Colossians 2
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged,
being knit together in love,
to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding
and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
7 rooted and built up in Him
and established in the faith,
just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him,
having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[Probably demonic rulers and authorities]
and put them to open shame,
by triumphing over them in him [that is, the cross].
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
This Scripture passage tells us — clearly — in Jesus we are free from the law given rules, especially rules doing away with love. There is a contrast of the elemental spirits of the world. Let's compare and contrast. In Three Parts of this Scripture:
As we look at the perfection of HIS goals for us, let's not forget we are forgiven. We are to bring His will to earth.
You are filled in Jesus,
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
This Scripture passage tells us — clearly — in Jesus we are free from the law given rules, especially rules doing away with love. There is a contrast of the elemental spirits of the world. Let's compare and contrast. In Three Parts of this Scripture:
As we look at the perfection of HIS goals for us, let's not forget we are forgiven. We are to bring His will to earth.
You are filled in Jesus,
Who is the Head of all rule and authority. You were also raised with Jesus through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead.
We are:
to encourage,
knit together in love,
reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding,
proclaim the knowledge of God,
rejoicing Seeing others good order,
Live the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Abound in finding thanks to give.
God made Alive
forgives us all our trespasses,
by canceling the record of debt - stood against us with its legal demands.
This He set aside,
nailing it to the cross.
This passage talks about sensuous behavior.
We are in time period where we are alike in the Roman Empire and different. The Roman Empire was astonished to find people who would live goodness. What proclaim something politically incorrect? This was a surprise. The Good News was new.
Today, is it any surprise, so many Roman style buildings are built?
What are we subjected to in our television shows and music? We can turn off our televisions not merely castigate them.
We are river rocks, only when we allow ourselves to not get out of the flow.
We are:
to encourage,
knit together in love,
reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding,
proclaim the knowledge of God,
rejoicing Seeing others good order,
Live the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Abound in finding thanks to give.
God made Alive
forgives us all our trespasses,
by canceling the record of debt - stood against us with its legal demands.
This He set aside,
nailing it to the cross.
This passage talks about sensuous behavior.
We are in time period where we are alike in the Roman Empire and different. The Roman Empire was astonished to find people who would live goodness. What proclaim something politically incorrect? This was a surprise. The Good News was new.
Today, is it any surprise, so many Roman style buildings are built?
What are we subjected to in our television shows and music? We can turn off our televisions not merely castigate them.
We are river rocks, only when we allow ourselves to not get out of the flow.
Slavery — today exists. Being so in debt, will we ever clear it? All types of Debt.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you
Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch
Sensuous mind, not holding fast to God.
During this part of the Roman era, the followers of Jesus Christ traveled with a wife. If we were to see an important change in the Roman Catholic Church, it would be the early Church said Peter and the Lord's brothers traveled with their wife. Marriage is encouraged in Genesis, immediately, and in the early Church.
Now, the other part of this passage is this:
Not according to Christ -
is merely human tradition
elemental spirits of the world — captivity to philosophy
empty deceit — delude you with plausible arguments.
Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink — rules. Mandates.
God says study the Spirit for truth in Him. Spirits of judgment, look at with fairness, but not roll over acceptance. Demand mercy with Justice. Growth requires correction from Him.
Substance belongs to Christ.
Let no one disqualify you
insisting on asceticism — the doctrine a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like. Instead, the Joy of the Lord is our Strength. God never said He is God of no. God said He is the way, truth and life. God of the Living.
Our God is not about hair shirts, masochism. Suffering is not holiness. Not His Plan. He is not about failure in trying to communicate. Turn the other cheek does not mean constantly accepting judgment. Humility requires seeing we are limited, still having gifts He gave us. To enjoy seeing gifts in others. He is Holy. Whole. Love yourself and love others. Tussles will happen; to dwell on them is not to forgive. Communication. Understanding. Give and take in gracious generosity.
Deceit frequently revolves the love of money. Which allows the comfort and glorification of self. Not about HIM. False philosophy proclaims self — going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head — God Himself. Listening is a trait of His.
We always see Jesus proclaiming mercy over sacrifice. Jesus tells us again and again the substance of Father God is righteousness, holiness and forgiveness. Jesus does not allow people to stone the woman in judgment. He fights for tolerance. Not of the sin, but of social injustice. Mean-spirited bloodlust. Jesus corrects the woman privately. In public and private, Jesus is about the Golden Rule.
In Jesus Christ, we are part of the Vine — The LORD God Almighty. Who wants HIS whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Abba, Father,
Abba, we see examples every day, this season, mankind and we, ourselves, have fallen.
It is the beauty and wonder of seeing where You are there. We need Jesus.
We have marveled, saying to one another,
We have marveled, saying to one another,
“He commands even winds and water, and they obey him!”
We ask Your Willingness to Pouring Blessings upon ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. The Nations trusting You.
Only Jesus.
We ask Your Willingness to Pouring Blessings upon ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. The Nations trusting You.
For the Children of God calling upon Jesus for more Heaven on earth.
Help us to love Thee more clearly, see Thee more dearly. Help us whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
--think about such things.
Dwell in us.
Help us to be Joyful to You!
Help us to seek You first and see this the ones we Love.
We will finish well in Jesus.
We ask Your mercy on my mom, struggling with Covid.
We ask this for those we Love.
In Jesus Christ, we ask in Jesus and
we will remain in You. Amen.
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