traditions and the elementary principles of the world—principles that say, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch (see Colossians 2:21)—as being empty and deceptive? He describes them this way because, as he says in Colossians 2:23, although they “have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body… they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23, ESV). In other words, these philosophies are empty and misleading, because, though they can make men look good on the outside, they cannot make them good on the inside. This, evidently, was what the false teachers in Colossae were promoting—empty and deceitful philosophies rooted in human traditions and not in Christ. They claimed to have faith in Christ, but when it came to their pursuit of wisdom and holy living, they moved away from Christ and looked to philosophies that were not rooted in him. Paul says, No. These philosophies are empty, powerless, and misleading because they cannot solve the problem of our sinful corruptions and desires.

Dear friends, if your heart and mind are sinful and corrupt, more instruction concerning the will of God for you, more rules and regulations, and more external religion, will do you no good. Philosophies like this can make a hypocrite of you, but they cannot make you holy; they will produce Pharisees, but not saints; they are great at transforming men into white-washed tombs—pretty on the outside, but vile within. These Christless philosophies are empty and deceiving. They cannot produce a walk that is pleasing to the Lord. But wisdom that is rooted in Christ can. And Paul tells us why.

Here in Colossians 2:9-15, the Apostle explains why Christ is the only source of true wisdom (see Colossians 1:9), and why he has the power to stop the indulgences of the sinful flesh (see Colossians 2:23), to enable us to walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord—in a way that is fully pleasing to him. In our text, Paul presents seven reasons why Christ is the only source of true wisdom. The first has to do with who is in Christ. The last six are about the work that Christ does in and for all who are united to him by faith. 

In Christ, The Whole Fullness Of Deity Dwells Bodily

First, let us consider who it is that is in Christ. Please look with me at verse 9. “For in him [that is to say, in Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” (Colossians 2:9, ESV). 

The Greek word translated as “For” (ὅτι) is a marker of cause or reason. It could also be translated as “because” or “in view of the fact that” (Louw Nida 89.33).  Consider Paul’s flow of thought beginning with verse 8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ…” (Colossians 2:8, NASB95), because or in view of the fact that,  “in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” (Colossians 2:9, ESV).

Who is in Christ? God is in Christ. More specifically, it is the person of the eternally begotten Son or Word of the Father who is in Christ. He, that is to say, the person of the Son or Word, the second person of the Triune God, is the acting subject within Christ. And because he is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father…” (Nicene Creed), Paul says, “in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” 

What is Christ? He has two natures. He is human. He has a true human body and a human soul. And he is also divine, for the person of the Word or Son cannot be separated from his divine nature—the nature that he shares in common with the Father and the Spirit. What is Christ? He is the God-man; God come in the flesh. The word translated as “dwells” in Colossians 2:9 means, “to live or dwell in a place in an established or settled manner—‘to live, to dwell, to reside’” (Louw Nida 85.69). This is a wonderful way to describe the mystery of the incarnation. And who is Christ? Specifically, he is the Son or Word of God incarnate. 

Think of the implications of this concerning our search for true wisdom. Who is the most-wise being and the source of all true wisdom? God is. And how has God revealed his wisdom to us? The Father reveals wisdom to us through the person of the Word in three ways: One, the Father created through the Word and made the world in such a way that wisdom can be found in the natural world. Two, by speaking to and through the prophets of old by the Word. Consider, for example, the wisdom of God found in the law of God. Consider also the wisdom found in the books of Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs. How did we come to have those Scriptures except by the Father speaking through the Word and by the Spirit? ​“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21, ESV). And three, the Father has spoken to us “in these last days… by his Son [the Word incarnate; the Lord Jesus Christ], whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:2, ESV). 

Jesus Christ is the Son or Word of God incarnate—“in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” This means that in him the fullness of wisdom is found. The fullness of the wisdom of God is found in Christ, not only because he was the wisest man ever to live, as he “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52, ESV), but because “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” He is the person of the Son or Word of God incarnate.

The Apostle John says the same thing at the beginning of his gospel, but in different terms. He speaks of Jesus when he says,  

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… [verse 9] The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… [verse 16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:1–18, ESV)

Do you want to have true wisdom? Do you want to know how to walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord? Then run to God. Fear him, for this is the beginning of wisdom. And then receive his Word—the word that he revealed to and through his holy prophets. And especially run to Jesus, for he is the eternally begotten Word, come in the flesh. He is the true light that gives light to everyone. He makes the Father known. All who wish to have true knowledge and wisdom must come to him—he must not be despised or rejected.

In Christ, You Have Been Filled

Why is Jesus Christ the only source of true wisdom? Paul gives seven reasons. The first has to do with who is in Christ. But the last six are about the work that Christ does in and for all who are united to him by faith. 

In verse 10, we see that in Christ, we have been filled: “and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority”, Paul says. 

What does Paul mean when he says that we have been filled in Christ? To be filled is to be made complete. This means that, in Christ, through our faith-bound union with him, we have all that we need for our salvation and to draw near to God. In Christ, we have perfect wisdom or saving knowledge. In Christ, we have righteousness. In Christ, we also have sanctification. 

Davenant says, 

“1. In Christ we have perfect wisdom; because by the right knowledge of him, according to the doctrine of the Gospel, what is sufficient to salvation is known: This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. John 17:3…” (Davenant, 424)

“2. In Christ we have complete righteousness; because he has fully satisfied both the Divine law, and even God himself for our sins: according to that declaration of Isaiah 53:11. By the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities…” (Davenant, 424)

“3. In Christ we have sanctification, or indwelling righteousness. For what else is sanctification than a cleansing from sins and iniquities, whereby we were separated far from God; and a reception of gifts and graces, whereby we are brought nigh to him to serve him?” (Davenant, 425)

“And in Him you have been made complete…”, the Apostle says. In Christ, you have all you have been furnished with all you need for salvation: true spiritual wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification.  And the Apostle adds this remark: “And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:10, ESV). Why would Paul say this here? It must have to do with the false teaching that was threatening the Colossians. Some, we are told in Colossians 2:18, were insisting on the worship of angels. This likely means that they were teaching that to draw near to God, one must pass through several levels of heaven, each governed by an angel. To pass through and to draw near to God, worship would need to be offered to the angel. Here, after reminding us that we are complete in Christ, Paul reminds us that Christ is the head of all rule and authority. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to” Christ (see Matthew 28:18). He is the only mediator between God and man. He is all we need, therefore. We are made complete and worthy to enter God’s presence through faith in him alone. Worship must not be given to any other besides God and Christ.

