Alive in Christ alone

6 <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29484K" data-link="(K)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29485L" data-link="(L)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>rooted and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29485M" data-link="(M)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>built up in him and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29485N" data-link="(N)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>established in the faith, just <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29485O" data-link="(O)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>as you were taught, abounding <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29485P" data-link="(P)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29486Q" data-link="(Q)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>philosophy and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29486R" data-link="(R)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>empty deceit, according to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29486S" data-link="(S)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>human tradition, according to the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29486T" data-link="(T)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>elemental spirits<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-29486a" data-link="[a]\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”> of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29487U" data-link="(U)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>in him the whole fullness of deity dwells <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29487V" data-link="(V)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>bodily, 10 and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29488W" data-link="(W)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>you have been filled in him, who is <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29488X" data-link="(X)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29489Y" data-link="(Y)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29489Z" data-link="(Z)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29490AA" data-link="(AA)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>having been buried with him in baptism, in which <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29490AB" data-link="(AB)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>you were also raised with him through faith in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29490AC" data-link="(AC)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>the powerful working of God, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29490AD" data-link="(AD)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>who raised him from the dead. 13 <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29491AE" data-link="(AE)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29491AF" data-link="(AF)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29492AG" data-link="(AG)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>canceling <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29492AH" data-link="(AH)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29493AI" data-link="(AI)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>He disarmed the rulers and authorities<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-29493b" data-link="[b]\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”> and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29493AJ" data-link="(AJ)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>put them to open shame, by <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29493AK" data-link="(AK)\” style=\”box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\”>triumphing over them in him.

Compare the qualities you wrote down with the ones you thought of at the beginning of the reflection 

On your second reading of the passage consider the word established, What does it mean for you to be established in the faith?

As you read the passage for a third time consider what it means to be taken captive by human tradition: which areas of your life are you weakest in this regard?