Colossians 2:1-23 Don't Follow the Rules & Laws Made by Man, but Only Those from the Lord God

 

Don't Follow the Rules & Laws Made by Man, but Only Those from the Lord God

Colossians 2:1-23     Paul's Epistle to the Colossians [in Smaller Chunks]

For I [wish] that you knew what [a] [large] conflict, [a.k.a. dispute,] I have [with] you & [those in] Laodicea, [since] many haven't seen my face in the flesh, [a.k.a. in person.]

[So,] that their hearts might be comforted, being knit, [a.k.a. united,] together in love, &  to all [richness,] [with] the full assurance & understanding, to [recognize] the mystery of God, the Father, & Christ; in Whom are [hidden] all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge.

[1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we speak [about] the wisdom of God, [as] a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, [that] God ordained, [a.k.a. appointed,] before the world [existed,] [for] our glory. Which none of this [world's] princes knew. For [if] they had known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.]

And I say this, lest any man should beguile, [a.k.a. trick,] you with enticing words. [2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are: false apostles, & deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no [wonder,] for Satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing, if [Satan's] ministers, also [are] transformed [like] the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works, [a.k.a. deeds.]

[Although I'm] absent, [a.k.a. not there,] in the flesh, [still] I'm with you in spirit, [with] [joy,] [being aware of:] your [orderly] & [focused] [way of sharing] faith in Christ.

Therefore, [like] you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, you [should] walk, [a.k.a. follow,] in Him [like this: grounded] & built up, [a.k.a. growing, through Christ,] & [established] in the faith, [like] you have been taught, abounding [through] [faith,] with [giving thanks.]

Beware, lest any man [spoils] you, through philosophy & vain deceit, [according] [to] the traditions of: men, & [worldly principles,] & not [according] [to] Christ. [Revelation 22:12-15 *And [watch,] I come quickly, & My reward is with Me & shall be to give every man according [like] his work, [a.k.a. deeds.] I Am [the] Alpha & Omega, the Beginning & the End, the First & the Last. Blessed are [those, who] do His commandments, [so] that they may have right to the Tree of Life, & may enter in through the gates into the city. For [outside] are: dogs; sorcerers; [sexual traffickers;] murderers; idolaters; & [whoever loves] & [makes] [up] [lies.]

For [within Jesus Christ's body dwells] all the fullness of the Godhead, [a.k.a. God's nature.] [1 Colossians 1:18-19 And [Christ] is the head of the body, [which is] the church. Who is the Beginning, the first-born from the dead, [so] that He might have [supremacy] in all things. For it pleased the Father that all [of His] fullness [should] dwell in [Christ.]

And you are complete in [Jesus Christ, Who] is the head [over:] all principality & power. [Ephesians 6:12 For we [don't] wrestle against flesh & blood, but against: principalities; powers; rulers of the [world's] darkness; & spiritual wickedness in high places.]

[Through Jesus Christ,] in Whom you are circumcised, with the circumcision [that wasn't] made [with] hands, [by] putting off, [a.k.a. turning away from,] the [sinful] body of the [worldly] flesh, [through] the circumcision of Christ.

[Your sinful human nature was] buried with [Jesus Christ through] baptism, [in which,] you are also risen with Him through the faith of [God's] operation, [a.k.a. intentions,] Who [has] raised [Jesus Christ] from the dead.

And you, [who were] dead [through] your sins, & the uncircumcision of your flesh, [the Lord God has] quickened, [a.k.a. made alive,] together with Him, having forgiven you all [your] tresspasses, [a.k.a. sins.] Blotting out, [a.k.a. erasing,] the [written] ordinances, [a.k.a. rules,] that [were] against us, which [were] contrary, [a.k.a. the opposite to how we were raised,] & took it out of the way, [a.k.a. removed it,] [by] nailing it to His cross.

[Galatians 3:26-28 For all [of] you are the children of God [through] faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized [through faith in] Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew, nor Greek, [a.k.a. Gentiles.] There is neither bond, [a.k.a. slaves,] nor free. There is neither male, nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.]

And having spoiled, [a.k.a. overcome,] [the] principalities & powers, [Christ] made them [an] openly [visible] [display,] triumphing over them [through] it. Therefore, let no man judge you [about your:] meat, [a.k.a. food;] drink; [holy-days; New Moons;] or [about] the Sabbath Days. Which are a shadow, [a.k.a. foretelling,] of things to come; but the body, [a.k.a. the church,] is [from] Christ.