In Christ, You Have Been Circumcised

The second thing that Christ does in us is mentioned in verse 11. There, Paul reminds us that in Christ, we  have been “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…” 

As you may know, there were some false teachers active in the early church who taught that New Covenant Christians still needed to be circumcised in the flesh in obedience to the commands given to Abraham and to Isarel under the law of Moses. Paul opposes that false teaching thoroughly in his letter to the Galatians. Perhaps this error was also present within Colossae. Paul quickly proves those who taught that physical circumcision is still required under the New Covenant wrong by teaching that all who are united to Christ by faith have been circumcised spiritually. 

The sign of the Old Covenant was circumcision. In that symbolic ceremony, a small piece of flesh was removed from the male infant children who descended from Abraham. This marked them off as members of the Old Covenant community. There is a counterpart to this under the New Covenant. It is not water baptism, as many suppose, but the spiritual circumcision (or removal) of the sinful flesh that Paul here describes. 

All who are united to Christ by faith have been circumcised “with a circumcision made without hands”. In other words, this circumcision is not physical, but spiritual. It is not performed by Abraham or Moses, but by someone greater than them, namely, Christ. Christ does not perform this circumcision with a knife of steel, but with the sword of his word and the Spirit. This spiritual circumcision, of which the Apostle speaks, does not remove the foreskin, but the whole “body of the flesh”. That is to say, it is the removal of the sinful flesh from all who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and united to Christ by faith. 

You say, but I am united to Christ by faith, and it does not seem as if my sinful flesh has been removed entirely, for I still sin! Well, corruption does remain. So do old habits. And temptations to sin do constantly come from the world, the flesh, and the Devil. But sin does not have dominion over you, for, as Paul will say in Colossians 3:3, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

All who are united to Christ by faith have been “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…” And now we must “put off [the] old self, which belongs to [our] former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of [our] minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24, ESV).

In Christ, You Have Been Baptized

The third thing that Christ does in us to enable us to walk worthily is mentioned in verse 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.” (Colossians 2:12, ESV)

The Greek verb translated as “having been buried” is a passive participle. It refers back to the spiritual circumcision mentioned in verse 11. When God regenerates a sinner by his word and Spirit, the sinflesh is removed (spiritual circumcision). In other words, the old sinful man is put to death spiritually and is laid in the spiritual grave. More than this, through regeneration we are raised to newness of life. How does this happen? It is the work of the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, we are united to Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. Just as the circumcision mentioned in verse 11 is spiritual, so too is the baptism of verse 12. It is a spiritual baptism that Paul refers to here—it is a spiritual union with Christ in his death and resurrection.

Paul speaks of this more thoroughly in Romans 6:1-14:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:1–14, ESV).

Clearly, there is a connection between this spiritual baptism involving spirit-wrought union with Christ in his death and resurrection and the sacrament of water baptism. The sacrament of water baptism is a sign of spiritual baptism—it is an outward, physical sign of an inward, spiritual reality. This is why baptism is for those who make a credible profession of faith, and not infants or the unregenerate. And this is why baptism is to be administered by dunking a person under water and bringing them up again. It is a sign that the person has been united to Christ by faith in his death and resurrection. It is a sign that the person has died to their old, sinful self and has been raised to new life by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ, You Have Been Made Alive

Fourthly, in verse 13, Paul stresses our new life in Christ Jesus. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him…” This new life has already been mentioned, but here it is brought to the forefront,

“And you…” To whom was Paul speaking except the Christians in Colosse? “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh…” This was their spiritual condition in the past. Though they were alive physically, they were at one time dead spiritually. And why were they dead spiritually? They were dead spiritually because they were in sin, and they were sinful. This should remind us of the Covenant of Works that God made with Adam in the very beginning. Adam was warned, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17, ESV). Adam sinned against God. He ate of the forbidden tree. Though he lived physically for many more years, he died spiritually. His trespass plunged him, and all humanity with him, into an estate of sin, misery, and death. This was the condition of the Colossians before the gospel of Jesus Christ came to them and the Spirit of God regenerated them, and this was our condition too, before God called us to Christ and gave us new life in him. 

 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him…” Friends, if you are alive spiritually today, it is because God the Holy Spirit made you alive. And the Holy Spirit made you alive in Christ Jesus. You have been brought by God from death to life because of what Jesus has done. You are alive in Christ, given your spiritual union with him in his death and resurrection. And you are united to him because he has come to you through the preaching of his Gospel.  

In Christ, You Have Been Forgiven

Why were we at one time dead spiritually? Because of transgressions (Adam’s and ours) and the uncircumcision (sinfulness) of our flesh. In verses 13 and 14, Paul reminds us that Christ has solved this problem for us. God has made us alive together with Christ, “…having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

If we are in Christ Jesus, God has forgiven our trespasses. 

How did he do this? He has canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. 

The Greek word translated as “canceled” is very strong. It means “to cause something to cease by obliterating any evidence—‘to eliminate, to do away with, to wipe out’” (Louw Nida 13.102).

And what has God obliterated any evidence of? The record of debt that once stood against us with its legal demands.

What is this record of debt? It must be the record (some say it is literal; others metaphorical of that which exists in the mind of) of all of the sins we have ever committed. Sin, as you know, “is any [lack] of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God” (Baptist Catechism 17). The Jews who lived under the Old Covenant were bound to keep the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant. The Gentiles are obligated to keep the moral law. Just think of it: God has a “record” of each and every sin that those not in Christ have committed! And what are the legal demands? They are God’s just judgments. Those who are united to Christ by faith have had that record of debt, and the legal demands associated with it eliminated, such that no evidence of its existence remains. 

