Colossians 2
Coming of Christ – a mysteryverses 1-3
For I would that you 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
That their hearts might be comforted – being knit together in love
and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding
to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God
and of the Father and of Christ
in WHOM are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Watch out for enticing wordsverses 4-5
And this I say – lest any man should beguile you
with ENTICING WORDS
for though I be absent in the flesh
YET am I with you in the spirit
joying – beholding your order
and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ
Establish yourself in the faithverses 6-7
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord
so walk you in HIM rooted and built up in HIM
and stablished in the faith
as you have been taught
abounding therein
with thanksgiving
Supremacy of Christverses 8-15
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
FOR in HIM dwells all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily
And you are complete in HIM
which is the head of all principality and power
In WHOM also you are circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands – in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh
by the circumcision of Christ
buried with HIM in baptism
wherein also you are risen with HIM
through the faith of the operation of God
WHO has raised HIM from the dead
And you – being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh
has HE quickened together with HIM
having forgiven you all trespasses
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
And having spoiled principalities and powers
HE made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it
Warning regarding false teachingsverses 16-23
Let no man therefore judge you in meat – drink – respect of a holy day
of the new moon – of the Sabbath days
which are a shadow of things to come
but the body is of Christ
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshiping of angels
intruding into those things which he has not seen
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind
And not holding the Head from which all the body
by joints and bands having nourishment ministered
and knit together – increases with the increase of God
Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world
why – as though living in the world – are you subject to ordinances
(touch not – taste not – handle not
which all are to perish with using)
after the commandments and doctrines of men?
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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. (5463 “joying” [chairo] means rejoice, be glad, greetings, God speed, be delighted, or to take pleasure in)
DEVOTION: Paul is not present in the city of Colosse or Laodicea. He is hearing of all the things that are happening in the churches. He wants to be there to help them understand the truths of the Word of God.
However, even when he is absent he is with them in spirit. He knows their struggles. He understands what is going on in the church because of the messages of those who came to him but also by the Holy Spirit he is given understanding so that he can encourage them.
He is full of joy over them facing their struggling in a Biblical manner. They are practicing the disciplines of the faith. They are having orderly worship services. They are doing everything in a proper manner. He knows that things will go well because they are not allowing confusion to reign in their church. They are looking to the LORD and HIS servants for guidance during their times of trying to understand what God is doing in their world.
Finally, he is proud of their steadfastness in the faith during this time. They were firm in their beliefs regarding reaching the Gentiles for the LORD and understanding HIS mystery of establishing salvation for the Gentiles outside of the Laws of Moses. They were fighting a battle against those who were false teachers teaching that the Gentiles had to be circumcised to be genuinely saved. It was a lie they were fighting.
Paul complimented them in military terms because they realized it was a battle against Satan and his servants. We are in the same battle today. Satan wants us to add to what is necessary for salvation. Too often it is pet beliefs that are added and they cause people to fall away from the LORD rather than get them closer to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Watch out for any who want to add conditions to a person’s salvation. It is faith in Christ alone manifested by the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual with a desire to serve HIM with gladness to bring glory to the Father.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 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. (5385 “philosophy” [philosophia] means love of wisdom, used either of zeal for or skill in any art or science, any branch of knowledge, human wisdom, hollow speculation, or pursuit of wisdom)
DEVOTION: Paul is concerned for this church that he has never visited. He also mentions the church at Laodicea and others that had not seen his face. He is praying for them that they will grow in the faith. He wants them to realize all the blessing they have in Christ.
However, there are groups of Gnostics, who worship wisdom instead of God. They were a group of false teachers in Paul’s day. They loved the study of wisdom over the study of the Word of God. They set down rules that were after the traditions of men. They impressed people with their knowledge. Even the Christians were following them because they were impressed.
Paul told them that they were dead to the world. They were buried with Christ in baptism to show that the old life was over and a new life had begun. He didn’t want them to return to the old life or be deceived or beguiled by the false teachers.
