BIBLICAL PRECEPTS BECAUSE WE SERVE AN AMAZING GOD

Biblical precepts because we serve an amazing God


Paul starts out in this passage that I am going to review and writes about such Godly intimate emotions such as bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering.

He urges Christians to forbear one another and forgive. This is a spirit that should be very close to our hearts because we are going to need this in a world that is just downright offensive. This also happens in the church. The Apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ Himself forgave our sins so if we have a quarrel against a person follow the same truth that our Savior had for us with our transgressions. Most Christians have been offended by other believers in Christ so even if we have to extend in understanding this biblical principle please do so because if for example a brother or sister is rude to you a basis of truth in this precept will be rooted inside your heart. Do not let an offence become a grudge.

Paul reminds us above all put on love which takes forgiveness in our heart one step deeper and then the Apostle refers to this as the bond of perfectness.

At this point in verse fifteen which is one of the most popular verses in the Bible we are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. One of the reasons this should be a reality in our life is because we are called in one body. Paul also reminds us to be thankful because quite frankly none of us deserve this comfort (peace) because we sinned/offended God with our transgressions. If we receive mercy and peace from the Holy Spirit it should only be natural that a grateful spirit is to emanate from our heart. Sometimes I sin before God and am amazed that the Holy Spirit sometimes bestows His peace in my spirit. I say to God, "Lord I just sinned" but in my repentance  the reality of the situation is Jesus Christ is merciful. Once again we did not earn any of this love from God so the Apostle is saying be gracious to your brothers and sisters in Christ. You may say but this one person gets to me every time. That is all the more reason to understand this biblical principle and precept. 

We are also urged to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so please be careful of the teachers that you listen to because if their empathies is not in line with the Bible this "Wisdom" will be from people. This will move us away from Jesus Christ. The word of God is good for teaching, admonishing one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs but then Paul says singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. By the way that "Grace" comes from God through His Son Jesus Christ. This is why obeying by faith and following Jesus Christ is so important because we need this "Grace" so we can give it back to God. When we get crowns in heaven we will be giving them back to God. Remember in the presence of Jesus Christ we do not need anything.

In our dealings with life word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ once again with thanksgiving to God. This is the second time Paul mentions thanksgiving to God so it is obviously a spirit the Holy Spirit has to impart in us as believers in Jesus Christ. I hope you are seeing the trend that these attitudes are not just going to mysteriously be placed in our hearts. This is why our devotion has to be for and in Jesus Christ. 

Paul says that wives are to summit to their husbands and husbands are to love their wives. The Apostle warns against bitterness which is a spirit opposite of the other biblical truths that Paul talks about in this set of verses. With that being said let me just quote the original text so you can read the passage for yourself and perhaps make reference to it if need be in this particular Bible study. 

(12) "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. (18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as it is in the Lord. (19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Colossians 3:12 - 19. 

Paul says in verse eight to put off all anger and wrath because if held strongly enough it will turn into malice. In verse twelve the Apostle raises the standard by telling us to put on compassion and kindness. When Paul talks about the "Elect" there are different interpretations but this probably is referring to the body of Christ. We as Christians are supposed to conduct ourselves with the love of Jesus Christ. We are to show compassion to the hurting. We were shown mercy so in turn we should be merciful. Kindness is friendship with people and it's purpose is to reconcile lost souls to God. A kind spirit is recognizable but we should always do it for the purpose of pointing to the Person of Jesus Christ.

Paul writes about humbleness of mind which involves our demeanor but most people do not focus on this characteristic in their life because we tend to want to put ourselves first by nature.

Meekness involves us controlling our anger and patiently bearing this emotion in other people. This is difficult because anger is very much part of our world.

Long - suffering is hard but we must remember that God is this way with us so following Jesus Christ is wise because people will eventually see a Godly spirit in us. What they do with what they see is an entirely different story.

We should be forbearing to one another because there is at least one thing in us that needs to be fore - bared. I do not believe one person is exempt from this so we should be forbearing to others. People will appreciate this emotion coming from us and I know I always recognize this spirit in other people.