And how did God, who is perfectly holy and just, wipe this record of debt away? He set it aside, nailing it to the cross. When Paul says that God set the record of debt that stood against us to the side by nailing it to the cross, he means that the debt was removed because it was paid in full by the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. It was there that Jesus atoned for the sins of people. It was there that he paid the price for them. Just as a sign was nailed to the cross above Jesus’ head with the charges that were leveled against him written on it, so too, all of our sins were nailed to the cross as Jesus bled and died there as our substitute and Savior. We owed a great debt to God, and Jesus paid it all. 

In Christ, You have Been Set Free 

The sixth and last thing that Paul mentions that Christ has done for us is found in verse 15. There, Paul reminds us that in Christ Jesus we have been set free from bondage to the Evil One and his dark kingdom. “He [Christ] disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” 

Satan and his demons are our adversaries still, but they are disarmed, for Christ has already won the victory over them. 

Davenant says this whole passage is about: 

“a spiritual spoliation, a leading forth, and triumphing openly accomplished upon the Cross. He spoiled demons then, he made a shew of them, and also triumphed over them upon the Cross, when, to carnal eyes, he seemed to be conquered and triumphed over by them: For, as the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, neither sensible; so the victory and triumph of Christ over our enemies, is not proposed to be surveyed by the eye, but to be contemplated by the mind by faith. Now faith easily conceives that the devil was spoiled by the death of Christ; because mankind are plucked from his jaws, and his dominion is broken and diminished. For he held us bound with the chain of our sins: his bonds, therefore, being broken asunder, he is stripped of his prey, and we are delivered. Hence Augustin, De Trinit. lib. 4, says, From whence the devil received the power of externally wounding the flesh of the Lord, from thence his inward power, which held us captive, was slain” (Davenant, 473-474).

Suggestions For Application

Dear brothers and sisters, be on the lookout for Christless forms of Christianity, for they are all around us. 

What is Christless Christianity? It is a distortion of true Christianity that teaches good morals and imposes many rules and regulations on its adherents, but is devoid of Christ and his gospel. Here is how you ought to live. Do more. Try harder. 

Orthodox Christianity is different. It says, here is how you ought to live, but you have not, and you cannot. You have violated God’s law in thought, word, and deed. You are guilty, therefore, and in need of forgiveness. More than this, you need to be renewed and changed inwardly if you are to obey God and walk worthily from this day forward. Only Jesus Christ can save you from your sin and misery. Humble yourself before God, therefore. Cry out to him for mercy. Turn from your sins and to Jesus, for he is able to save you from your sins and to sanctify you further. 

He is able to save and to sanctify, for in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily. 

And he saves and sanctifies by doing great things in us and for us. In Christ, we are complete. In Christ, we are circumcised inwardly and baptized spiritually. In Christ, we are made alive. In Christ, we are forgiven and set free.

What, then, does it look like to walk worthily in Jesus? Paul will tell us all about that in Colossians 3:1-4:5. I’ll tell you what it doesn’t involve. It doesn’t involve the imposition of man-made rules and regulations. It doesn’t involve more grit and determination. It involves abiding in Christ. It involves obeying the Lord out of the victory he has won for you and the work he has done in you. 

Soon, the Apostle will command those who have been raised with Christ to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…” (Colossians 3:1, ESV), and to “Put to death… what is earthly in [them]: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” (Colossians 3:5, ESV), and to “Put on… as God’s chosen ones… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another… [and] forgiving each other… And above all these [we must] put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:12–17, ESV). 

It’s easy to go through motions, friends. It’s easy to follow the traditions of man and to perform external religious duties. Paul is going to call us to worship and serve God, Christ, and one another from a heart of love. Keeping the heart is the real work to be done, and it is hard work. But Jesus Christ gives us everything we need to do this work, so that we might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. 

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady Colossians 2:9-15
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1. What is wisdom?
2. Who is in Christ, making him the only true source of all wisdom?
3. What does Christ do in and for us to enable us to walk worthily (six things)?
4. What does it mean to be circumcised spiritually?
5. What does it mean to be baptized spiritually?
6. What does water baptism have to do with this spiritual baptism? 
7. In Christ, God has forgiven us all of our trespasses. How has God done this? 
8. How do you plan to apply this text to your life today?

Posted in Study Guides Joe Anady
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Baptist Catechism 16

Q. 16. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (Gen. 3:6; Eccles. 7:29; Rom. 5:12)

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Introduction

Adam and Eve are called “our first parents” because the whole human race descended from them. 

The word “estate”, in Baptist Catechism question 16, is very important. We don’t use that word often. Instead, we might say, “state of being” or “condition.” So, the question is, did our first parents continue in the state of being or condition wherein they were created?

And what was their original condition? We should remember Baptist Catechism 13. It asks, How did God create man? The answer: God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. The words “in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness” describe the estate or condition of our first parents when they were created. The man and the woman were made in the image of God. They were given dominion over the other creatures. But what was their quality or condition? They possessed true knowledge. They stood right before God. And they were holy, that is, they were without defect or stain of sin. Do you remember the repeated refrain of Genesis 1? Everything in God’s creation was declared to be good, good, and very good when God made it. Chapter 9, paragraph 2 of our confession of faith refers to this original estate of man as the “state of innocency”. Adam and Eve were innocent, upright, and pure when they were first created.

Listen to question 16 again. “Did our first parents continue in the estate [condition] wherein they were created?” Answer: “Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.” (Gen. 3:6; Eccles. 7:29; Rom. 5:12)

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Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (Gen. 3:6; Eccles. 7:29; Rom. 5:12)

There are three things to notice about this answer:

One, the short answer is no. Our first parents did not remain in the estate or condition of their original creation. Our catechism says, “they fell”. Remember, Adam and Eve were created perfect and upright in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Something greater was offered to them in the covenant of life or works (remember Baptist Catechism 15). What blessings were they offered in the covenant of life? Something higher than what they possessed at first – life eternal – life in glory. These blessings were to be obtained through obedience. But instead of ascending to this higher form of life, they fell short of it and downward into a worse condition (see Genesis 3 & 4; Romans 3:23). Chapter 9, paragraph 3, Our Confession of Faith calls this fallen state of being, the “state of sin”.

