Colossians 2
1 For I would that ye 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;
Paul wishes those Christians in Colossia, Laodicea and everyone today to know of the great concern he has for them.
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Only in The Word can we know what is acceptable to our Father. Once we study, we grow in understanding an by such become knitted or yoked together in same mind. In that knowledge comes the opening of what was once a mystery. You see its His love for you that has opened you up and given you light in a dark world. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
The concern Paul has had from the beginning of this Chapter is that we will have people trying to deceive us. People with enticing words to go with a twisting of scripture. How about, "you don't have to study Revelations because you won't be here".
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Do you walk one day a week and the other six lay in a state of hibernation? When you ask Christ Jesus into your life, it's an EVERYDAY walk. You walk with Truth and confidence, you walk with love and the faith to overcome it all.
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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.
There are so many like this out there today. Paul wants you to use caution. Check EVERYONE out in The Word. How would you know if I was telling the truth without you checking it out in The Word? So many go after events, rituals or popularity over Truth. They see the masses following a person, event or thing and they jump right in. Use caution, use common sense and The Word to live without being spoiled by lies. Turn to Christ everyday as to not be fooled.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Complete in Christ The Word and you're complete in The Father. He will give you the power to overcome it all. The Truth opens you to what has been a lie and the power which comes from God gives you the knowledge and strength to handle evil and the tribulations of life and this world.
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Circumcision is now of the heart. It's given to every human being that believes in the blood of Christ and His sacrifice on that cross has given them a clean start.
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
His blood, His sacrifice washes us. If you believe you must be washed by water to be saved, then the preaching of the cross, you must find foolish. It's the preaching of the cross that by faith, we receive the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts, through the repentance of our sins to our Father and always in Jesus name. That death of Christ on the cross is what gives us hope and the security that we have eternal life. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The "eternal Spirit" is the Holy Spirit. Christ is without spot, He had no sin. These dead works and traditions have nothing to do with your salvation. Taking a bath in front of people will not save you. Christ saves us trough His blood. Buried with him in the baptism of His blood. Risen with Him in faith. "The washing of regeneration" = revitalize or to make new. Christ's bloodshed on the cross, washed our sins away, even to the point of a rebirth of your spiritual body by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:4-7 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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;
"Quickened" συζωοποιέω syzōopoiéō, sood-zo-op-oy-eh'-o; from G4862 and G2227; to reanimate conjointly with (figuratively):—quicken together with. To make one alive together. Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) "Quicken us", to make alive. By who? By Christ Jesus we are saved. Grace = 5485 in the Greek, An act to influence the heart. To show favor. A gift! His death has made us alive, IF we accept that gift.
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;
Christ nailed all the blood ordinances or sacrifices to the cross. The ordinances within the law are gone, but The Law stands as strong today as ever. Those rituals exists no more. Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Christ became the last sacrifice once and for all time.
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Through Christ, you have been given power over all evil. ALL EVIL! In Christ, you can put satan in his place. Victory is yours.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
The ordinances have no bearing in your life, so don't let anyone put you in bondage with their dogma, rituals or traditions.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The old feast days were a shadow of the things to come. Those traditions were old teachings, but Christ Jesus became our Teacher. What was celebrated as passover, should be and is now Christ Jesus our Passover. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Don't let traditions become part of Christ Jesus. There is no place for eggs, rabbits and ishtar, which has become known as easter today. There's no place for it within the True teachings of Christ, our PASSOVER.
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,
People seem to put many things before Christ. They have angels adorning their refrigerators and figurines packed onto furniture. They spend more money giving to political politicians than giving to the purpose of God. They watch more sports than reading The Word. Don't let the things of the world or heavenly beings take you from The Truth. Many will try to deceive, so stay in The Word, stay in Christ Jesus.
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.
Increase can't come without Christ being The Head of the body. If your church follows Him, TRUE blessings will flow. Some in the world today lack understanding of what true blessings are in the church. It's not how big the building is, but if The Truth is being taught and the work in Him is being done.
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,
In other words, if you're a true believer in Christ, then you believe He shed His blood for your sins, why then would you believe you must sacrifice something for your sins after the praise has been paid.
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Bondage, it's what they attempt to put you in when they want you to follow the ordinances in traditions.
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
All those traditions humans follow, all those religious ceremonies and those shows they put on in their churches are for waste and are destroyed in the end.
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.
The shows they put on are about "will worship" taking from the time TO WORSHIP. The words they say sounds wise, but those words are theirs leaving little time for God's Word. Living in Christ Jesus is living in freedom, in Truth for The Word and studying to find yourself approved in the eyes of God, not humans. No ritual needed, only the love and fruit of The Truth.