Let no man, [through] voluntary humility, [a.k.a. acting humble by his own choice,] [in order to:] beguile, [a.k.a. entice,] you [from] your [eternal] reward, [through:] worshiping angels; intruding, [a.k.a. interfering with,] things, [that] he [hasn't] seen, vainly, [a.k.a. pridefully] puffed up, by his fleshly, [a.k.a. worldly,] mind.

And not holding, [a.k.a. grasping,] the Head, from which all the [body's] joints & [muscles have] nourishment ministered, & knit, [a.k.a. united,] together, increases, [a.k.a. grows,] with [those, who] increase [their faith in] God.

[For this reason,] if you [are] dead [to sin] [through] Christ, from the [world's principles,] why,  are you subject to [worldly] ordinances, [a.k.a. rules:] ([don't] touch; [don't] taste; & [don't] handle,) as though living in the world. [Galatians 4:9-10 But now, after you have known God, or [instead] are known [by] God, how [do] you turn again to the weak & beggarly, [a.k.a. deceitful,] elements, [for which] you again desire to be in bondage. You observe days; months; times; & years, [a.k.a. zodiac, horoscope, or fortunetelling.]

All [who use] [these things] [according] [to] the commandments & doctrine of men, are to perish. [Mark 7:6-7 [Jesus] answered & said to them, [Isaiah has] prophesied well of you hypocrites, [like] it is written, this people [honor] Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. [However,] they worship Me in vain, teaching the commandments of men for doctrines.]

Which [of these] things [display:] [the] wisdom, & will [to] worship, [with] humility, & neglecting [the needs of] the body, indeed [there's] not any [honor by] satisfying the [worldly] flesh. [1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise [has] little [benefit,] but godliness is [beneficial in] all things, having [the] promise of the life that now is, & of [what] is to come.]

Colossians 1:1-29 You Should Follow Worthy of the Lord, Being Fruitful in Every Good Work

 

You Should Follow Worthy of the Lord, Being Fruitful in Every Good Work

Colossians 1:1-29     Paul's Epistle to the Colossians [in Smaller Chunks]

[From:] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, [through] the will of God, [plus] Timotheus, [a.k.a. Timothy,] our brother [in the faith.] To the [Lord God's] saints & faithful brethren, [through] Christ, [who] are [in] Colosse. [May] grace & peace from God our Father, & the Lord Jesus Christ be to you.

Since we heard [about] your faith in Christ Jesus, & the love [that] you have to all the saints, we give thanks & [pray] always to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you. For the hope [of which] you heard [about] [previously through] the [Gospel's] Word of Truth, which is [stored] up for you in heaven.

Which [has] come to you, [ever] since the day you heard [the Gospel] & knew the grace of God in Truth. [Like] it [has] [come] [into] all the world; & [brings] forth, [a.k.a. produces,] fruit, like it also [does] in you. [John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I Am the Way, the Truth, & the Life. No man [comes] to the Father, [except] by Me.]

[Like] you also learned [fom] Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister [about] Christ, for you, who also declared your love in the [Holy] Spirit to us. Since the day we heard it, [we] [don't stop praying] for you. And for this [reason] we also desire that you might be filled, in all wisdom, & spiritual understanding, with the knowledge of [God's] will.

[So] that, you might walk, [a.k.a. follow,] worthy of the Lord, [doing] all [that's] pleasing [to the Lord God,] being fruitful in every good work, & [increase] in the knowledge [about] God. [Ephesians 4:1 Therefore, I, the prisoner [for sharing my faith in] the Lord, [urge] you to [follow] worthy of the vocation, [a.k.a. profession,] [of which] you are called.]

[Be] strengthened with all: [your] might; all patience; [endurance;] & joyfulness, according to [God's] glorious power. [Philippians 3:9-10 And not having [my] own righteousness, which is by the Law, but [instead to] be found [through the Lord God,] [to have] the righteousness which is [from] God, & is through faith [in] Christ. [So] that, I may know [Jesus Christ,] through the power of His Resurrection. Being made [changed] [by] the fellowship, [a.k.a. relationship of a Friend,] [by all Christ's] sufferings, [until] His death.]

[Give] thanks to the Father, [Who has] made us [to be able] to be [participants] of [the Lord God's] [saints'] inheritance in Light. [1 John 1:5-7 Then, this is the message which we have heard [from Christ,] & declare to you, that God is Light, & there is no darkness at all in Him. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, & [follow] in darkness, we lie, & [don't] have the Truth. But if we [follow] in the Light, [like] He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, [cleanses] us from all sin.]

