#colossians 2

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Absent in Body, Present in Spirit

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face, that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric. For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. — Colossians 2 | The Reader’s Bible (BRB) The Reader’s Bible © 2020 by Bible Hub and Berean Bible. All rights Reserved. Cross References: Leviticus 23:2; 1 Kings 3:28; Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 4:4; Matthew 28:18; John 1:16; John 12:31; Acts 2:24; Acts 20:21; Romans 6:2; Romans 13:14; Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 4:16; Philippians 1:30; Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 8:5

[biblebloodhound]

Our Riches In Christ (Colossians 2:1-5)

Learn to appreciate and enjoy what you already have, because it really is worth exploring, living into, and celebrating.

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I tell you this…

[just-bible-musings]

A Word About Asceticism

I've always kind of worshipped at the altar of asceticism. I've always thought I'm a bad Christian because I don't give up all my worldly possessions and go stand on a street corner and hand out tracts and tell people to repent. I can't tell you the number of times I've been angry at God for giving me good, pleasant things. Largely because I, personally, have known people who had crappy lives and not much of anything. I feel sorry for those people, and then I feel guilty for all the good things God gives me.

And yes, I would love to share with them, but it always seems to work out that they don't need what I have to give them. Some people are too proud and stubborn to accept anything. Other times, it's just weird. One time, a relative of mine needed some money. I had none to give them because I had literally just spent my entire savings fixing a car emergency. But I had stocked my cabinets and freezer with food before then, so I offered them some. They didn't need food, they were getting food packages from their local food pantry. I had nothing else they needed.

And that's just one example.

I guess it's a kind of survivor's guilt. I just feel bad and ask God almost constantly if I should just sell all my stuff and go live in the woods like the holy hermits of ye olden days. I beg Him sometimes to just give me the GUTS to do this, because I know good and well, if I tried doing it on my own, I might last a week (haha! lookit me, putting so much faith in myself!) before I get scared and hungry and return to civilization.

But I read this the other day:

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility... Colossians 2:18

"Voluntary humility?" Like asceticism? So... I'm not a bad Christian if I live in a house and have nice things?

Colossians 2 up to this verse was Paul saying, "Look, all your sins are forgiven, they're dead and buried in Christ and you, as a person, and your soul have been resurrected." And then a few verses later:

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, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:20-22

It's kind of hard to believe, but it's like Paul's saying, "Stop letting other people tell you how to live your life!" Which I always thought was a worldly way of looking at things, so I've always been someone looking for others to tell me how to live. But it seems like God said it first?

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. Colossians 2:23

Basically, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, all those attitudes look good, but they're not gonna make you any better of a person."

Also, something I literally just noticed as I was typing all this out: that phrase, "will worship," in verse 23.

I think we could also look at it as "worship OF the will" (or, as some people might call it, "determination"). In any case, it's NOT from God. Doing it on your own, no matter how strong-willed or determined you are, does not bring glory to God, only to yourself.

It still bothers me that God hasn't called me or given me the strength to do the things I sometimes see other people doing, because I'm not sure if I'm following His will. It's scary to feel called to do something different. But I'm really not a strong person, never was. If He doesn't give me the courage to do something, I know I won't make it. So at this point, the best I can do is to keep doing what I've been doing and ask God if it's still the right thing.

[fardell24b]

Church notes - 7th January 2024

7th I Can Do That Let the Word of God dwell in you richly

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12 - 17

2 Corinthians 5:13

Proverbs 29

Is the main goal still the main game?

Something greater than yourself. Prophetic revelation gave the Old Testament prophets hope

We hope for Jesus' return.

Communion Colossians 3:1 - 4 Colossians 1:22, 23

Colossians 3:12 - 17 Jesus is sufficient

Colossians 2:10

Colossians 2:10

vs 12 Allow these things to flow out from you.

vs 16 Reading the Word is just part of it. It is already in us. Something from within. Like spirtual metabolism.

Here and now If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you are hidden with Him.

[paulthepoke]

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, 5784, 2023

The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the “Hidden Day”. Oh really...

Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’” Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall…

[re4med]

The Morning Devotional: WCF 27.5

The Morning Devotional for September 7, 2023 The Westminster Confession of Faith 27.5   V. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.a a. 1 Cor 10:1-4.