Two, notice the stress placed on free will. Our catechism says, “Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.” 

The doctrine of free will is very important. Free will is the ability to act upon choice. Stated differently, free will is the ability to make free and rational decisions and to take action based upon those decisions. It is important to know that human beings were created by God with the power to think, speak, and act based on the choices they freely make.

I’ve been drawing your attention to chapter 9 of our Confession of Faith, which is about free will. I’d encourage you to read it sometime soon. When you do, you will notice three things. One, Adam and Eve were created with free will. Two, human beings did not lose free will after Adam fell into sin. In other words, men and women still have the ability to act upon choice after the fall, and they always will. Three, the thing that changed when Adam fell into sin was man’s state of being or condition and, therefore, his ability. If a man is corrupt in the mind and heart, what will he freely choose? That which is corrupt. This is man’s condition after the fall. Man retains the power to act upon choice but his ability is limited due to his fallen condition.

Our confession and catechism both rightly teach that Adam and Eve were created pure. There was no defect or corruption in them. But they were created with the ability to act upon choice, and they were also given a choice. The two trees in the garden – the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – symbolized the choice of obedience to God or rebellion against him. More than this, we must also confess that they were tested and tempted. By whom? They were tested by God. They were tempted by Satan. 

Listen to how Second London Confession 9.2 puts it: “Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was mutable so that he might fall from it.” Did you catch that? Adam and Eve were innocent and pure. They possessed the freedom and power to act upon choice. They possessed the freedom and power (or ability) to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God. But they were mutable. That means they were changeable. They were able to obey, but they were also able to disobey God’s command. The temptation to sin against God did not come from God, nor did it come from within themselves, but from without. It was the serpent who tempted Eve, and Eve who brought the temptation to Adam. How could it be that the man and woman who were upright, holy, and pure would sin? They were created with freewill. They were tested for a time. God permitted them to be tempted during this probationary period. It was their upright but mutable condition that permitted them to sin. 

Thanks be to God, we will have free will in eternity, but we will no longer be mutable. We will be confirmed in righteousness then. To see this communicated in a symbolic way, you may read Revelation 22 and notice that in the new heavens and earth, there will be only one special tree, not two. Only the tree of life will be there (see Revelation 22:1-5). No tree of the knowledge of good and evil will be found. This means the new heavens and earth will not be a place of testing. No, for the test has been passed (see Luke 4:1-13) and the victory has been won by Jesus Christ our Lord (see John 19:30).

The third thing to notice about Baptist Catechism 16 is that it teaches that man fell from their original condition by sinning against God.  

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Conclusion

As I move to a conclusion, I should draw your attention to the fact that question 16 marks the beginning of a section in our catechism that delivers a lot of bad news. 

Q. 16. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (Gen. 3:6; Eccles. 7:29; Rom. 5:12)

Q. 17. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want [lack] of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (1 John 3:4; Rom. 5:13)

Q. 18. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit. (Gen. 3:6,12,13)

Q. 19. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. (1 Cor. 15:21,22; Rom. 5:12,18,19)

Q. 20. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:18,19: Is. 64:6)

Q. 21. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. (Rom. 5:19; 3:10; Eph. 2:1; Is. 53:6; Ps. 51:5; Matt. 15:19)

Q. 22 brings us very low. What is the misery of that estate whereunto man fell?

A. All mankind, by their fall lost communion with God, are under His wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever. (Gen. 3:8,24; Eph. 2:3; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41-46; Ps. 9:17)

These are unpleasant truths to consider, but they are vital truths. How will we ever come to see our need for a Savior if these truths are not proclaimed? How will we ever come to see the goodness of the good news of Jesus Christ without first comprehending this bad news? 

You should know that our catechism delivers this bad news to prepare us to receive the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, by God’s grace. After delivering terrible news in question 22, our catechism then asks in Q. 23. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God having out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation, by a Redeemer (Eph. 1:3,4; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 5:21; Acts 13:8; Jer. 31:33). After this, we will learn that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of God’s elect. From here, our catechism will go on to teach us all about Jesus Christ, his person, and his finished work of redemption. 

Brothers and sisters, if Adam had passed the test, he would have entered into glory – he would have been confirmed and established in his uprightness by his keeping of the terms of the covenant of life or works. Adam fell, but Jesus Christ has succeeded. Christ has entered into glory, and all who are united to him by faith will enter into glory with him. Thanks be to God for the abundant mercy and grace he has shown to us in Christ Jesus.

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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1. Who are our first parents?
2. What is meant by “estate”?
3. What is the short answer to the question, Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
4. What estate (state of being or condition) did Adam and Eve fall from and into?
5. How is it that Adam and Eve could fall given their perfect, pure, innocent, and upright condition at the time of their creation?
6. What is free will? (You may want to read Second London Confession, Chapter 9). Did Adam and Eve have free will in the garden before sin entered the world? Was free will (properly defined) lost when Adam fell into sin? What was lost?
7. Will we have free will in eternity? Why will we not be able to sin in eternity?

Posted in Study Guides Joe Anady
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Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 4

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Colossians 2:8-15

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 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, 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. 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, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:8–15, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.

See To It That No One Takes You Captive

There is only one command in Colossians 2:8-15. The imperative is placed at the very beginning. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit,” etc. 

Paul commanded the Colossians to “see to it”. The Greek imperative could also be translated as “be on the lookout” or “beware.” This reminds us of our duty to be continually sober-minded, alert, and watchful. As Peter famously says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). 

