This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 3:1
1 If [ei] ye [sunegeiro] then [oun] be risen [sunegeiro] with Christ, [Christos] seek [zeteo] those things which are above, [ano] where [hou] Christ [Christos] sitteth [esti] [kathemai] on [en] the right hand [dexios] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. NASB
Now, of the many things we listed in the last few days, most of them are fine things if considered on their own merit. You can certainly choose what to eat or drink or wear or do with your life.
But, when you replace Gods principles with earthly choices, then your error will compound itself and you will lose out on blessings that far, far, far surpass anything you expect from your earthly priorities.
Christ is currently in heaven. Christ is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father. And of course this is in reference to the humanity of Christ. His deity is omnipresent and in that respect Christ is everywhere. But our focus is not on the deity alone, nor the humanity alone, but the union of both deity and humanity.
Jesus Christ is the unique person of the universe and there is no other who can match Him in character or person, and certainly no one who can come even close. All religious icons are false and of no value.
And for that matter, all earthly priorities used in substitution of doctrine, are false. Bible doctrine is truth and truth imposes no pressure on anyone.
In this life there is the carnal, or the life outside of the spiritual realm, and there is the temporal, which is simply the physical world we live in.
Your best choice is to live your life in doctrine, in fellowship, while making your way through your temporal life in this world, doing whatever it is that you do in life, until God calls you home.
There are many legitimate functions in this life, for ones life. And so long as you do not violate Gods mandates or principles, with regard to divine establishment, with regard to salvation, with regard to the function of your spiritual life, then the door is wide open with choices beyond counting, with regard to what you can do in life.
Want to wear black all of the time? Want to eat fish on Tuesday? Want to build solar panels, or rockets, dig ditches, or practice a profession? All of these things are legitimate and fine. But, your priority for listening or reading doctrine, and growing up in your spiritual life, must be first in your life.
Why? Because your future is not on this earth, but in heaven in the next life. Your reward is not from this world, but from God. Your meaning and purpose in life, must be accompanied with the completion of your life by means of doctrine, otherwise you will live an incomplete life.
This world is finite. Your future is infinite. The rewards of this world are limited and amount to nothing. Your rewards in heaven are infinite.
When should you ever trade something worth a value beyond calculation, for something worth nothing?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Colossians 2:23
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:23
23 Which things [hostis] have [echo] indeed [men] a shew [esti] [logos] of wisdom [sophia] in [en] will worship, [ethelothreskeia] and [kai] humility, [tapeinophrosune] and [kai] neglecting [apheidia] of the body; [soma] not [ou] in [en] any [tis] honour [time] to [pros] the satisfying [plesmone] of the flesh. [sarx] KJV-Interlinear
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. NASB
There are two components to your life in this world. You have a carnal component and a spiritual component.
The carnal deals with the fleshy aspects, the physical aspects of your life, and are primarily intended to satisfy the sin nature side of your life. Anything done in the sphere of the sin nature is a total waste of time and effort, and is broadly categorized as evil.
The spiritual side of your life deals primarily with your soul, and anything spiritually related to your soul always overflows over into the physical side of your life. That is a good thing because when good flows through your soul and then into your temporal side of life, its results are good.
All efforts to do God one better, as it were, serve the carnal side of life. There is nothing that man can do to enhance the spiritual life.
Fasting, beating on ones own back, living in poverty, living in seclusion, eating one type of food verses another, wearing a certain color to the exclusion of another, wearing certain clothing, covering ones self completely with certain clothes, using or not using some form of technology, praying at certain times of the day, facing a certain direction when praying, chanting, using exercise to make the body healthy and therefore the soul, and this list can go on and on and on.
All of these things do absolutely nothing for your spiritual life. They are mans efforts to improve mans life, and therefore are supposed to enhance your spiritual relationship with God. And all they do are satisfy some aspect of your sin nature drive.
That is the thrust of this verse and of this chapter. Mans efforts are irrelevant to mans relationship with God. Mans efforts only serve to satisfy mans fleshy (carnal - physical or mental) desires.
And yet, folks will maintain scrupulous observances of things that are of the carnal world, and pursue them with vigor, while at the same time, they will ignore the one single thing which God mandates, which is your daily Bible study.
