Day 12 – June 2

Colossians 2:8-15

8 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. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Questions

1. What four defects does Paul find in the false teaching (vs. 8)? In what ways does he then set forth Christ as the one absolutely sufficient Savior (vv. 9-15)?
2. List the treasures and the benefits that are ours in Christ?
3. Vv. 11-15. How is the way in which Christians have been ‘circumcised’ distinguished from the rite practiced by the Jews? By what ceremony has Jewish circumcision been replaced for Christians?
4. How does the symbolism of Christian baptism point to the way that Christ’s death and resurrection more than fulfill all that the rite of circumcision signified?