What, in particular, did Paul command the Colossians to beware of? They were to “See to it that no one takes [them] captive…” The image that ought to come into our minds is that of an enemy overrunning a town to carry off the spoils of war and to take the people into captivity. Of course, Paul’s concern for the Colossians was spiritual, and not physical. They were not in danger of being carried off as captives bodily. They were, however, in danger of being carried off as captives spiritually. And so Paul issued this command: “See to it that no one takes you captive…” 

He then mentions the particular threats, namely, “philosophy and empty deceit.” If the threat were physical, Paul might have said, Beware that no one takes you captive by building siegeworks, by the use of battering rams, and by the use of the sword. But the threat was spiritual. It was not a city that was threatened, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was not physical captivity that the Apostle was concerned with, but the captivity of the souls of men. Because the battle was spiritual and doctrinal, he warned of “philosophy and empty deceit.” 

Notice this: It is not philosophy in general that Paul warns against. Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom. Under the broad heading of philosophy are included the disciplines of epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and logic. Christians must not fear philosophy. In fact, Christians ought to strive to be the best of philosophers—lovers of true wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord and submission to God’s revelation of himself to us in Christ, in the Word, and in the world he has made. Philosophy is of value to the theologian as a handmaiden. After all, the same Paul who said, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy” also quoted pagan philosophers favorably when trying to win the Greeks (see Acts 17:28). Evidently, Paul was familiar with the pagan philosophers, agreed that they said somethings that were true, and was willing to appeal to them when presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Philosophy has its uses, but its usefulness is limited. Though the philosopher may come to many true conclusions by contemplating the world God has made and through careful reasoning, there are truths about God, the worship of God, and the way of salvation that the philosopher will never be able to ascertain. Is it possible for the philosopher to arrive at the conclusion that God exists and that he deserves our praise? Yes. The best of the philosophers will come to this conclusion. But is the philosopher capable of discovering that God is Trinity, or that man is at enmity with God and can only be reconciled to God through faith in the God-man, Jesus Christ, or that God is to be especially worshipped one day out of seven, and that that day is now Sunday, or that baptism and and the Lord’s Supper are the two sacraments of the church. Is the philosopher able to ascertain these truths by his contemplation of the natural world or through the process of careful, logical reasoning? No. These things are beyond the reach of philosophy and must be revealed. We come to know who God is, who we are in relationship to him, of our need, of the way of salvation, and how we are to worship God, in particular, only through God’s Word. 

Friends, it is not philosophy (as a discipline) that Paul warns us about, for there is a good kind of philosophy, and a proper use of philosophy. Instead, Paul is warning us about philosophy of a particular kind. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit.” When men attempt to use philosophy alone, and aprat from God’s revelation of himself through Christ the Word, to answer questions about who God is, the way of salvation, and the how of worship, that philosophy will prove to be empty, foolish, or stupid, and deceitful or misleading. 

More specifically, Paul warned the Colossians, and us with them, of empty and misleading philosophy that is according to, rooted in, or derived from “human tradition”. 

The same things that were said about philosophy may be said about tradition. Traditions have their place. It would be impossible to worship God reverently apart from traditions. When are God’s people to assemble for corporate worship? God’s Word reveals that the day is the first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord’s Day, or Christian Sabbath. Traditionally, being informed by the light of nature (see Second London Confession 1.6), we assemble for worship at 10 AM on the Lord’s Day. And what are the people of God to do when they assemble for corporate worship? The Word of God says that we are to devote ourselves to the reading, teaching, and preaching of the Word of God, prayer, and the breaking of the bread as we followship (see Acts 2:42). In what order are we to do these things, and for how long, etc? Traditionally, being informed by the light of nature, we worship for as long as we do, and being informed by general gospel truths, we worship in the order that we do. 

Paul is not opposed to all traditions or customs. He is here teaching that human traditions cannot function as the foundation of our faith. Human traditions cannot be viewed as being ultimately authoritative. When we are asking questions about the way of salvation and the how of worship, we must not turn to human traditions, but to the Word of God. 

Next, Paul warns us not to be taken captive by empty and misleading philosophy that is according to, or rooted in, the elemental spirits of this world. What are these elemental spirits that Paul refers to? There is one Greek word behind the two English words, “elemental spirits”.  The Greek word is στοιχεῖα. It refers to the “basic principles which underlie the nature of something—‘basic principles, elementary concepts.’” (Louw-Nida, 58.19). There is a footnote in my ESV next to the words “elemental spirits” that says, “or elementary principles.” I do think that is a better translation. The NKJV says “basic principles”. The KJV says “rudiments of the world.” I think these are better translations of this Greek word. But the question remains, what is Paul referring to here? 

You should know that Paul is only introducing these concepts here in 2:8. He will return to them in 2:16-23. There, he will warn us more thoroughly about empty and deceitful philosophy, which is rooted in human tradition and elementary principles. What he says in  2:20-23 helps us to understand what these elementary principles are. There he says, “If with Christ you died to the [elementary principles] of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 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” (Colossians 2:20–23, ESV). When we come to this text, I will make the case that Paul is here referring to a form of false teaching that the says the Old Covenant ceremonial laws, and particularly the dietary laws, are stil in force, and must be observed by the Christian. “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”, they say. These laws were good for a time. They were God’s laws given to Israel under the Old Covenant. Old Covenant Israel was right to receive these laws from God and to observe them so long as the Old Covenant order remained. But the Old Covenant does not remain. It has been fulfilled by Christ and has passed away. The New Covenant has come. These laws are no longer binding, therefore. And if men teach that these laws are still binding on the people of God, they are to be rejected as promoting a philosophy that is empty and misleading, rooted only in human tradition, and in the fundamental principles of the world. 

Why are we to regard the imposition of these Old Covenant ceremonial laws as human tradition? Aren’t these laws from God, and not man? Yes, these laws were from God, and not man. But they were given by God to a particular people to observe for a particular time and in a particular place. These laws have now been fulfilled by Christ and have, therefore, been taken away. Any attempt to impose these laws on the New Covenant people of God is to be rejected, for God has not given these ceremonial laws to the New Covenant people of God. Now that the Old Covenant has passed away and the New Covenant has come, the imposition of these laws must be regarded as the imposition of man-made rules and regulations.    