There are groups of people in churches around the world who think that they have a special insight from God to lead the people under their care. These groups have a set of rules to follow to be true followers of God. These groups think that they are the only ones who can understand the teachings of the Word of God. If a person obeys these rules they will go to heaven. If he disobeys the rules he will either be sent to hell or be annihilated. We need to watch out for people who teach that they know the only way to heaven and have the only truth in the world.
Many groups like these have come and gone but those who are genuine followers of God will be following the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God represented by Biblical pastors who love the LORD. Many manmade religions are centered on human wisdom.
Sophia is a religion even in our day. Men seem to think that they can genuinely know God by study alone. They don’t have a personal relationship but head knowledge of God.
Many individuals who write commentaries on the books of the Bible cover them just like any other literature. They can study the Bible as literature. There is a difference between applying the Word of God to an individual’s life and just studying the Bible as literature.
It is our prayer that those who received these devotions know the difference. There is a Christian worldview that is taught by such philosophers as Ronald Nash and Norman Geisler. That is not what this verse is referring too when it uses this word. Remember to not let men judge you regarding meat, drink, holy days and other things. God is the only Judge that we need to be concerned about. HE will let us know what HE wants through HIS Word and the Holy Spirit. Listen to them but remember that we don’t worship the Bible but the God of the Bible.
CHALLENGE: Check out what you hear and read with the Word of God. Ask God for wisdom from above to help with what you are learning. Remember that our salvation is based on the BLOOD of Christ alone.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER:Mature Believers
: 12 Buried with HIM in baptism, wherein also you are risen with HIM through the faith of the operation of God, WHO has raised HIM from the dead. (1753 “operation” [Energeia] means working, efficiency, process or manner of functioning or operating, practice, activity, or to grant the ability to do)
DEVOTION: One of the ordinances of the church is baptism. On the day of Pentecost there were three thousand souls added to the church. It states that they were baptized once they received Christ into their heart though the preaching of the Word of God.
This verse describes baptism as being buried with Christ in the water. There is only one way to have that happen and that is to go under the water. These were individuals who had reached the age of accountability and made a Biblical choice to follow Jesus.
It says that they were raised as Jesus was raised from the dead to a place where they had a mighty power available to them. Once a believer is a follower of Jesus Christ his/her first step of obedience is to receive baptism. It is not a part of salvation it is a sign to show that you are a believers to the world.
In the days of Peter and the apostles it meant going against their following of the law to be saved and made them become followers of Jesus Christ alone. They still had a standard to live by through the teachings of the Word of God but salvation came by Jesus Christ alone.
CHALLENGE: We have the same standard that the apostles had of realizing that faith alone saves through Jesus Christ alone.
: 19 And not holding the HEAD, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. (2023 “nourishment” [epichoregeo] means minister, supply, furnish, assisted, to be or become in possession of something that is desired or needed, to provide for, to supply the needs of, provision, or to supply add to one another.)
DEVOTION: The head of the church is Jesus Christ. HE is the Great Shepherd. HE is the DOOR by which people enter into the kingdom of God. HE is the lamb of God which was slain for our sins.
There were people who were putting Jesus Christ in HIS proper place in the church. They were teaching other things. Paul warned the believers to not follow them because they were not the HEAD of the church.
Jesus is the one who feed believer. HE is the one who holds the body of the church together. HE wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIM.
We have to give Christ first place in our life and in the life of the church. Those who were not putting Christ first were false teachers. They were beguiling the people into believing their teachings. This was causing them to be puffed up or prideful. They were measuring themselves by a false measure. They were falling for a lie. Satan was winning in their life.
Our Head is Jesus Christ. We are HIS body to work on this earth until HE comes again to take us to be with HIM. Allow HIM to nourish your faith through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us understand the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: This will lead us to a close walk with the LORD. As we walk closer to the LORD we are maturing or growing in the faith.