Forgiving one another is essential if we desire to show the love of Jesus Christ. Quarrels will sometimes happen even among Christians but the bottom line is it is still our responsibility to forgive because Jesus Christ forgave us. It is amazing how much believers in Jesus Christ forget this basic principle but it is His example that we need to follow because it is part of our forgiveness. The one thing we do not want to do is have an unforgiving spirit.

Paul says above all clothe ourselves with love which lays the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ. If you want a bond of perfectness engage in Christian mutual love.

To let the peace of God rule in our hearts is to allow this to govern our spirit and make the right decisions because we are called in one body. If you think this is easy ponder this --- we make thirty to sixty thousand decisions a day. We better have a strong foundation in Jesus Christ or we will all make the wrong choices. This peace ruling in our souls involves peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to have a thankful spirit because this is a pleasant work of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the evil in this world.

To let the word of Christ dwell in us richly means it must rule or dwell in us and always be ready in all of our circumstances. Doing this keeps a dwelling in our souls but it also makes for a great foundation in our life. If the Bible dwells in us poorly the soul will not prosper but if it dwells in us richly this is true wisdom from God. The word of Jesus Christ must dwell in us not to feed on what we do not know but to feed on what we do know through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

To teach and admonish one another is to quicken ourselves but do not forget all the humble characteristics Paul instructs us to have which I listed in the beginning of the article. This has to be balanced because we will be prideful when we are supposed to be humble.

Paul writes about poetry and our faith in Jesus Christ. Psalms and hymns can be a souse of great edification to us but when we sing songs there is no melody unless there is grace in our hearts.

If we can teach that is good but if we have to admonish it must be done with the right spirit in the name of Christ.

Finally those Christians that do things in the name of Jesus Christ in word or deed will once again want to do this with the spirit of thanksgiving. Paul talks about a grateful heart again because being gracious is from the root word grace (grace/gracious). We were saved by grace and should never forget this through our thanksgiving. Paul starts to talk about the family specifically husbands and wives. I think I will talk about the family in the next article. The reason for this is because Paul says so much in this passage that my fear is it will be to much for anybody to absorb in their mind and spirit.

If you are not a Christian and saying something to the order of wow ---  realize I am saying the same thing. This is the kind of God we worship and serve and His name is Jesus Christ. I fall short in many of these biblical truths but the Son of God is perfect. He has every one of these attributes and more because this is only eight verses I reviewed for the internet audience. All I can say is we serve an amazing God.

This may be a good time to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of the Living God into your life. I hope and pray that you just made that all important eternal decision.

God Bless you,
Bob D.             

DEALING WITH SIN AND LIVING FOR JESUS CHRIST

Dealing with sin and living for Jesus Christ

The Apostle Paul finishes encouraging his readers about the rapture of the church and then immediately talks about mortifying our flesh. He states they (flesh) are on this earth but he gets very specific by naming fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which he defined as idolatry. Another words Paul was saying put these sins to death because they may seem natural in our flesh but these desires are enmity to God. This kind of reminds me of a referee giving instructions before a sports event and in essence he is saying follow the rules and keep it clean when you go to battle. Many times in the Bible the Holy Spirit depicts Christians as soldiers with our spiritual armor through Jesus Christ as we remain in this world before God takes us home. When we get to heaven our bodies, minds and spirits as redeemed saints in Paradise will be sinless.

In verse six Paul talks about the wrath of God coming on the children of disobedience. It is good to try our best to obey God every day because this becomes part of our spirit when we engage in this practice. Those that do not just kind of go out into the world and perhaps might even fall into one or more of these sins. It is interesting that Paul reminds them that they were once like this when living in those sins but now they are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

Then the Apostle even gets more specified by writing to the Colossians by saying put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy communication out of your mouth. In verse five Paul goes over one set of sins and then in verse eight he goes over a completely different sequence of transgressions.

At this point the Apostle is keeping them honest by telling them not to lie to one another in word or in their practice of lifestyles. He reminds them that they as believers in Christ put off the old man with his deeds which were obviously evil and the Colossian church put on the new man which is renewed in Godly knowledge after the image of Jesus Christ who is their Creator. This is obviously a practice that Paul is referring to that we as Christians must do every day in our lives because our fleshly nature is constantly trying to pop up and have dominance in our spirit. When we got redeemed through Jesus Christ that did happen but this is a constant battle we face every day of our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must first make a choice that we are going to work with God on this matter. You would be surprised how many Christians will not make a definite choice regarding this issue and as a result are living a lifestyle of sin. They are on very dangerous ground with Jesus Christ. This is hard so do not let anyone tell you it is easy.

