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. struggle,] I have for, [a.k.a. on behalf of,]  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, a.k.a. plunders,] 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 [we wrestle] against: principalities; powers; rulers of the [world's] darkness; & spiritual wickedness in high places.]

[Through Jesus Christ,] in Whom you are also circumcised, with the circumcision [that wasn't] made [with] hands, [by] putting off, [a.k.a. turning away from,] the [sinful] body of [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 [Jesus Christ's] 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. [Colossians 1:18 And [Christ,] Who is the beginning & the first-born from the dead, is the head of the body, [which is] the church. [So] that He might have [supremacy] in all things.]

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, & [are] 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 & doctrines 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 have [displayed:] [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.]