To understand how verse 9 and 14 connect, we must turn back to Colossians 1:19-20, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). We have amounted to an enormous debt that stood against us. When we consider the debt that one person could amount in a moment with one credit card, now multiply this over a lifetime against a holy God with a wicked and sinful heart. We would not be able to read the statement because it would be too long. We owe a debt to God, one that can only be paid in blood. Christ became man to die in man’s place. “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Rom 5:9). The ESV translates the end of Colossians 2:14, “This he set aside…” This translation seems mild. Other translations have a more forceful word such as ‘taken.’ The legal document containing our debt to God has been canceled. The word used for ‘legal’ is used for the ‘decree’ given by Caesar (Luke 2:1). The decree is nailed to the cross, signed in Christ’s blood. When you have paid your debt off, you get a legal letter stating the fact, paying off a mortgage or car payment lifts a tremendous burden off someone’s shoulders. However, imagine having the burden of sin that is PAID IN FULL!
c. Conquered death. (Vs. 15)
The end of verse 10 explains Christ is the head of all rule and authority. Colossians 2:15 explains three things that Christ has done that explains how he is the head of all rule and authority. He disarmed them, shamed them, and triumphed over them. Paul is still explaining the dangers of the false teaching that are not according to Christ. Be watchful over the elementary principles of the word (Col 2:8b). Christ has conquered the rulers and authorities; they have no more offensive moves because they have been disarmed. Not only have they been disarmed, but they have also been put to the public spectacle of them by triumphing over them. Death has lost its sting, and death has lost its victory (1 Cor 15:54). The signed decree with Jesus' blood is the statement of this defeat.
The message of Colossians is simple, but we need to hear it frequently. Christ is sufficient and supreme. Christ is referenced eleven times in these seven verses, in him, with him and he. Our union with Christ is foundation of the Christian walk. We are united to him in baptism the sign and the seal of the forgiveness of our insurmountable debts paid in his blood. We have died with him and have been raised again to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:4). We have the circumcision not made with hands. We have been made alive together with him. Christ has disarmed all the rulers and authorities concurring them. Why then would we turn to the world’s wisdom, which is empty and hollow? Why would we turn to human traditions? Each of these are not according to Christ. Let us hold fast to Christ as the one whom baptism points and whom the Holy Spirit seals us for the day of redemption.
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