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Colossians 2:11-15, 20 (ERV)–In Christ you had a different kind of circumcision, one that was not done by human hands. That is, you were made free from the power of your sinful self. That is the kind of circumcision Christ does. 12 When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him because of your faith in God’s power. God’s power was shown when he raised Christ from death. 13 You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see….20. You died with Christ and were made free from the powers that influence this world.…
When Paul writes his Epistle to the church at Colossae, he reminds them of their victory in Jesus. When they had been baptized into Christ, they had been delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). This included victory over what Paul calls the “basic principles of the world” (Colossians 2:8, NKJV). Now, that phrase (basic principles of the world) is translated in a very different fashion in other versions of the Bible. “Elemental spirits of the world” (ESV) and “ruling spirits of the universe” (GNB) and similar phrases are not uncommon in various translations.
The reason for this difference in translation is due to the fact that the Greek word used here, stoicheia, was used by Jews, pagans, and then Christians to refer to supernatural beings that were believed to be connected in differing ways to the everyday running of the universe-including the physical universe and its elements (such as Earth, fire, air, and water), and with the world of humanity. Arnold tells us:
“The word was used, for instance, in the Greek magical papyri in connection with the Zodiac: “I conjure you by the 12 stoicheia of heaven and the 24 stoicheia of the world in order that you would lead me to Heracles.”13 It is important to realize that not only pagans used this word to refer to spirits, but Jews also used this word in that sense. The Jewish Testament of Solomon, written during the Roman Imperial period, includes five references to stoicheia as spirit beings. In the following passage the stoicheia are linked with the kosmokratores (cf. Eph 6:12):…These terms further reflect the wide array of vocabulary in reference to spirit beings, shared by Jews and Gentiles alike. Paul drew from this reservoir of terminology with which his readers would be readily familiar. He showed no interest, however, in discussing what he believed to be true about the starry host. Rather, he lumped all manner of spirits together, affirmed Christ’s superiority, and encouraged believers to be prepared for their hostile intentions and attacks by reminding minding his readers of their past ability to enslave.” (Clinton Arnold, Powers Of Darkness: Principalities & Powers In Paul’s Letters, 54 (Kindle Edition); Downers Grove, Illinois; InterVarsity Press)
Paul wants us to understand that in submission to the Lord in the act of baptism, believers access Jesus’ victory over these beings. Just as Jesus “disarmed” or “stripped away” or “removed” the principalities and powers and all these beings of their authority when He died on the cross, the power of those same supernatural entities upon us is “disarmed” or “removed” or “stripped away” when we are immersed as repentant believers into Christ.
Arnold describes and defends how the disarming of and deliverance from these forces takes place at the time of baptism:
“In conclusion, Paul is affirming that Christ has performed a spiritual circumcision that consists of the removal of the compulsion to sin (“the flesh”) for all who are incorporated into him. 12 συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτισμῷ, “when you were buried with him in baptism.” The circumcision that Christ performs on believers takes place in the events associated with their baptism.… In other words, the circumcision takes places precisely in the events associated with conversion-initiation (expressed by “baptism”)…. Paul further specifies that this takes place ἐν τῷ βαπτισμῷ, “in baptism.” From the very beginning of the Christian movement, baptism was the ritual of initiation into the new community established by Jesus Christ. Peter declared the importance of this rite at the end of his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:38), and the three thousand who responded to his message were baptized (Acts 2:41). The practice of baptism continued as the gospel spread to various regions and among those who were not Jews; for example, the Samaritans (Acts 8:12), the Ethiopian (Acts 8:38), the first group of gentiles (Acts 10:47–48), and in the gentile mission (Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8)…. For Paul, this ritual powerfully symbolizes the participation of believers in the death and resurrection of Christ. Yet certainly it can be said that the readers at Colossae needed to internalize and think through the implications of what it meant for them to be in this relationship of solidarity with Christ. Their participation in Christ’s death clearly entailed not only their deliverance from the power of sin as it came to expression through the evil influence of the flesh (2: 11b), but also deliverance from the domain of the principalities and powers (1: 13; 2: 15). Paul affirms later in the letter that they have died with Christ (ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ) from the demonic spirits of the world (2: 20). This is something the Colossian believers needed to hear because they were being unduly influenced by these demonic spirits (2: 8).” (Clinton E. Arnold, Colossians, Volume 44A: Second Edition (Word Biblical Commentary), 495-497 (Kindle Edition, emphasis added): Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic)
Yes, those spiritual forces are always trying to get back into our hearts and lives (Colossians 2:8), but they cannot force us to do anything against our will. Instead, we put on the Christian armor daily and fight the good fight (Ephesians 6:10-18).
As we go through the day, may we remember and meditate upon the victory that we have in Jesus. Let us relish it, savor it, and give thanks to the Lord for it!
Revelation 12:9-12-So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Lord, thank You for victory over the devil. Help us to appreciate and recognize that victory, and to live it everyday. Give us wisdom as we continue to stand against the wiles of the devil in this world. We are excited for Your Return! In Your Name we pray, Amen.