How Colossians Opened My Eyes

In his Epistle to the Colossians, Paul outlines fully that Jesus is our fullness:

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 9-10)

The verse before this two wonderful promises never got my attention before, until today:

"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." (Colossians 2: 8)

Nothing better typifies philosophy and vain deceit, nothing better represents the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world than AA.

That terrible program was concocted by religious individuals (harldy spiritual) who sought to make man better through diligent efforts.

We are not called to perfect ourselves, as Christ Jesus has perfected us already through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 10: 14-17)

Why would we seek to perfect, or complete ourselves, anyway, since Christ makes us complete, makes us whole?

The Second Chaper of Colossians 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; 14Blotting 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; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

When Jesus died on the Cross for us, he gave us His life. He died for all our sins -- all of them! -- and he annulled the condemnation of the Law ("the handwriting of ordinances that was against us) by fulfilling the law through His life on earth, his death on the Cross, and His neverending ministry on our behalf at the Right Hand of the Father.

Since He is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30), and we have been made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21), there is no further need for us to do or be or have anything through our own effort to "get right" or "get righteous" with God.

For this reason, Paul later writes:

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." (Colossians 2: 18-19)

"Beguile" also means "disqualify" or "penalize", as a judge who takes away the crown of victory from a runner who has won a race. In the same manner, AA teaches people to label themselves sinners and fallen men "who have lost their legs", people forever identified by a perversion from which we have been released through the blood of Jesus Christ.

"Voluntary humility" best describes this chronic habit of "I am a flea, dog, worm" a "hopeless drunk" who could never make it without AA.

In fact, AA makes it so that people cannot make it, a set of commands which reintroduces a need to "do something", when Jesus declared "It is Finished!" (John 19: 30)

Instead of identifying ourselves with a failing in our flesh, Paul invites us to set our eyes on the Best:

" If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)

For clarification, when Paul writes "ye are dead", he speaks specifically about "the rudiments (rules, ABCs) of the world":

"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2: 20-23)

Because a man who believes on Jesus Christ has been taken from dead in his trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly place with Christ (Ephesians 2: 1-6), the rules of men, the traditions and steps of earthly traditions, are nothing to him.

This indictment includes the Twelve Steps, whether Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery, or any other regimen which outlines steps which we "have to" take.

Colossians opened my eyes, first showing the primacy, supremacy, and eternity of Christ Jesus (Colossians 1), then explaining the fullness of all that He has done, and thus how we must never look to any other system for guidance and fulfillment, nor allow anyone to convince us and thus rob us of all that we are, have, and do in Christ Jesus!