And why does Paul refer to these ceremonial laws as fundamental or elementary principles of the world? It is because these laws, having to do with earthly things — foods to be avoided, ceremonies to be performed, and festivals to be observed— were given to Old Covenant Israel to teach them (and us, through them) the most fundamental principles of religion. Old Covenant Israel was in school—elementary school. But now that Christ has come to accomplish our redemption and to send forth his Holy Spirit, God’s Covenant people have graduated from elementary school and have, in fact, emerged into adulthood. The elementary principles of this world —the dietary laws, the ceremonial washings associated with temple worship, and Old Covenant festival days— have all been removed, therefore.  

You all remember elementary school, don’t you? And yes, this even applies to those of you who were home-schooled. When you are in elementary school, the teacher (or your mom) provides a lot of structure for you. Lots of instruction. Lots of guidance. Lots of rules. Why? Because, at that age, you lack the maturity and discipline to guide yourself. And that’s how things were under the Old Covenant. There were lots of rules and regulations imposed by God upon his covenant people as they awaited the arrival of the Messiah. But now that the Messiah has come, and the Spirit has been poured out on every member of the New Covenant community, the extra rules and regulations (the ones that had been added to the moral law) are no longer needed, for Christ has come, and Christ’s Spirit fills every true member of the New Covenant. The Spirit uses the moral law, written on our hearts through regeneration, to convict us of sin, and to guide us in paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake (see Galatians 3:19-25).

As I have said, Paul is merely sounding the alarm here in Colossians 2:8. He will elaborate on these things in 2:16-23, and so we will move on. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, [and here is the kicker] and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, ESV).

Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom. Should Christains love and pursue wisdom? Of course! To have true wisdom, one must know the truth about God, man, sin, and salvation in Christ. But wisdom is not merely about head knowledge. Wisdom is truth applied to the whole of life. Wisdom is about knowing and doing—it has to do with the way we walk. A man may be very smart. He may have a lot of truth crammed into his head, and yet be a fool. And what makes him a fool? He’s a fool because the truth in his head is not really believed in his heart. He’s a fool because he does not put the truth he knows into practice. The one who is wise knows the truth and walks according to it. 

Do not forget what Paul commended in the previous passage. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7, ESV). It’s not surprising that Paul goes on to warn the Colossians, and we with them, of beginning with Christ, and then being taken captive by a form of philosophy that is empty and deceitful, not rooted in Christ” (Colossians 2:8, ESV).

 Christian must beware of teachings that, though they may appear wise on the surface, are in fact empty and misleading because they are rooted in or derived from mere human tradition and the fundamental principles of this world. To quote Paul from Colossians 2:23, “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” (Colossians 2:23, ESV). Where then is true wisdom found—the kind of wisdom that is full and fulfilling; the kind that brings us salvation and sanctification; the wisdom by which we may, in fact, draw near to God and walk worthily before him? Only in Christ. Therefore, we must see to it that no one takes us captive by empty and deceitful teaching that is not rooted in Christ. 

Christ, the Only Source Of True Wisdom

The rest of the text explains why Christ is the only source of true wisdom. Wisdom has to do with walking, remember. And Paul has already expressed his desire to see us, not only saved through faith in Christ, but walking worthily in Christ. It was back in Colossians 1:9 that Paul, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9–10, ESV). In Colossians 2:6, Paul issues this command: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7, ESV). And in Colossians 2:23, Paul shows that his concern is to see us walking worthily, when he says, “These [elementary principles of the word] 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” (Colossians 2:23, ESV). This is a reference to the indulgences of the sinful flesh. His point is that those devoted to self-made or man-made religious practices might appear wise on the surface (think of the Pharisees), but these external practices didn’t do anything of value to stop the sinful indulgences of the flesh. Where, then, is true wisdom found? Where is freedom from sin found? Where will we find the power to walk worthily in Christ Jesus, in obedience to the Apostles’ command? Answer: in Christ—by having your roots sunk down deep in Christ, and by abiding in him, and growing up in him. Why is Christ the only source of true wisdom? The rest of our text explains. 

I’ve decided to move very quickly through the remainder of this text with you today. I present you with the seven reasons the Apostle gives for Christ being the only true source of wisdom, and I will do so very briefly. I plan to return to verses 9-15 next Sunday to mine this passage more deeply and carefully, for there are many treasures to be found here. 

In brief, Christ is the only source of true wisdom because: 

In Christ, The Whole Fullness Of Deity Dwells Bodily

One, in verse 9, we hear the Apostle say that in Christ, the fullness of deity dwells bodily. Who is the only source of true wisdom? God is. And Jesus Christ is God. He is the eternally begotten Word (or Wisdom) of God, the second person opf the Triune God, come in the flesh. If you wish to have true wisdom, you must go to God’s Word. Christ is the Word. He is the person of the Word, eternally begotten, not made. Through him, God the Father spoke to and through the prophets in the past. And in these last days, God has spoken to us supremely through the Word come in the flesh, Christ Jesus the Lord.   And Christ is the Word. 

In Christ, You Have Been Filled

Two, in verse 10, we see that in Christ, that is to say, through our Spirit-wrought and faith-bound union with him, we have been filled. Filled with God, and with his wisdom. 

In Christ, You Have Been Circumcised

Three, in verse 11 we are reminded that in Christ, we  have been “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…” Here, Paul speaks of spiritual circumcision, the death of the old man in Christ Jesus. 

In Christ, You Have Been Baptized

Four, in verse 12, Paul reminds us that we have been baptized in Christ, that is to say, we have been spiritually united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Next Sunday, I hope to demonstrate that this is a reference, not to water baptism, but to the spiritual baptism, that is to say, our spiritual union with Christ in his death and resurrection, of which water baptism is a sign.  