[tristansherwin]

CHRIST | CHOREOGRAPHY OR DANCE (Col. 2:8—3:4)

CHRIST | CHOREOGRAPHY OR DANCE (Col. 2:8-3:4) "Our faith is not about trying to attract God with our fancy footwork. Our faith is an embrace of God's movements."

Here’s my longer sermon notes from this morning’s Metro Christian Centre service (dated 2nd July 2023), continuing our series in the letter Colossians. You can also catch up with this via MCC’s YouTube channel (just give us time to get the video uploaded). ‘’Chaps who did taps aren’t tapping anymore They’re doing choreography Chicks who did kicks aren’t kicking anymore They’re doing…

[coreofthebible]

Standing for the truth of God's word above the philosophies of men

Standing for the truth of God’s word above the philosophies of men

We need to be aware of, and reject, false religious traditions. Colossians 2:8 – Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Messiah. This admonition from the apostle Paul strikes at the heart of the major conflict that the first century believers faced: the resistance of the orthodox Jews…

[quotesfromscripture]

They can’t judge you

“Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. 

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.” 

- Colossians 2:18-19 NET (2017)

[aspirant1598]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Alive in Christ

1 I would ye knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicia, and for as many as have not seen my person in the flesh, 2 that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, and in all riches of full understanding, for to know the mystery of God the father and of Christ 3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 This I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit joying and beholding the order that ye keep, and your steadfast faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Iesu the Lord, even so walk rooted and built in him, 7 and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therin be plenteous in giving thanks.

8 Beware lest any man come and spoil you thorow philosophy and deceitful vanity, thorow the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, 10 and ye are full in him, which is the head of all rule and power, 11 in whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body off the flesh, thorow the circumcision that is in Christ, 12 in that ye are buried with him thorow baptism, in whom ye are also risen again thorow faith, that is wrought by the operation of God which raised him from death. 13 And hath with him quickened you also which were dead in sin in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and hath forgiven our trespasses, 14 and hath put out the obligation that was against us, made in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it on his cross, 15 and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.

16 Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, 17 which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ. 18 Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless puffed up with his fleshly mind, 19 and holdeth not the head, whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from doctrine of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say? 21 Touch not, Taste not, Handle not: 22 which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men: 23 which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body, and do the flesh no worship unto his need. — Colossians 2 | Tyndale New Testament (TYN) Holy Bible, Tyndale New Testament, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Leviticus 23:2; 1 Kings 3:28; Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 4:4; Matthew 28:18; Luke 1:1; Luke 15:24; John 1:16; John 12:31; Romans 6:2; Romans 8:7; Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 1:30; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:23; Colossians 1:29; 1 Timothy 4:3; Hebrews 8:5; 1 Peter 5:9

[walkswithmyfather]

"In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." —Colossians 2: 3, 6-7 (NLT)

[andallshallbewell]

[ave-immaculata]

The Church didn't change the Sabbath day to Sunday; Saturday is still the Sabbath

but Gentiles aren't obligated to observe the Sabbath

all Christians, Jewish or Gentile, however, are called to observe the Lord's Day which is the fullfilment of the Sabbath

edit for clarification: The Lord's Day is Sunday

[re4med]

The Morning Devotional: WCF 21.2

The Morning Devotional for July 12, 2023 The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.2 II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone:anot to angels, saints, or any other creature:b and since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.c a. Mat 4:10 with John 5:23 and 2 Cor 13:14. • b. Rom 1:25; Col 2:18; Rev…

[tristansherwin]

CHRIST | WHO ARE YOU? (Col. 2:6—15)

CHRIST | WHO ARE YOU? (Col. 2:6-15) 'In a way, we are all like carrots. Like orange carrots selectively bred by Dutch farmers, we all, in some way, select what is important in defining who we are and how we express who we are.'

Here’s my longer sermon notes from this morning’s Metro Christian Centre service (dated 18th June 2023), continuing our series in the letter Colossians. You can also catch up with this via MCC’s YouTube channel (just give us time to get the video uploaded). ‘We are proud individuals, living for the city | but the flames couldn’t go much higher | We find gods and religions to paint us with…