: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. (1479 “will worship” [ethelothreskeia] means 1 voluntary, arbitrary worship. 1a worship which one prescribes and devises for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of faith which ought to be directed to Christ. 1b said of the misdirected zeal and the practice of ascetics. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: Why do people go to church on Sunday? For most of them, we have found it is in order to “feel good.” Perhaps feeling good about themselves, or feeling good about their friends, or feeling good in general. A minority of people go to church in order to truly worship and thank God.
Our language (particularly in our singing) reflects this. Jesus is described as “our brother,” “our best friend,” or “our helper.” Since the word “awesome” is overused in American English, we are incapable to even expressing reverential awe at God. We are, in effect, the lukewarm Christians in Laodicea. No longer do many of churches call on people to repent of their sins!
On the other extreme of the spectrum from self-piety, we find those who are still trying to figure out ways of earning God’s favor by self-denial and even self-mutilation. Just look at how people act around the time of Lent and Easter! But it is certainly possible to get proud of oneself for going through self-denial.
Paul was countering both heresies in writing to the Colossians. He didn’t want them to practice ascetic practices for the purpose of self-piety (something the Gnostics advocated), nor did he want them to use these same ascetic practices as a way of disciplining their own bodies in order to earn God’s favor (such as the Stoics taught). He states that all these practices are meaningless and useless, and do not help us grow in true Christlikeness.
CHALLENGE: Examine your own motives for why you go to church, and what you think about in church. If it is about yourself, you chosen a to focus on something far too small! Instead, concentrate on God and all He has done for you. (Dr. Marc Wooten)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Holydayverse 16
New moonverse 16
Sabbathverse 16
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Ordinancesverses 14, 20
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Fatherverse 2
Godverses 2, 12, 19
Mystery of Godverse 2
Operation of Godverse 12
Raised Christ from the deadverse 12
Nailed our sins to the crossverse 14
Increases the churchverse 19
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 17, 20
In WHOM are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledgeverse 3
Jesus verse 6
Lordverse 6
Christ Jesus the Lordverse 6
Dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodilyverse 9
Head of all principality and powerverse 10
Risenverse 12
Nailing ordinances to crossverse 14
Spoiled principalities and powersverse 15
Triumphing over fallen angelsverse 15
Headverse 19
Nourishes the churchverse 19
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Godheadverse 9
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Principalityverse 10
Powerverse 10
Principalitiesverse 15
Powersverse 15
Worshiping of angelsverse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Laodiceaverse 1
Fleshverses 5, 23
Spiritverse 5
Uncircumcision of the fleshverse 13
Worldverse 20
Menverse 22
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Beguileverses 4, 18
Enticing wordsverse 4
Philosophy and vain deceitverse 8
Tradition of menverse 8
Rudiments of the worldverses 8, 20
Sinsverses 11, 13
Dead in sinsverse 13
Uncircumcision of your fleshverse 13
Trespassesverse 13
Judging believersverse 16
Worshiping of angelsverse 18
Puffed upverse 18
Fleshly mindverse 18
Not holding the HEADverse 19
Rudiments of the worldverse 20
Subject to ordinancesverse 20
Commandments and doctrines of menverse 22
Satisfying of the fleshverse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Conflictverse 1
Comfortverse 2
Loveverse 2
Full assurance of understandingverse 2
Mystery of Godverse 2
Joyverse 5
Beholding orderverse 5
Steadfastness of your faithverse 5
Faithverses 6, 12
Walk in Christverse 6
Rooted and built up in HIMverse 7
Taught growth in faithverse 7
Abounding in thanksgivingverse 7
Complete in HIMverse 10
Circumcision made without handsverse 11
Putting off the body of sins of the fleshverse 11
Buried with HIM in baptismverse 12
Risen with Christverse 12
Dead in your sinsverse 13
Quickened together with Christverse 13
Forgiven all trespassesverse 13
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinancesverse 14
Rewardverse 18
Ministersverse 19
Knit togetherverse 19
Increasesverse 19
Dead with Christverse 20
Not subject to ordinancesverse 20
Humilityverse 23
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Circumcisionverse 11
Church (New Testament people of God)
Joyingverse 5
Beholding your orderverse 5
Steadfastness of your faithverse 5
Rooted and built up in Christverse 7
Established in the faithverse 7
Circumcision made without handsverse 11
Baptismverse 12
Risen with Christ – coming out of the waterverse 12
Body is of Christverses 17, 19
Last Things (Future Events)
Shadow of things to comeverse 17
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QUOTES regarding passage
23. Which things (ἅτινα). The double relative classifies, putting these precepts and teachings, and all that are like them, in one category: a class of things which. For similar usage, see Gal. 4:24; 5:19; Philip. 4:3.