In Christ, You Have Been Made Alive

Five, in verse 13, Paul reminds us that we have been made alive in Christ Jesus. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him…”

In Christ, You Have Been Forgiven

Six, in verses 13 and 14, Paul reminds us that we have been forgiven in Christ Jesus. “…having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

In Christ, You have Been Set Free 

And Seven, in verse 15, Paul reminds us that in Christ Jesus we have been set free from bondage to the Evil One and his dark kingdom. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Suggestions For Application

As I have said, I plan to return to verses 8 through 15 next Sunday to consider them more closely and carefully. I’ll conclude this sermon by asking, what does all of this have to do with wisdom and with walking worthily in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord? 

Colossians  3:1-3 helps us to see. Speaking of the worldly, Christless philosophies, Paul says,  “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. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1–2, ESV).

Worldly, Christless philosophies are indulgence of the flesh. Why? Because, though Christless philosophies may discover good morals and may establish rules and regulations to promote the keeping of those good morals by men, even the best of worldly philosophers and philosophies cannot fix the deep-seated corruptions that reside within man as a result of Adam’s sin and ours.  These worldly philosophies cannot fill you with God and the wisdom of God. They do not have the power to put the old sinful man in you to death. Aristotle cannot give you a new spiritual life. Plato cannot wash away your sins to reconcile you to God. Confucius does not have the power to free you from bondage to Satan and his dark kingdom. But Christ does.   

If you are in Christ, you can walk worthily, not because you have some wisdom in your head, but because you have God and the Wisdom of God in your heart. 

If you are in Christ, you can walk worthily, because you have been regenerated. Your old man—the sinful flesh—has been put to death, and you have been raised to newness of life.  

If you are in Christ, you can walk worthily, because you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. You have been spiritually united to Christ in his death and raised with him in his resurrection. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work in you.

If you are in Christ, you can walk worthily, because you have been set free from bondage to sin and from the tyranny of the Devil. You now have freedom in Christ to obey God’s law and to honor Christ as Lord. 

This contrast between the kind of wisdom that worldly, Christless philosophies promote, and the wisdom that philosophy, which is rooted in Christ, promotes is eminently important to note. 

What can the worldly philosopher who wishes to exhort his followers to walk worthy really say to them? Here are the rules. Here are the standards. Try harder. Do better. Wear this clothing. It will help. Abstain from these foods. That will help. Fast three times a week. That will do it. Observe these holy days, and victory will be found there.  But all of this is bondage. 

Those in Christ do not need these external rules and regulations imposed on them. Why? But in Christ we have been renewed inwardly, raised from spiritual death to life, and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It is all of grace. 

I wonder if you can see how this doctrine affects the way that pastors pastor. You know, the elders of this church shepherd the members of this church, assuming that you are regenerated people. As regenerated people, living in this present evil age,  we still struggle with sin. Sometimes we struggle greatly. But regenerated people will not persist in sin. Though sin remains in us, it will not have dominion over us. The regenerated person hates their sin and will endeavor to turn from it. And so pastors do not need to impose man-made rules and regulations on God’s people when urging them to walk worthily. As pastors teach, encourage, and exhort from God’s word and from God’s law, we assume that God’s renewed people will love God’s law and will endeavor to obey it with the strength God supplies. 

And I wonder if you can see how this doctrine affects your endeavors to walk worthily in Christ Jesus. If you are in Christ, your obedience to him must emanate, not from self-will, but from a heart renewed by God, and filled with love and gratitude for all that God has done for you and in you through Christ Jesus. The Christians must walk worthily by abiding in Christ, therefore. Apart from him, we can do nothing.   

And Christ has taught us how to abide in him. I’d encourage you to read John 14:15-15:17 later today and see. Abiding in Christ does involve keeping his commandments. It involves making use of the means of grace that he has provided. But his commandments are not burdensome to the true believer in Christ, for his law is written on our hearts. In him we have been renewed. In him, we find all the power we need to walk worthy.  

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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1. What is the one command of Colossians 2:8-15? 
2. What, in particular, does Paul command us to beware of?
3. What is philosophy? Is Paul opposed to philosophy in general? What kind of philosophy is Paul warning us of?
4. What does it mean to be wise?
5. Where must we go to find true wisdom? Where must we not go? 
6. Why are human traditions and external ceremonies an insufficient source of wisdom?
7. Why is Christ the only source of true wisdom? Seven reasons are listed in Colossians 2:9-15. We will return to consider them in more detail next Sunday, Lord willing.

Posted in Study Guides Joe Anady
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Baptist Catechism 15

Q. 15. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man, in the estate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, He entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience: forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death. (Gen. 2:16,17; Gal. 3:12; Rom. 5:12)

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:4–17

“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:4–17, ESV)

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Introduction

Question and answer 15 of our catechism presents a very important doctrine. I think it is safe to say that the story of redemption that is found in the pages of Holy Scripture cannot be properly understood without the doctrine that is summarized here. 

The whole story of the Bible can be told in four parts: creation, fall, redemption in Christ, and consummation. And you will notice that, here in question 15 of our catechism, we are still talking about how things were in the very beginning after God created man, but before man fell into sin. We are still laying foundations, therefore. And if we do not get the foundational things right, we will not be able to understand the things that come later in the story. This is why you do not show up to the movies late or start to read in the middle of a book. If you miss the beginning, you will certainly be lost as you consider the middle and the end.

Again, the question is, ​​ What special act of providence did God exercise towards man, in the estate wherein he was created? When we talk about the estate (or we might say “state”) wherein man was created?  We are talking about man as God made him in the beginning – man as he came from the hand of God – man in the garden – man before his fall into sin. And our catechism is asking, what special act of providence did God exercise towards man in that state of being?

We have already defined God’s providence, remember? When we speak of God’s providence, we are talking about the way that God preserves and governs the things he has made. We know that God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, and after he created the heavens and earth, he began to uphold and govern his creation to bring about his eternal purposes. He preserves and governs his creation in many ways, generally speaking. But here we are talking about a special act of providence.  Did God do anything special in the beginning to govern man? Did he go beyond the created order of things to guide and direct man? The answer is yes!

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God Entered Into A Covenant With Man

Specifically, we confess that when God created man, he entered into a covenant with him. 

