Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8 says, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Paul gave them a warning to not be led astray by the teachings of man nor by philosophy or vain deceit based on the teachings of the world and not on the teachings of Christ.  We can sometimes let traditions become more important than what the Bible says if we are not careful.  Verse nine adds, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  Paul said that they were to put their faith in Jesus Christ because He was the fulness of the Godhead in human form.  Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human.  When we say that we are only human as an excuse for failing to do something, I don't believe this is really true.  At that point, we fail to be what a human being is supposed to be.  Jesus Christ is the example of what a human being is supposed to be.  Verse ten continues, And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  Paul said that the people at Colosse were complete in Jesus Christ if they put their faith in Him, because He has power over everything.  Jesus did for us what we are unable to do for ourself, and that is to live without sin.  Verse eleven states, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  Paul said that we are circumcised, the sign of being a part of the Israelites, not physically but by the circumcision of Christ, or declaring our faith in Him.  Verse twelve adds, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  Paul said that in baptism we are symbolically buried to sin in our life and raised to everlasting life by professing our faith in Jesus Christ.  Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is expected for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ to be baptized to show the world that they have accepted His sacrifice for their sins.  Verse eighteen continues, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  Paul said that before they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord that they were dead in their sins and uncircumcision, but through faith in Him they were made spiritually alive by the forgiveness of all their trespasses.  Verse fourteen declares, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  Paul said that Jesus took the law, which was against us because we ailed to live up to it at all times, and nailed it to the cross.   He did not do away with God's law, but by faithfully keeping it at all times He made it possible for us to have everlasting life by accepting what He did for us on the cross.  He died for our sins so that we might have everlasting life.  Verse fifteen adds, And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  Paul said that Jesus Christ spoiled, or defeated, all the power of the principalities and powers of the world, openingly triumphing over them.  He did this not by military might or worldly power but by willingly dying on the cross to defeat them.  We need to look to God for victory over the world today, and not to governments or military might.  We achieve this by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and living by the direction of the Holy Spirit.