Category: The Road to Our Redeemer

Colossians 2:13 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, (emphasis added)

Colossians 2:13 is one of those verses that has incredibly discouraging news, and incredibly encouraging news in the same sentence.

Yesterday I wrote a devotional on the idea that apart from Christ we are dead or unable to save ourselves. Describing it another way, we are addicted to sin, and cannot choose the right way [1].

If this verse ended with those words there would be very little hope for life, thankfully it ends with hope filled words.

Those who were dead are made alive in Christ

Obviously this doesn’t mean a physical resurrection from the dead. Instead Paul is illustrating the truth that a persons life is completely transformed by God.

The one who was dead and unable to save himself has now been saved by God.  or to use our other illustration, the addict who cannot do the right thing now has a choice.

This change comes because our sins have been forgiven (more about this when we get to 2:14 tomorrow) but at the moment let me take a few moments thinking about the words “together with him.”

Granted those three small words don’t seem like much at first, but they share a very powerful truth.

Salvation (or the ability to choose God) only comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Editors note: while Jesus isn’t named in this verse, a study of Colossians 2:14-15 shows the word “he” in 2:13 does refer to Christ.

Another reason Paul uses the idea of dying and being raised from the dead is it reminds us of the Gospel which tells us:

1. When Adam and Eve sinned against God it began a curse that included separation from Him, and death
2. The only way this curse could be broken is for someone perfect (who never sinned) to willingly pay the price for all mankinds sin
3. Throughout the Old Testament mankind tried to pay this price, but everyone failed
4. God chose to send His own son Jesus Christ who lived a sinless life on the earth
5. Christ willingly died on a cross for the sins of mankind, and three days later He arose from the dead
6. Today Jesus is in Heaven, and because of the price He paid, we can live there for eternity as well [2]

God knew that as dead individuals addicted to sin we had absolutely no hope of saving ourselves, so He sent Jesus to pay the price for us.

The good news is we can have a choice (be made alive) and live for eternity with God…but this is Salvation is only found by Faith in Jesus Christ.

Being with Christ means more than just accepting Him as my Savior though.

It requires that I rely on Him for my strength, help, and wisdom.

Because apart from Christ’s strength and help I’m still a sin addict.

See I may be able to choose God’s way. But there is a big difference between being able to do the right thing, and actually doing it when life’s hard.

To be honest I struggle with that part of being “with Christ” because there will always be a part of me that wants to take care of things on my own.

A part that will say I have things under control when I obviously don’t.

A part that is so focused on fixing a problem that I can’t see what a mess I’m making of things.

A part that forgets that apart from Christ I am broken

Col. 2:13a And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 

This week I started a series of blog posts on “physical fitness” because it’s something I believe is very important for Christians, and I’ve struggled with it most of my life.  But another reason is I’ve noticed how these physical challenges illustrate spiritual ones in my relationship with God.

For instance every year at almost the same time I end up gaining weight (learn more by clicking here).  Seriously even when I go out of my way to prepare for the physical let-down in March it still happens

The Lord uses experiences like this to show my weakness and need of Him, but it goes even deeper than that.

In the eyes of God I am dead

Now obviously the Apostle Paul who wrote Colossians 2:13 (using words given to him by God) wasn’t referring to literal death.  Instead he is referring to an inability to save ourselves; just like a dead body can’t come up out of the ground, you and I cannot glorify God in our own strength (Romans 5:6, Ephesians 2:1, 5)

If you would allow me to describe this in a way we can better understand-Paul is telling these people they were addicts.  Individuals who couldn’t choose God if they wanted to (which they didn’t).

Paul continues by explaining what there were addicted to

1. trespasses
2. Uncircumcision of their flesh

The trespasses seems pretty self explanatory (we are addicted to sin and cannot stop doing it) but what in the world does Paul mean by uncircumcision of the flesh?

Again it’s obvious Paul isn’t referring to the physical act here because it would be impossible to do this more than once.  Instead the word uncircumcision refers to a way of life.