Have a show of wisdom (ἐστιν λόγον ἔχοντα σοφίας). Lit., are having a reputation for wisdom. The finite verb are, with the participle having, denotes what is habitual, and marks the permanent quality of these precepts, etc. Λόγον, A. V., show, is rather plausible reason, a show of reason, and hence a reputation. They pass popularly for wisdom.
Will-worship (ἐθελοθρησκείᾳ). Only here in the New Testament. Worship self-imposed or volunteered. Similar compounds of ἐθέλω to will sometimes carry the meaning of pretence, unreality; as ἐθελόκωφος pretending deafness; ἐθελορήτωρ a pretentious orator. Augustine makes hybrid Latin compounds, as thelodives, one who takes on the airs of a rich man; thelosapiens, one who affects wisdom. More commonly, however, the sense is that of voluntariness or officiousness. Thus Thucydides says that Pithias acted as ἐθελοπόξενος voluntary agent or representative of the Athenians (3:70). Εθελοκίνδυνος is running voluntarily into danger, foolhardy: ἐθελοδουλεία is voluntary slavery. The idea of pretence seems to be involved here along with that of self-chosen worship.
Humility. Voluntary and affected.
And neglecting (καὶ ἀφειδίᾳ). Only here in the New Testament. From ἀ not and φείδομαι to spare. Hence unsparing treatment or severity. Also used for lavishness, extravagance of means and of life. So Thucydides: “The running aground of the ships was reckless (ἀφειδὴς.” 4:26). Neglecting is wrong. Rev., correctly, severity. The καὶ and before severity is doubtful. If omitted, severity to the body defines have a reputation for wisdom, the outward austerity being that which makes the popular impression of a higher wisdom.
In any honor (ἐν τιμῇ τινὶ). Rev., better, of any value. The real value of these ascetic practices contrasted with their popular estimation. Price or value is the original meaning of τιμή, and its use in this sense is frequent in classical Greek. So in the New Testament, as Matt. 27:9, “the price of Him who was priced (τετιμημένου).” In Paul, 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23. The idea of value appears in 1 Pet. 1:19. “Ye were redeemed—with the precious (τιμίῳ) blood of Christ;” something of real and adequate value. So 1 Pet. 2:4, of Christ as the living stone, precious (ἔντιμον), of recognized value.