Genesis 1 tells the story of creation in a general way. There we learn that God made “all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good”(BC, 12). There, we also learn about the creation of man. “God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures” (BC, 13). But Genesis 2 tells the story of creation from another vantage point. In Genesis 2, the focus is on the covenant that God made with man in the beginning. Take special notice of this: when God created man in the beginning, he did not merely leave them alone on earth to live as his creatures. No, he took them somewhere special, and he entered into a special arrangement with them, wherein he offered them something special —that is to say, something more than what they possessed as his creatures.  

Genesis 1 tells us about creation in a general way, but Genesis 2 tells us about creation with special attention given to the covenant that God made with man in the beginning. God planted a special garden and placed the man there. And in the garden, God entered into a special arrangement with man. He gave man a special mission and set apart special trees to function in a symbolic way.  

Here is the point: first God created man, and then afterward he entered into a covenant with him. This covenantal arrangement is said to be a special act of providence because it was not an original part of the natural order of things. No, the covenantal arrangement was added after creation. What was the natural relationship that existed between God and man in the very beginning? God was the Creator, and man was the creature? What did man owe God? Everything! Man owed God obedience and worship. And what did God owe to man? Nothing! Except for justice. But God did something extra. God entered into a covenant with man. And it was through this covenant that God offered man something more than what he had as God’s creature. 

I’ve said that God entered into a covenant with man. Genesis 2 tells the story of that. But what is a covenant? A covenant is simply an agreement between two or more parties. Concerning the covenants that God has made with man, we may say that covenants are “declarations of [God’s] sovereign pleasure concerning the benefits he will bestow on [man], the communion they will have with him, and the way and means by which this will be enjoyed by them.” The word “covenant” is not used in Genesis 2, but the making of a covenant is certainly described there. 

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God Entered Into A Covenant Of Life With Man

So, what were the benefits that God offered to man in the beginning? 

The benefits were symbolized by the tree of life. Life was offered to Adam and his posterity, should he keep the terms of the covenant that God made with him. This might sound strange to some. Some might think, but wasn’t Adam already alive? And wasn’t he alive in paradise with a right relationship with God?  Well, yes, he was. But eternal life was the thing offered to Adam—eternal life in the blessed presence of God was offered to him—glory was offered to him. The life that was offered to Adam through the covenant that God transacted with him in the beginning was the same as the life that will be ours in the new heavens and earth when Christ our Savior comes again to make all things new. That is the life that the tree of life signified—life eternal. 

This is why our catechism refers to the covenant that God made with Adam as the Covenant of Life. This covenant goes by many names. It is sometimes called the Covenant of Creation because it was made in the beginning after God created the heavens and the earth. It is also called the Adamic Covenant because the covenant was transacted with Adam as the federal head. And many refer to it as the Covenant of Works, because this is how the blessing of this covenant would be received— through Adam’s work, or obedience.  All of these names for the covenant emphasize different aspects of it. But our catechism calls it the Covenant of Life so that we might remember what the promised reward for keeping this covenant was. 

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Upon Condition Of Perfect Obedience 

Notice that our catechism answers the question, how would Adam come to receive the promised blessing of this covenant with the words, “upon condition of perfect obedience…” What was the promised reward? Eternal life. And how would that promised reward be obtained? Through perfect obedience. 

Adam was to worship and serve the lord perfectly. He was to expand the garden temple and protect it from all evil. He was to work faithfully to expand the garden and to fill the earth with his offspring, and he was to rest and worship one day in seven. In brief, Adam was to faithfully serve as God’s prophet, priest, and king during this time of testing. And having passed the test, he would have been permitted to eat of the tree of life to enter into life eternal. The condition of the covenant of life was perfect and perpetual obedience. 

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Forbidding Him To Eat Of The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil

And what was forbidden? In this covenant, Adam was forbidden “to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…” 

I’ve already said that these two trees – the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – were sacramental. By that, I mean that there was nothing special about these trees until God set them apart as special. The tree of life was not magical, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not poisonous. They were just trees. They were ordinary trees that God set apart to signify something. In brief, the tree of life signified Adam’s obedience and the reward that would come as a result of it, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil signified Adam’s rebellion and the curse that would come as a result of it. 

What is meant by the name, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Well, by eating of that tree, Adam would be claiming to decide for himself what is good and evil instead of submitting himself to the word of God. Furthermore, by eating from this tree, Adam would come to know good and evil in another way. Through obedience, Adam would know what was good experientially and what was evil through abstinence. But through disobedience, Adam would come to know what is evil experientially.  

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Upon Pain Of Death

And lastly, what was the guaranteed curse for violating the terms of this covenant? The pain of death. And certainly, on the day that Adam ate of this forbidden tree, he and Eve passed from the state of perfection and into the state of sin and death. They, and all of their posterity, came under God’s curse, were cast out of Eden, and barred from the tree of life that had been offered to them. If they were to enter into life in glory now, it would have to be by the grace of God and by the work of another who was sinless and greater than Adam.   

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Conclusion

I think you can see why I have said that if we do not understand this doctrine, then it will be difficult for us to understand the rest of the story told in the pages of Holy Scripture. If the Bible tells the story of creation, fall, redemption in Christ, and consummation, then we must know about this covenant.

Q. 15. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man, in the estate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, He entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience: forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death. (Gen. 2:16,17; Gal. 3:12; Rom. 5:12)

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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1. Was man in a covenant with God the moment he was created? What did man owe to God the moment he was created? What did God owe to man the moment he created him? 
2. What is a covenant? 
3. What do we call the covenant that God made with Adam in the beginning?
4. What did God graciously offer to Adam (and his posterity) in the Covenant of Life?
5. What were the terms of this covenant? What did Adam have to do, and not do, to get the reward?
6. What were the threats or curses of this covenant if Adam failed?
7. This doctrine is foundational. It would be very difficult to understand the story or Scripture, that is to say, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, without it. Discuss.

Posted in Study Guides Joe Anady
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