Colossians: Chapter 2

Regathering of the Nations Mystery  Christ’s sufferings instructed in love Mystery   o As you received Christ Jesus the Lord.” As—it’s the Greek word hōs; it’s just a conjunction. It can mean “just as,” (likeness) o rooted, built up, established, and abounding o Salvation based on faith o 3 Graces • Philosophy, Traditions, & Elemental Spirits (stoicheia)   o BASIC PRINCIPLES=unseen powers of evil o Heiser Walton Wright o The Deity – not  theiotēs, ‘divinity’, but theotēs, ‘Deity’ o Circumcision itself did not produce salvation: Romans 4:9-12   • The “Works Contract” • Christus Victor   • The problem we humans have gotten ourselves into, the “sin” that has exiled us from God, is that we have rejected the vocation or purpose for which we were created — to be God’s image in the world, his royal priests who reflect his glory back to him in worship and into the world in faithful stewardship — and we have turned from thus serving the living God to worship idols. This has unleashed the powers of disorder and corruption to enslave humans and the good creation and we now essentially have turned God’s good creation of earth into HELL.   • Heaven is the ‘intermediate state’ not the ultimate goal. • It is where Christians go to await the resurrection and new creation.  Gal 3:19 WHY THE LAW? Transgressions (plural) • Colossian Heresy   • Worship of Angels   • Deuteronomy 32 • Dualism • New age • Kabbala  • Pluralism • Hyper-spiritualism/hyper-charismatics • Jewish Roots