To the satisfying (πρὸς πλησμονὴν). To means as a remedy against. Πλησμονὴν denotes repletion, surfeiting. Paul says that these ascetic observances, while they appeal to men as indications of superior wisdom and piety, have no value as remedies against sensual indulgence. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 499–500). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
Which things (ἁτινα [hatina]). “Which very things,” these ascetic regulations. Have indeed a show of wisdom (ἐστιν λογον μεν ἐχοντα σοφιας [estin logon men echonta sophias]). Periphrastic present indicative with ἐστιν [estin] in the singular, but present indicative ἐχοντα [echonta] in the plural (ἁτινα [hatina]). Λογον σοφιας [Logon sophias] is probably “the repute of wisdom” (Abbott) like Plato and Herodotus. Μεν [Men] (in deed) has no corresponding δε [de]. In will-worship (ἐν ἐθελοθρησκιᾳ [en ethelothrēskiāi]). This word occurs nowhere else and was probably coined by Paul after the pattern of ἐθελοδουλεια [ethelodouleia], to describe the voluntary worship of angels (see 2:18). And humility (και ταπεινοφροσυνῃ [kai tapeinophrosunēi]). Clearly here the bad sense, “in mock humility.” And severity to the body (και ἀφειδιᾳ σωματος [kai apheidiāi sōmatos]). Old word (Plato) from ἀφειδης [apheidēs], unsparing (α [a] privative, φειδομαι [pheidomai], to spare). Here alone in N. T. Ascetics often practice flagellations and other hardnesses to the body. Not of any value (οὐκ ἐν τιμῃ τινι [ouk en timēi tini]). Τιμη [Timē] usually means honour or price. Against the indulgence of the flesh (προς πλησμονην της σαρκος [pros plēsmonēn tēs sarkos]). These words are sharply debated along with τιμη [timē] just before. It is not unusual for προς [pros] to be found in the sense of “against” rather than “with” or “for.” See προς [pros] in sense of against in 3:13; Eph. 6:11f.; 2 Cor. 5:12; 1 Cor. 6:1. Πλησμονη [Plēsmonē] is an old word from πιμπλημι [pimplēmi], to fill and means satiety. It occurs here only in the N. T. Peake is inclined to agree with Hort and Haupt that there is a primitive corruption here. But the translation in the Revised Version is possible and it is true that mere rules do not carry us very far in human conduct as every father or mother knows, though we must have some regulations in family and state and church. But they are not enough of themselves. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Col 2:23). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press)
2:22–23. Asceticism is a man-made system of rules (often taken out of context from God’s Law) based on human commands and teachings. The persistent example of legalism in the New Testament was the Old Testament command of circumcision which God intended for the Jews as a sign of faith (Rom. 4:11) but which the legalists wanted to make a condition of grace (Gal. 2:21). Living by such regulations or self-made religion has a certain appearance of wisdom (sophias; cf. Col. 1:9; 2:3, 4:5), but it has absolutely no value in restraining sensual indulgence. “Sensual indulgence” is literally “the flesh” (sarkos; cf. 2:11, 18). For denying the body its desires merely arouses them, as is well known by many who have tried to lose weight by sticking to rigid diets. Neglecting the body, Paul argued, does not nourish the spirit. (Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 679). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
The deception of asceticism (v. 23). The people who practice asceticism have a “reputation” for spirituality, but the product does not live up to the promotion. I am amazed at the way educated people in America flock to see and hear gurus and other Eastern spiritual leaders whose teachings cannot change the human heart. This “self-imposed worship” is not the true worship of God, which must be “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Their humility is false, and their harsh disciplines accomplish nothing for the inner man.
While it is certainly better to exercise self-control than to yield to the physical appetites of the body, we must not think that such self-control is necessarily spiritually motivated. The ascetics of many non-Christian religions give evidence of remarkable self-control. The stoics and their ascetic philosophy were well known in Paul’s day. Their adherents could duplicate any discipline that the gnostic teachers cared to present.
The power of Christ in the life of the believer does more than merely restrain the desires of the flesh: it puts new desires within him. Nature determines appetite. The Christian has the very nature of God within (2 Peter 1:4), and this means he has godly ambitions and desires. He does not need law on the outside to control his appetites because he has life on the inside! The harsh rules of the ascetics “lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Col. 2:23, niv). If anything, they eventually bring out the worst instead of the best. In the closing two chapters of this letter, Paul explained how the new life functions in the believer to give him purity and victory.
This section closes the second chapter of Colossians in which the emphasis was on danger. Paul defended the preeminence of Jesus Christ, and he refuted the false doctrines of legalism, mysticism, and asceticism. It now remains for us to believe what he wrote and practice these spiritual principles.
The answer to legalism is the spiritual reality we have in Christ. The answer to mysticism is the spiritual union with Christ, the Head of the church. The answer to asceticism is our position in Christ in death, burial, and resurrection.