The Apostle then goes on to explain that Jesus Christ is all and in all but he first compares opposites such as Greek/Jew, circumcision/ uncirumcision and bond or free. In essence Paul was saying I do not care where you are in life because the Son of God is all and He is supposed to be in all of our circumstances. It is true because whether our life is going great or horrible no true closure will be found in either scenario because Jesus Christ is our grace and peace. This is why our comfort is not in the flip flop of our circumstances. Under this system we have to wait for a good day and wonder why we still do not have real peace in our hearts. Only Jesus Christ through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit can bestow this upon our soul. Let me quote the original text so you can read it and perhaps make reference to this if need be in this particular study of the Bible. 

(5) "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncirumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." Colossians 3:5 - 11.

It is our duty and responsibility to mortify our members which are upon the earth. These distractions which are opposed to God incline us to the things of the world. Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection and evil concupiscence are contrary to our Christian life but it will also destroy our heavenly hope. We have to live right but with Godly pureness of hope to our Savior Jesus Christ. The moral is do not let any sin steal this away from your righteous path on earth as we look to Jesus Christ in heaven.

Paul also writes about covetousness which is idolatry. If we have an inordinate affection in this world we are in essence saying this is good. No it is not. It is a lure and bad. If outward enjoyments become an obsession to us then this will permeate our spirit and for all practical purposes we will no longer be living a Godly life. If covetousness is spiritual idolatry then we are giving our love to this world as opposed to Jesus Christ Himself. The Bible talks about this in many different places and it is either one or the other. If we try and straddle the fence we are not strong enough to resist the world so make a decision and commitment to have faith and obedience in God. You know this principle must be important because the very first commandment starts out by saying," (3) "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in water under earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the inquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and forth generation of them that hate Me; (6) And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments." Exodus 20:3 - 6.

In keeping with this subject it is obviously necessary to mortify sins because if we do not kill them they will kill us so the best defense is a good offence.

The Apostle then talks about the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Those who do not obey the principles of the law have to suffer the penalties of the precepts they disobeyed because God programed into the entire universe a sowing and reaping principle before we were even born. We had nothing to do with this law but are still responsible for our proper obedience in our response to Jesus Christ.

Mortify is an out of the ordinary verb that the Apostle uses but if these sins have or are living in us then I can personally see why Paul chose to use this word. Remember the Apostle reminds them in which you also walked some time when you lived in them. That includes Paul, me and you. If we formally walked in our transgressions which we did then we should be extremely motivated to forsake them through Jesus Christ but this requires us Christians to mortify our flesh. This takes conviction to obey Jesus Christ.

Paul was speaking in the present tense so once again we should be in the practice and discipline of applying this principle to our lives. If we know people that are in the practice of doing this we should pray for them but try to stay away from their company. Even secular people come up to me and say in essence who you hang out with is who you most likely become like because by nature we are easily influenced and affected by the responses of others.

The Apostle seems to desire to stay with this subject. Remember he writes about this "After" he talks about the rapture of the church. Be careful where your passions are because the next set of sins seems to be very passionate in an evil way. He talks about putting off anger, wrath and malice. Paul probably saved malice for last because it is the worst in this list of sins. This sin is anger at a very high level and it just kind of settles in the spirit.

The next word in this list of transgressions is blasphemy but in context it is not speaking bad of God as much as it is talking evil of people. The reason why I said this is because the next word is filthy communication. Gossip and slander is a way of life over here in this country but what these people do not understand is their speech effects the hearers in a bad way. Life gets reduced but the result is never God is good. People like evil but they will miss out on the goodness of God. They are also sowing sin and reaping evil. No longer will these people have a good conscience before God which you can not fake but will always have that weight of guilt in their hearts.

Paul then talks about lying. Of course he says it is wrong but we can never forget that the devil is the Father of lies. The Apostle writes again to put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man. This must be accomplished in Godly knowledge or renewed in knowledge. Whether it is a new principle or an old precept an ignorant soul can not grow in Jesus Christ.

