Kress Biblical Resources :: Refutation: Completeness in Christ Cannot Be Obtained by Human Wisdom, Religious Tradition, Mystical Experience, or Human Effort—It Is a Gift of Grace Received by Faith (Col 2:6-23)

Detailed Outline of Colossians

Completeness in Christ Guards Against the Counterfeits of Mysticism, Legalism, and Traditionalism

4. Refutation: Completeness in Christ cannot be obtained by human wisdom, religious tradition, mystical experience, or human effort—it is a gift of grace received by faith (Col 2:6-23)
   1. You are complete in Christ—do not be taken captive by philosophical deception (Col 2:6-15)
      1. Continue as you started—trusting solely in Christ Jesus the Lord (Col 2:6-7)
         1. By faith you received Him (Col 2:6a)
         2. By faith you are to walk in Him (Col 2:6b-7)
            1. Rooted and built up in Him (Col 2:7a)
            2. Established in the faith just as you were instructed (Col 2:7b)
            3. Overflowing with gratitude (Col 2:7c)
      2. Captivity to human philosophy is slavery—captivity to Christ is freedom and completeness (Col 2:8-15)
         1. Captivity to human philosophy is slavery (Col 2:8)
            1. The means of slavery: Philosophy and empty deception
            2. The 1^st slave master: Tradition of men
            3. The 2^nd slave master: Elementary principles of the world
         2. Captivity to Christ is freedom and completeness/fullness (Col 2:8d-15)
            1. Because He is God in human flesh (Col 2:9)
            2. Because in Him you have been made complete (Col 2:10a)
            3. And He is Lord of all (Col 2:10b)
            4. Because in Him you have been born again (Col 2:11-15)
               1. Spiritually circumcised—identified with the true people of God (Col 2:11)
               2. Spirit baptized—identified with Christ in His baptism of death and resurrection from the dead (Col 2:12)
               3. Regenerated from death to life (Col 2:13a)
               4. Forgiven/Debt free (Col 2:13b-14)
               5. Triumphant over Satan and his forces (Col 2:15)
   2. You are complete in Christ—do not be subject to ritualism [religious traditionalism] (Col 2:16-17)
      1. Because you’ve been born again—a new creature, complete in Christ [“Therefore”] (Col 2:16a)
      2. Because it is commanded (Col 2:16b)
         1. In regard to what you eat or drink
         2. In respect to days of worship and holidays
      3. Because rituals [“religious” observances] cannot make you “more” complete in Christ (Col 2:17)
   3. You are complete in Christ—do not be defrauded by mysticism (Col 2:18-19)
      1. Because it is commanded (Col 2:18a)
      2. Because mysticism subtly exalts self (Col 2:18b)
         1. False humility and the worship of the messengers
         2. “Private revelations” resulting in fleshly pride
      3. Because mysticism subtly disregards the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ (Col 2:19)
         1. It turns the focus away from Christ
         2. It creates spiritual poverty and division—only Christ can bring true provision and unity
         3. It does not foster true growth—only Christ can bring divine growth
   4. You are complete in Christ—do not be subject to asceticism/self-made religion [rule-keeping religion] (Col 2:20-23)
      1. Because asceticism [and rule-keeping religion] disregards the work of Christ [in Christ you died to what holds the world captive] (Col 2:20-22a)
         1. You died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world (Col 2:20a)
         2. Why would you live like you belonged to the world, and under its authority (Col 2:20b-22a)
            1. Some representative decrees of self-made religion (Col 2:21)
               1. Do not handle
               2. Do not taste
               3. Do not touch
            2. The truth about such religious taboos (Col 2:22a)
      2. Because asceticism [and rule-keeping religion] finds its authority in the commandments and teachings of men, not God (Col 2:22b)
      3. Because asceticism [and rule-keeping religion] is of no value against fleshly indulgence (Col 2:23)
         1. It has the appearance of wisdom (Col 3:23a)
            1. Self-made religion
            2. Self-abasement
            3. Severe treatment of the body
         2. But it is of no value against fleshly indulgence (Col 2:23b)