The thing is circumcision was never meant to be just a physical act.  Instead it was symbolic of a heart that eliminated sin, or anything else that separated a person from God.  Paul explains this clearly in Romans chapter two.

Rom. 2:28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

Rom. 2:29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Paul writes this to Jews who boasted about keeping all of  the law (outer actions)  but had no real heart relationship with God.  So we are addicted to a way of life that looks  very Godly  on the outside, but on the inside is miles away from the Lord.

The first part of Colossians 2:3 then shares a VERY clear message

Given the choice between my way and Gods way I will choose my way every day of the week

Not because I don’t want to choose God (because sometimes I will want to) but because as a sin addict I CAN’T choose God.

Okay so what in the world does this have to do with healthy eating?

Eventually I will choose the donut (what I want to eat) over vegetables

It is possible to choose healthy eating short-term since it isn’t a spiritual challenge…however as addicts to sin we are bound to choose our own way eventually.

Which is why we need God’s help

And I’m so thankful there is more to Colossians 2:13

Gen. 3:16   To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

We live in a world of broken relationships, but it wasn’t meant to be that way.

In the beginning Adam and Eve were part of a complimentary relationship that was focused on ministering to the other (there was no arguing or hostility of any kind). However the moment Eve ate that fruit everything changed.

1. Suddenly instead of allowing Adam to have a leadership role [1] Eve chose to take it herself (Genesis 3:6)                                                                                                                                                         Please don’t think I’m being disrespectful towards women, or claiming they cannot make decisions  for themselves. My point is in that situation Adam was supposed to make the decision.
2. Instead of taking the leadership role and communicating with God, Adam chose to hide, and didn’t confess any wrongdoing (Genesis 3:7–10)
3. Instead of protecting Eve (an important part of Adam’s role) he chose to blame her for everything that happened (Genesis 3:12)

I will leave the discussion of marriage principles in this passage to those who have more experience with the subject, but it is interesting to point out from the moment Eve rebelled the marriage roles were reversed.

Eve instead of desiring to be cared for or protected wanted to lead.

And Adam instead of desiring to lead handed that responsibility over to someone else (Eve was the one responsible).

Sadly this reversal of roles still affects every marriage relationship to this day because God used it in a curse on Eve (we will get to Adam’s curse tommorrow don’t worry). In it the Lord makes an intersting statement “your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

If you will allow me to paraphrase this, God is saying “Your desire will be for your control in the relationship but your husband will control you in an unloving way.”

Instead of being a complimentary relationship where both minister to one anothers needs in love, now the marriage relationship will be all about control

It’s not difficult to see how the struggle in this curse extends to EVERY RELATIONSHIP.

1. Children with parents
2. Workers with thier employers
3. Students with teachers
4. Kids with siblings
5. Adults with friends

Those not in power are always trying to get control (like Eve), but it’s a broken form of control like Adam displayed (a forceful control).

The bottom line is both sides in the relationship will constantly be looking for control (being able to do it their way) This is why something as trivial as where we go to eat lunch can turn into a huge argument

Okay so what does this mean for Christians?

Simply this

We must understand it wasn’t meant to be this way

God didn’t want relationships to be about control

But when we chose our own way everything was broken.

The Lord instead desires that we create relationships built upon selflessly giving away of control [2]. In this way we display the love of Christ who was willing to give up everything on our behalf.

Phillipians 2:5–8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in qthe form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.                                    8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

Genesis 3: 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

Genesis 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

 

The core of every temptation we receive from Satan can be found in Genesis 3:5. Here the Devil tells Eve God commanded them not to eat from the tree because he was afraid they could do a better job of making decisions than Him.

Now obviously Adam and Eve didn’t literally become God after eating the fruit, but I don’t believe this is what he meant anyways. Instead emphasis should be placed on the phrase “knowing good and evil.”