Paul talks about the image of Him who created him so for all practical purposes the Apostle was implying that when we grow in Godly knowledge this is "Light" somewhat similar to God creating light in the original Genesis creation. We were made after the image of God. Sanctification is a privilege not a burden after our salvation experience in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Paul then talks about contrasts that I already reviewed so for example if free and bond can both be one in Jesus Christ that is attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit through the Person of Jesus Christ. We obey but it is God doing the work through our spirit. 

Notice Paul is saying that one side has to live holy but so does the contrasting other side because the same rules apply to both but so do the benefits of obeying God. Our Savior does not show favorites but this world will always be guilty of this bias.

Paul writes about Jesus Christ and said He is all, and in all. What can I say --- Jesus Christ is our life and everything. The Son of God is our hope and fulfillment. If you would like to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins then invite the Son of God into your life. Now may be a good time to make this all important eternal decision. I hope and pray that you just made this choice for your life and eternity.

God Bless you,

Bob D.             

LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

Love for Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church

The Apostle Paul starts out with us as Christians for all practical purposes being dead with Jesus Christ from the rudiments of the world. This is a place as believers in Christ that we have to abide in because there are many sinful lures down here; therefore, Paul in essence ends verse twenty by encouraging us to live by basic principles in the Bible as we follow Jesus Christ.

Once again Paul warns his readers not to follow the commandments and doctrines of men. Who is smarter God or people? The deception with this is it looks really good on the outside but little do the people engaging in these practices understand they are not worshipping their true Creator.

At the beginning of chapter three the Apostle puts on a really good case that if we were risen with Christ we are to seek those things which are above. This is where Jesus Christ sits on the right hand of God. Paul specifically writes about our affections and urges our love to be on heaven as opposed to the things on this earth which is almost always bad for us and will die. In fact the Apostle even says that we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God.

Paul talks about the rapture of the church. First he starts by explaining that Jesus Christ is our life. This should give us our first clue on how to live before He returns. The Apostle then explains that Jesus Christ will appear and when He does we will also appear with Him in glory. Let me just quote the original text and you can read this or perhaps make reference to it if need be in this particular study of the Bible.

(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 show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. (1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Colossians 2:20 - 23 / Colossians 3:1 - 4. 

If something is from the traditions and injunctions of people then they have no true authority and we must realize this biblical fact. If the teaching is from the penned word of the Holy Spirit in the Bible it is true and from God.

We are basically talking about true or false here in this particular context. The worst case scenario is said person will follow the traditions and injunctions of men at the exclusion of the word of God and not go to heaven. If Jesus Christ Himself is not at the center of the teaching throw it out because you are going down a road that has nothing to do with God. This is why I believe the Apostle Paul in verse twenty three says it can look like wisdom, worship and humility but it is really a road of deception that has nothing to do with the Lamb of God that died for our sins. If the devil can throw half truth and half lies in our pursuit of God and get us to believe this we are in big trouble.

If we ever find ourselves on this path then we need to be engaged in some serious repentance before God. This is a response that the Triune Godhead respects and guides us in our recovery to the real truth who is Jesus Christ Himself. Did you ever see these testimonies where they were in this lifestyle and one day came to the truth of the true gospel of Jesus Christ? We can just see the countenance of love and light come out of their eyes because they are a brand new person in the Son of God. They were confused but now they are found. This is an example of the true way of salvation.

Many times when I see these man made rules they think themselves wiser than other people but if there is no true devotion to God in this system then they are not worshipping in spirit and truth. The Bible says that the true children of Jesus Christ worship Him in spirit and truth. (23) " But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." John 4:23 - 24.

If we try and worship God through ritual observances we will not be talking to Jesus Christ. If we grow in grace and knowledge through the guidance of the Bible we will have communion with the Son of the Living God. The first seems like wisdom but it is foolish. It is the right choice to give our entire subjection to Jesus Christ who is the head of the church. Do we really want to be worshipping the devil through the disguise of ritual observances? If this is the case on judgment day Jesus Christ may say something to the order of I had nothing to do with any of these man made rules. Be careful where you put your allegiance because it will determine your eternity.

In Colossians chapter three it is true that we were made free from the ceremonial law because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but this does not mean we can live like the devil. This is our opportunity to walk more close to God.