We put all of this into daily practice as we fellowship with Christ through worship, the Word, and prayer. As we yield to the indwelling Spirit, we receive the power we need for daily living. It is in our fellowship with other believers that we contribute spiritually to the growth of the body, the church, and the other members of the body contribute to us. What a wonderful way to live!
Is Christ preeminent in your life? Are you drawing on His spiritual power, or depending on some man-made “religious” substitute? (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 132). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
23 Ascetic rules masquerade as wisdom. They seem, on the surface, to be reasonable and wise. But what seems to be wisdom is only an appearance of, or pretension to, wisdom. In reality these rules are expressions of “self-imposed worship” and spurious “humility.” The RSV renders the first expression “rigor of devotion,” but the stress is not on rigor but on the voluntary nature of the act. Calvin defines it as “voluntary service, which men choose for themselves at their own option, without authority from God” (p. 202). The NIV rendering is in line with this thought. The context suggests that the errorists engaged in such “worship” in the hope that they would thereby acquire superior merit before God. The Greek word (ethelothrēskia), a rare compound that has not been found in extrabiblical writings and is used in the NT only here, calls to mind the reference to “worship of angels” in v. 18.
“Humility” (tapeinophrosynē) must in this context refer to a mock humility (cf. v. 18). The idea is that asceticism, while parading under the guise of humility, actually panders to human pride. “Harsh treatment of the body” (lit., “unsparingness”) is a reference to ascetic torturings of the body. “Lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” translates a very difficult Greek construction—ouk en timē tini pros plēsmonēn tēs sarkos—which has given rise to many different interpretations. The two that have the most to commend them are those expressed in NIV and in Moff.; the latter reads: “but they are of no value, they only pamper the flesh!” (cf. RSV margin). The Greek behind “sensual indulgence” may be more literally translated “indulgence of the flesh,” and by “flesh” Paul probably means more than sensuality. See Galatians 5:19–21, where such sins of disposition as arrogance and pride are listed as works of the flesh.
To sum up, v. 23 teaches that ascetic rules have the appearance of wisdom for many people in that they seem to be expressions of devotion to God, of humility, and of a commendable discipline of the body. Paul, however, declares that these regulations have nothing to do with real wisdom, and the worship and humility they seem to express are both spurious. His final appraisal is that asceticism is a dismal failure. On the surface it may appear to be the way to spiritual victory, but it actually is not. Christianity is not a religion of prescriptions but of a living relationship with Jesus Christ. This, of course, does not mean that once we are in Christ everything is permissible. That would amount to moral and spiritual anarchy, a thing contrary to the very nature of the new life in Christ. It does mean that the controls of the Christian life spring from within, that genuine piety grows out of inward conviction generated by a consciousness of union with Christ. Indwelt by the Spirit, we walk by the Spirit and thus avoid carrying out the desires of the lower nature (Gal 5:16). Maclaren says it with characteristic force: “There is only one thing that will put the collar on the neck of the animal within us, and that is the power of the indwelling Christ” (p. 255). (Vaughan, C. (1981). Colossians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, pp. 207–208). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Colossians 2: 10 – To be complete means we lack nothing. In Christ, God gives us everything we need to be fulfilled, joyful, and pleasing to Him. Feeling dissatisfied, inadequate, or joyless reveals much about our relationship with God. Are we turning to Christ? He wants to be the answer for our every need. (p. 225 Discovering God’s Daily Agenda by Henry & Richard Blackaby)
Jesus chooses 12 followers to be His disciples.
INSIGHT
God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them because of their devotion to Him. A look at the 12 men Jesus chooses to be His disciples does not reveal a “Who’s Who” in Judea. Rather, the men seem to be unknown and undistinguished.
The work of God does not depend on talent or intelligence. Different people have different strengths, but God uses all of us to accomplish His purposes. The body of Christ is made up of many parts — some highly visible, some hidden, all useful. God makes the most of the talents and spiritual gifts He has given each of us. (Quiet Walk)
GOD’S NAME MANIFESTED
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.