 

Up to this point God made the rules

He was the one who got to decide what they could or couldn’t eat

He was the one who initiated consequences if they ate from the tree

He was one in control

 

Basically Satan is telling Eve after eating this fruit she will make the rules [1]. And going a step farther, she could do a better job of making the rules (being God) than God

From the beginning of time that idea [2] has been at the source of every rebellion.

1. It’s what got Satan thrown out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:13–14)
2. It’s what got Adam and Eve thrown out of Eden (Genesis 3:22–24)
3. It’s what disqualified every man or woman leading up to Christ [3]

 

Today this idea is still used by Satan to lead us towards rebellion…but in a slightly different fashion.

It’s all about control

Our fallen sin-nature constantly craves control over circumstances, which is why we find ourselves arguing or fighting with others over incredibly foolish things sometimes.

Our hearts craving control pretty much paints a gigantic red X on our backs and practically begs Satan to tempt us with the idea we can be a better God.

And before you start thinking to yourself “that’s okay I will just prepare myself for that temptation” keep in mind that we are broken people who apart from Christ have no hope of withstanding a temptation.

 

Okay so how can we withstand this powerful temptation?

Ask God to help us remember

See Satan is lying when he claims we can do a better job of running things since the moment Eve ate the fruit everything immediately fell apart. In the same way God allows us in His mercy to make our own decisions sometimes to show just how foolish we are.

It’s those memories that can add an aspect of clarity in Satan’s temptation

Remember what happened last time?
Didn’t you make a complete mess of things?
Didn’t you end up crying out to God for help?
Didn’t you promise NEVER to do that again?

 

The entire Old Testament revolves around a common theme

1. God challenges his people to obey
2. The people disobey God
3. God judges His people and they repent
4. God delivers them from their judgment

As this cycle repeats itself over and over a very clear message is heard

There is a God…But your not Him

Genesis 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

Of all the questions I’ve been asked as a missionary, “if God is Holy why do we still have ?” is the  most common (followed closely by “if God is Loving why do we have ?).

First the short answer…God’s justice comes uses a spiritual judgment instead of physical.

And now a long answer…

God told Adam and Eve if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would die (Genesis 2:16–17). Therefore Eve believed the moment she ate that fruit (or even touched it) physical death would immediately come.

Satan in Genesis 3:4 basically called God a liar, promising that instead of a curse that fruit was actually a blessing (Genesis 3:5) the Lord was trying to keep them from. And partially he was correct since Eve didn’t physically die right away.

But what did happen?

1. Adam and Eve were filled with Shame for the first time and hid from God
2. Instead of confessing thier sin, they blamed one another for what happened
3. Eve is cursed to painful child-bearing
4. Adam is cursed to painful work all his life
5. They would eventualy “return to dust” in death

So what was believed to be the final judgment (death) didn’t come for more than one hundred years later

This does make it seem as if God is either lying (they weren’t going to die physically) or made a mistake (miscalculated how long it would take for death to come. But there is a third option.

He wasn’t referring to physical death.

Many Bible scholars believe God here referred to a “spiritual death” or separation from His presence in Eden. A simple reading of Genesis three also strengthens this view since there is an immediate disconnect in the relationship between God and man.

All of us (myself included) are used to seeing physical justice being carried out when someone is wrong. This begins with a simple thing as sitting in the naughty chair because you ate a cookie, but extends even to our legal system.

There is a physical justice from God; follwing a persons death as they suffer for eternity in a lake of fire. The Lord however doesn’t want this to happen (II Peter 3:9) so in mercy He offers to all of us Salvation through Christ.

There is still a justice carried out, but it’s a spiritual one that flows out of a broken relationship with God.

While this may not seem like much, our inability to deal with the struggles and pressure of life on our own shows just how much we need God.

Part of me would love to see the wicked receive a public judgment from God because to be quite honest they deserve it (the Lord is helping me become more loving in this situation). But it’s important to remember God does judge sin, even if we cannot see it.