Read: Colossians 2:13-15
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (v. 15)
By now it has become clear that dealing with spiritual powers was high on Paul’s agenda in writing this letter. Colossae looks to have been a hot bed of pagan spirituality and a dabbling in spirits and authorities and powers. So Paul did not miss any opportunity to present Jesus as superior to all such powers.
In today’s verses, Paul made an interesting claim: he said that one of the things these spiritual forces did was condemn us for our sins. Among the false messages being promoted by these spirits was the idea that we ourselves need to do things to please the gods. We have to atone for our own sins. Obviously this undercuts Paul’s proclamation that we are saved by Jesus’ sacrifice alone. So Paul made clear that among the things accomplished by Jesus was a disarming of every weapon of accusation these spiritual forces possessed.
Jesus turned back their bony fingers of accusation. He stripped them of every tool by which they made people feel guilty. He unmasked their message that we need to behave in certain ways to have any chance at salvation. Jesus’ cross is the answer to it all! So don’t let anyone scare you that you are not good enough and so have to try harder. Not true! Jesus nailed all that to his cross and once you see that, those other spiritual accusers very simply are left speechless! —Scott Hoezee
As you pray, thank God for his cosmic victory over all spiritual forces!
About the Author
Scott Hoezee is an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church of North America. He served two Michigan congregations from 1990-2005 and since 2005 has been a faculty member at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he serves chiefly as the Director of The Center for Excellence in Preaching. He is the author of several books, including most recently Why We Listen to Sermons (Calvin Press 2019) and is the co-host of the “Groundwork” radio program.