John 17:6
Notice that our Lord says here that He has “manifested” the name of God unto men whom God had given Him out of the world. He does not say merely that He told them about it. He goes beyond that. He says, “I have manifested”—there has been a revelation, there has been an expounding of the name. That which was concealing it has been taken away, and there has been an unveiling or an unfolding—that is the meaning of the word “manifested.” Our Lord has made the name appear, and He has put it obviously before them. This is a very rich and comprehensive term, and our Lord undoubtedly uses it deliberately so that these men who are listening to Him as He prays to God might realize the variegated and manifold character of this manifestation of the name of God that He has given.
So how does the Lord Jesus Christ manifest the name of God, and especially how does He do so in a way that is superior to the Old Testament revelation? The author of the letter to the Hebrews argues for the preeminence of Christ. The Old Testament was a true revelation, but it was only in part and in pieces; now, in Christ, it has come in all its fullness and glory.
Here, then, our Lord says that because He is the Son of God, He has manifested the name of God in a way that nothing and no one else could ever have done. He puts it like this: “They have received them [the words God gave Him], and have known surely that I came out from thee.” “These,” He says in essence, “are Your people; these are true Christians because they know that I have come out from You.” That is just another way of saying that these people knew that He was, in a unique and absolute sense, the Son of God.
A Thought to Ponder: These people knew that He was, in a unique and absolute sense, the Son of God.
(From Safe in the World, pp. 59-60, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
While God and I Shall Be
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
The final verse of the majestic hymn “I Am His, and He Is Mine” focuses on the unending love between the believer and God. As we read in our text, nothing can “separate us from the love of God.”
His forever, only His—Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, First-born light in gloom decline,
But while God and I shall be, I am His and He is mine.
Resting in such supernatural love, which lasts forever, begets peace and rest even now. Our Savior beckons, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Aspects of our present life may be temporary, but His love lasts forever. “The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment,…but my salvation shall be forever” (Isaiah 51:6). “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you” (Isaiah 46:4).
Consider the last line in the hymn. “But while God and I shall be, I am His and He is mine.” As long as either God or the individual remains, their love will last. “But the LORD shall endure forever” (Psalm 9:7). “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Thus, the Christian “will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6). “I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
So SAD but True: A new bill requiring sex education in all Washington public schools, starting at kindergarten, has progressed to the governor.
The highly controversial bill was approved by the state Senate over the weekend despite fierce protests against it, according to KREM-TV.
“I’m offended at the pornography that we’re going to be forced to teach our children,” said Republican state Rep. Robert Sutherland. “I’m offended at what this government is doing to the parents out there.”
The curriculum will focus on teaching kindergartners about boys’ and girls’ bodies, and that gender is on a spectrum and open for interpretation. Older students will dive deeper into issues such LGBTQ, contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual consent.
According to Faithwire, in the first year of implementation, students in sixth through 12th grade will be taught the curriculum. It would expand to all students the next year. Parents are also allowed to opt their children out of the classes.
Opponents of the bill fear schools are going too far.
“Who will decide what is age-appropriate, where there is clearly going to be differences in opinion?” Republican state Sen. Steve o’Ban said. “Should that be a government-mandated decision from [the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction] or should that be based upon the values of parents as reflected in their school boards and schools? We’ve always believed that the best government is the one that is local.”
But Democrats who support the bill believe it will help students, particularly girls, avoid trauma.
“What we don’t have time for is to continue with statistics that have continued for years, because we are too afraid to teach anything in our schools, and so as a result of that, one in four girls get raped by the time they’re a senior in high school,” said Democratic state Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self.
Democratic Sen. Mona Das used personal experiences of sexual abuse in kindergarten to lend her support to the bill, saying knowing about consent and that “no means no” could have stopped the abuse.
“I wish I had this education in school,” she said. “I know that I am not alone.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Dolgachov
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