When Addition Equals Subtraction

GETTING STARTED

I once had a discussion about Jesus with two pleasant young women standing at my front door. Dressed alike and with religious literature in hand, they claimed to be Christ followers. I asked how this could be, since their religion proclaimed Jesus and Satan are “spiritual brothers,” created by God. The ladies tried to deny this particular tenet of their religious faith. But from our interaction that day, it was clear they were unaware of how their incorrect beliefs diminished Jesus, who he is, and what he did for humanity on the cross.

  • What beliefs about Jesus have you held to in the past that are not biblically true of him?

READ THE WORD: COLOSSIANS 2:8-15 (ESV)

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.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. How did Paul describe the religious philosophy that could take captive the believers in Colossae (vs. 8)?
  2. What are two qualities unique to Jesus (vss. 9-10)?
  3. What did Jesus do with our “record of debt” (vs. 14), and whom did he defeat (vs. 15)?
  4. From what we learn in this passage, why is Christ greater than any other religious or humanistic philosophy?
  5. How do you diminish Christ by trusting in human traditions or religious philosophies, rather than in what is biblically true of him?

RESPOND TO GOD

While it may seem a mystery to us, Jesus is 100% God and 100% human. Through his death and resurrection, he capably cut off our sinful nature and defeated its evil supporters. He is positioned above all other created beings, whether physical or spiritual. Jesus alone is worthy of our worship and devotion. He alone is worth following. We cannot add to one who needs no additions; to do so would only diminish who Jesus truly is and what he has already done for us.

  • Take a few moments to thank and worship Jesus for who he is: fully God and fully man, sovereign ruler, perfect sacrifice, and the absolute defeater of evil.