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Colossians 2:1-23
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| In Colossians 2:1-23 the word
ordinances is used twice
and commandments once. |
This is not a paraphrase . This is not a translation.
This is the author's
understanding of what Paul had in mind.
And if Paul were here in America giving a talk. |
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(1) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and {for
them at Laodicea, and {for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
(2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and
unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
(3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
(4) And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
(5) For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit,
joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
(6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so walk ye in him:
(7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
(8) 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.
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and
power:
(11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of
Christ:
(12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with {him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
(13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
(14) Blotting 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;
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(1) I wish that you
knew the concern that I have for you and for those in Laodicea, where I
have not yet spoken in person.
(2) That they might have confidence and be united in love, enriched
and assured by their knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father,
and of Christ;
(3) In whom dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
(4) And I say this to prevent your being deceived by silver tongued
deceivers who speak logically and appeal to your reason.
(5) While I am not there in person, I am with you and compliment your
discipline and firmness in the faith of Christ.
(6) Keep up the good work doing just as when you first accepted
Christ, follow his example in your life.
(7) Your faith is established on a firm foundation by our teachings
and by your acceptance of this knowledge with thanksgiving.
(8) Now beware, don't listen to the spokesmen for 'the world, the
flesh and the devil'. They want to destroy your understanding thereby
leading you away from Christ.
(9) For Jesus is God in the flesh.
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:
(11) You were also circumcised with him. Not just by some man losing
a small piece of skin, rather by Christ who striped off the carnal body
completely.
(12) In baptism you were not only buried with him but also raised to
life with him because you believed in the power of God who raised him
from the dead.
(13) Now that you are dead to the carnal body's sins (Verse 11) and
raised unto newness of life, (verse 12) he has caused your former sins
to be forgiven.
(14) When the authorities catch someone in a crime they bring charges
in writing. But a Lawyer could speak to the Judge. In some cases, in the
interest of justice, the Judge will dismiss the charges. Well, that is
exactly what Jesus did for us.
1 John 2:1, My little children, these things write I unto you,
that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (Lawyer) with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
When he died on the cross paying the penalty for our sins. He had the
charges against us dismissed. The complaints were tore up and nailed to
his cross. |
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(15) {And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
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(15) Now if your Lawyer
did speak to the authorities and get the charges dismissed. What might
he do? Well, he might come running waving the torn up charges high in
the air for all, for you and for all the prosecutors to see crying out,
"The charges have been dismissed! You are free to go!".
It is just like holding up a trophy. You hold it high for all the
others, friend and foe, to see. That is exactly what Jesus did, having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. |
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(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath {days:
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body {is of Christ.
(18) 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,
(19) And 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.
(20) 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;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments
and doctrines of men?
(23) Which 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.
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(16) Now, concerning
the silver tongued deceivers I mentioned in verse 4, remember what we
taught you concerning food, holidays, the Sabbath and so on. Undermining
these somewhat lesser doctrines is the beginning point for the
destruction of all you believe.
(17) Compare these lesser doctrines to the shadow of Christ. But
compare our other beliefs to the body of Christ.
(18) Remember what I said in verse 9. (For Jesus is God in the
flesh.) Now you have a prize too. Hold Him high, and don't let them
steal your prize by an assortment of false doctrines. Don't even put up
with such a foolish question such as, Is Jesus God? Many of these false
doctrines are designed to make you feel puffed up, important or better
that others.
(19) Hold your head high but remember all that you are and all that
you have comes from Christ. The power to hold your head high comes from
Christ's nourishing of the other parts of your body.
(20) Now the Pharisees have given you a set of rituals to obey
religiously. For example; some of these rules deal with sanitation.
(21) Wash your hands before eating so on and so forth.
(22) But your hands will get dirty again won't they?
(23) Now there is a certain amount of wisdom in these man made rules
concerning the maintaining of a positive mental attitude, manners, and
the taking care of your body and its appearance. But don't think that
following these rules will make you holy or better than others. |
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