Who has delivered us from the power of darkness. [Ephesians 6:12 For we [don't] wrestle against flesh & blood, but against: principalities; powers; the rulers of the [world's] darkness; & against spiritual wickedness in high places.]

And has translated us, [a.k.a. transported us,] into the Kingdom of His dear Son, in Whom we have Redemption, through [Jesus Christ's] blood, & even the forgiveness of sins. [Romans 5:9 *But God [demonstrates] His love toward us, in that, while we were [still] sinners, Christ died for us.]

Who is the image of the invisible God, & firstborn [from the dead,] of every creature. [John 3:18-21 He, [who believes in Jesus Christ,] isn't condemned. But he, [who doesn't believe] is already condemned, because he [hasn't] believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that Light [has] come into the world. And men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone, [who does] evil [hates] the Light, & neither [comes] to the Light, lest his deeds should be [disapproved.] But he, [who does] [what is truthful,] comes to the Light, [so] that his deeds may be made [apparent,] that they are [brought about through] God.]

For all things were created by Him, that are in: heaven; are [on] the earth; visible, & invisible, whether they [involve:] thrones; dominions; principalities; or powers. All things were created by Him, & for Him. [1 John 4:9 The love of God toward us & was manifested, [a.k.a. made visible,] in this, because God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world, [so] that we might live through Him.]

And He [was] before all things [existed,] & by Him all things [exist.] And [Christ] is the head of the body, [which is] the church. Who is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead; [so] that He might have [supremacy] in all things. [Revelation 1:5-8 And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness & the first-begotten [from] the dead, & the Prince [over] the kings of the earth. [From] Him, [Who] loved us & washed us from our sins in His own Blood. And [has] made us: kings & priests to God, His Father. To Him be glory, dominion, [a.k.a. power,] forever & ever. Amen. [Watch, Jesus Christ comes] with clouds. And every eye shall see Him, & also [those, who] pierced Him. And all [families] of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so. Amen. I Am [the] Alpha & Omega, the Beginning & the Ending, [says] the Lord, [Who] Is, [Who] Was, & [Who] Is to Come, the Almighty.]

For it pleased the Father that all [His] fulness should dwell [in Christ.] And by [Christ,] having made peace through the blood of His cross, I say, to reconcile all things to Himself, whether they are things [created] by Him [on] earth or things in heaven.

And you, [who] were [sometimes] alienated & enemies, [within] your minds  by wicked works, [a.k.a deeds, still Christ has] reconciled [& united you] through the body of [Christ's] flesh [in His] death.

To [be able to] present you: holy; unblameable, [a.k.a. without blame;] & [without disapproval] in His sight: if you continue in the faith, grounded; settled; & [don't go astray] from the hope of [Salvation through Jesus Christ written within] the Gospel. Which you have heard & was preached, [of which] I, Paul,] am made a minister, [to share my faith in Christ,] to every creature [that] is under heaven.

[For you,] who now rejoice in [the wounds] which [are] left] behind in my flesh, & fill up my [back, &] [suffer] [from sharing my faith,] for you. [2 Corinthians 11:24-25 I received [from] the Jews [39] stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks,] 5 times. I was beaten with rods [3] times, & once I was stoned. I suffered shipwreck [3] times, & have been in the deep [waters] [1] day.]

The afflictions of Christ, [were] for His body's sake, which is the church. [Isaiah 53:5 *For He was wounded for our [sins,] & He was bruised for our iniquities. The [discipline] for our peace was upon Him. And with His stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks,] we are healed.]

[Of which] I'm made a minister [of, the church,] according to [God's] dispensation, [a.k.a. distribution,] [of gifts,] given to me to fulfill the Word of God.

Now, to [the Lord God's] saints, even the mystery which [has] been [hidden] [throughout the] ages & from generations, but is now made manifest, [a.k.a. visible.] To the Gentiles, among whom God would make known the glory of this mystery, & the hope of glory, what is the [richness] of Christ, which is [within] you.

[So] that we may present every man [perfected through] Christ Jesus, [of] Whom we preach: in all wisdom, warning & teaching every man, among the Gentiles. [At which point,] I also [labor,] striving to [follow,] according to His [work] [sharing my faith in Jesus Christ,] [Who works within] me mightily.