Our "Concern" must be about the things of heaven more than this earth. There are issues down here that we have to deal with head on but it should always be for the kingdom of God. The Bible never says avoid the problems in life, it says face them with the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father as our God to give our spirit true closure as we seek heavenly things to give us true peace. If we try and find comfort through circumstances it will be back and forth because the devil can not promise us anything. He thrives on betrayal.

We have one of two choices. We can set our affections on heaven and our spirit will eventually move upward or we can set our affections on the things in earth which is actually opposed to the pureness that is to be found in Jesus Christ. The prevalence of our affection to one will proportionally weaken our love for the other because they are opposite realities which have nothing to do with each other.

We are supposed to be alive in Jesus Christ and dead to the world. This is a choice on our part or a renouncement. The next step is to make sure our affections are in the right place or should I say the right Person (Jesus Christ).

If our life is hid with Christ in God the new man has his or her new life in the Triune Godhead. Now our life is hid with Jesus Christ but that does not mean secrecy. This means security. This is why we have comfort and peace because our life as a true believer in Jesus Christ is hid with Him and is safely in the Son of God. We can not interpret this biblical principle in that nothing bad will happen to us on earth but the precept is saying we are eternally secure in Jesus Christ.

In Colossians 2:4 the Apostle Paul talks about the rapture of the church. This is an event that we can hope for the perfection of our position in Jesus Christ. This should tell us now that our life down here should be in Jesus Christ. Much of this is hid from us now but when Jesus Christ comes for us in the Blessed Hope (rapture) He will appear in His own glory and His Father's glory. When we are translated at the rapture of the church we will appear with Him in glory. This will be in the Person of Jesus Christ and it will be His pleasure to have His children with Him. It will also be our joy to be with Him.

We should be looking for this event without setting a date being ready at any moment and our affection should be on the world to come. We should be living above this world because our head (Jesus Christ) is in heaven. This is our true home and our treasure should be there so our hope should be in the coming of the Lord. This is why the rapture is sometimes referred to as the Blessed Hope.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your very own personal Savior and Lord now may be a good time for you to repent of all your sins and invite the Son of God into your life. Sincere Christians do set their affections on heaven and we are occupying until He comes as we watch for His return (the rapture of the church).

You do not have to be a prophecy expert to understand that we are in the general vicinity of the return of Jesus Christ. All you have to do is look at the news. I do not know when Jesus Christ is coming but this event can not be to far off so wise people will accept and live for the Lamb of God who died for our sins. He is the one (Jesus Christ) that will snatch His bride up in the rapture of the church. I hope and pray that you just made that all important eternal decision through the salvation of Jesus Christ.

God Bless you, 

Bob D.  

OUR PLACE OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE IN JESUS CHRIST

Our place of faith and obedience in Jesus Christ


We were all at one point dead in our sins. When we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts we were quickened together with Him and our sins were forgiven. God does not hold our trespasses against us past tense. There is not one verse in the Bible that says when we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts our sins have been forgiven past, present and future. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." Romans 3:25.

Can you possibly imagine the Apostle Paul forgetting to write in the words present and future? I can not because he was an extremely detailed writer. We will not find a single verse in the King James Bible that tells us when we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts our sins were forgiven past, present and future. Obviously we as Christians are to set our sights on living holy and obedient lives before God and if we do sin ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 tells us Jesus Christ is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We obviously have to repent of our present offenses against heaven because this precious salvation experience is not a license to sin. Notice Romans 3:25 just writes our sins that are past are forgiven. If our present and future sins were forgiven at salvation then the Apostle John wrote in vain, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Why would we even need cleansing if our present and future sins are already forgiven?

You would be surprised as to how many Christians do not understand this principle. We are responsible and accountable for our manner of conversation or the way we live our life. Notice John says "If" because it is not an expected thing or not something that we should be engaging in but "If" we do sin we can sincerely and earnestly ask for forgiveness. I am in the practice of repenting of my sins every night --- known, unknown, small or big sins. It is very important to me that I stay honest and clean before God.

When we came to the Lord we changed possessions from darkness to Light. The blotting out of the handwriting of ordinances that was against us as sinners before God was taken out of the way and nailed to His cross.

When Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after dying on a cross He spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed in victory over them.

