CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER
PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS

Col 2:12 speaks of our being buried with Christ in baptism and raised up to new life with Him.

Principalities and powers can refer to earthly rulers and authorities (Titus 3:1; Luke 20:2) but those mentioned in Eph 3:10 and Eph 6:12 are rulers and authorities in the heavenly places i.e. they are fallen spiritual beings who serve the devil. Christ's victory over these in the resurrection forms an important part of the context of our verse.

We are warned not to be taken captive by man's way of thinking based upon earthly principles (v8) because we have been:

  • filled with the One in whom all the fullness of Deity dwells (vv9,10)
  • our flesh cut off with a spiritual circumcision (v11)
  • buried with Christ in baptism (v12)
  • raised up to new life with Him through the working of God who raised Him from the dead (v12)
Although we were dead in our transgressions and unholy flesh we were made alive with Christ:
  • our transgressions forgiven (v13)
  • the charge against us was the accusation nailed to His cross. (v14)
Christ defeated the principalities and powers and lead them captive in a victory procession. (v15)

The very power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion is the power that is at work within us. (Eph 1:19, 20) There is still a battle to be fought and a victory to be won. (Eph 6:10 - 17)

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