The Apostle Paul must have had a problem with "Special" days as some people were judging other people regarding this subject. The "Special" substances or days were meat, drink, holy days, new moons and Sabbath days. Regarding the first two this does not mean we are to commit the sin of gluttony or get drunk with wine but I will expand on this verse as the article progresses. I could use the rapture of the church as an example because I do not believe this event will happen on a feast day. The Bible says so many times that Jesus is coming at a time when we least expect Him to come in the Blessed Hope. I am sorry to divert with an example but in getting back to the subject Paul says we as the church are the body of Christ.

Once again Paul warns his readers not to let anyone beguile them through trickery or inflated truths which usually becomes a lie. Paul explains that Jesus Christ is the head and we as His body get our spiritual nourishment from Him being knit together. If we do increase with spiritual growth this is from God. Let me quote the original text so you can read it and perhaps make reference to the passage in this biblical study. 

(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; (15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, 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." Colossians 2:13 - 19.

This is going to sound like a paradox but the death of Jesus Christ is our life. Our state of sin before we came to Jesus Christ was our state of spiritual death. An unbeliever is unfortunately in sin but they are also dead in their trespasses against God. Our body decays because it is in a degenerated state and eventually dies but sin is the corruption of the soul. When a person is dead he or she is unable to help him or herself in their own power. In like manner a habitual sinner is impotent to stop his trespasses without the resurrected power of Jesus Christ. We were dead in our sins before we invited Jesus Christ into our hearts but now we are quickened together in Him. The death of Jesus Christ was the death of our sins but the resurrection was the quickening of our souls. If we relate this to an unbeliever they will not know what we are talking about but if they come to know the Lord this understanding will be a reality in their spirit. 

There were dark forces against us but they were taken away when we became born again which is a term straight out of John chapter three. When Paul talks about the handwriting of ordinances which were against us this was Jesus Christ obtaining for us a legal discharge for our sins. There was the hand writing of ordinances in the ceremonial law but the Lord Jesus Christ took it out of the way and nailed it to His cross. 

In verse seventeen Paul talks about shadows but when the Son of God died on the cross this fled away but an individual still has a personal responsibility to repent of all their sins and invite Jesus Christ into his or her heart. If you do not feel as if you did this now may be a good time to make this all important eternal decision. Jesus Christ has already obtained a glorious victory for us over the powers of darkness.

The Apostle Paul talks about Jesus Christ spoiling principalities and powers because the curse of the law was against us but the power of Satan was in his possession. The Son of God took this out of the hands of the devil and redeemed us through His resurrection power. All we have to do is accept Him into our hearts by faith and repenting of all our sins and inviting Jesus Christ into our life. All the powers of hell were conquered by our dying Redeemer. His crown of thorns turned into a crown of victory. He made a show of them openly. Jesus Christ triumphed over them by dying and raising on the third day. 

When Paul talks about not letting any person judge you in meat or drink this means if God did not impose this on you do not let them put a burden on your soul because it is man made. The Apostle talks about the shadows of things to come that were done away with when Christ rose from the dead. They had the shadows but we have Jesus Christ Himself in our hearts.

Apparently gentile philosophers worshiped angels. Paul did not desire anyone to be deceived and quite frankly every Apostle had the same solemn fear. Once again we see another invention of people that is not of God. Watch who you worship because we were made to worship. The implication is in the ten commandments. Worship God and God alone is the principle so please take this precept serious. Individuals that do this might be humble but there is pride in disobeying God. Paul talks about not holding the head because more than likely pride is at the practice of these evil practices and false worship. We should never let go of our hold of Jesus Christ because there is always some kind of lure in the world waiting for us to fall into a trap of sin. 

If you will go back and read verse nineteen Paul says a lot in a few words. The body of Christ is supposed to be a growing body but the increase is always from God if it is true righteous maturity. If I am doing something for Jesus Christ and I see an increase I know God causes the growth. Do you think I am going to give myself the credit? I can not even wake up in the morning. When I do it takes me a couple of hours to really get started knowing "Far" less than one percent of everything going on in this universe. My hope and prayer is for everyone reading this article to have Jesus Christ in their hearts and lives and understand our place of obedience and faith in Him.

God bless you, 
Bob D.