People will place tremendous piety, and wisdom on their efforts. Professors and guru’s and priests, and politicians, and celebrities, and friends and neighbors, all have their opinions, and they are all intent with sincerity and argument, that allows them to make a ‘show’ of wisdom and knowledge. But, these things, their opinions are words of false prophets. They are nothing more than salesmen, selling the public a bill of goods, intended to elevate themselves in approbation, or profit, or social status, while the public gains nothing.
The pretenders of wisdom gain while the public suffers. And the public suffers only because they lack the doctrinal discernment that can protect them from the false ideas of life. And the public lacks doctrinal discernment, because they voluntarily ignore it.
There are the deceivers and the deceived, and both are equally guilty of failure in their spiritual lives, because their wants, come from the source of their sin nature. Some want the glory, while others want the free ride.
And collectively they will all lose in life.
The world will always be full of opinions and issues and controversies. The world will always have plans and ideas to solve this or that problem. And, as Solomon has stated, there isn’t anything that is being tried now, that hasn’t been tried before, and all of those former efforts have failed. He is referring to all of the best laid plans of humanity. None have ever worked.
There is only one plan which will solve all problems and promote peace and prosperity and happiness for everyone, and that plan is Gods plan. Gods plan for you and everyone, is the spiritual life, approached legitimately through ones daily study, learning, residence in fellowship, and then the repetition of that process, which we call the circle of wisdom, throughout your life.
From mans efforts, comes failure and suffering, and nothing more.
From Gods work, comes freedom, justice, health, prosperity, happiness, all things good, and things get even better from there.
But unfortunately people will not let go of their former priorities, until things get really bad. Carnal folks hold fast to their carnal possessions and beliefs. You need to make sure that you are not a participant of that failed group.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:23
23 Which things [hostis] have [echo] indeed [men] a shew [esti] [logos] of wisdom [sophia] in [en] will worship, [ethelothreskeia] and [kai] humility, [tapeinophrosune] and [kai] neglecting [apheidia] of the body; [soma] not [ou] in [en] any [tis] honour [time] to [pros] the satisfying [plesmone] of the flesh. [sarx] KJV-Interlinear
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. NASB
There are two components to your life in this world. You have a carnal component and a spiritual component.
The carnal deals with the fleshy aspects, the physical aspects of your life, and are primarily intended to satisfy the sin nature side of your life. Anything done in the sphere of the sin nature is a total waste of time and effort, and is broadly categorized as evil.
The spiritual side of your life deals primarily with your soul, and anything spiritually related to your soul always overflows over into the physical side of your life. That is a good thing because when good flows through your soul and then into your temporal side of life, its results are good.
All efforts to do God one better, as it were, serve the carnal side of life. There is nothing that man can do to enhance the spiritual life.
Fasting, beating on ones own back, living in poverty, living in seclusion, eating one type of food verses another, wearing a certain color to the exclusion of another, wearing certain clothing, covering ones self completely with certain clothes, using or not using some form of technology, praying at certain times of the day, facing a certain direction when praying, chanting, using exercise to make the body healthy and therefore the soul, and this list can go on and on and on.
All of these things do absolutely nothing for your spiritual life. They are mans efforts to improve mans life, and therefore are supposed to enhance your spiritual relationship with God. And all they do are satisfy some aspect of your sin nature drive.
That is the thrust of this verse and of this chapter. Mans efforts are irrelevant to mans relationship with God. Mans efforts only serve to satisfy mans fleshy (carnal - physical or mental) desires.
And yet, folks will maintain scrupulous observances of things that are of the carnal world, and pursue them with vigor, while at the same time, they will ignore the one single thing which God mandates, which is your daily Bible study.
People will place tremendous piety, and wisdom on their efforts. Professors and guru’s and priests, and politicians, and celebrities, and friends and neighbors, all have their opinions, and they are all intent with sincerity and argument, that allows them to make a ‘show’ of wisdom and knowledge. But, these things, their opinions are words of false prophets. They are nothing more than salesmen, selling the public a bill of goods, intended to elevate themselves in approbation, or profit, or social status, while the public gains nothing.
The pretenders of wisdom gain while the public suffers. And the public suffers only because they lack the doctrinal discernment that can protect them from the false ideas of life. And the public lacks doctrinal discernment, because they voluntarily ignore it.
There are the deceivers and the deceived, and both are equally guilty of failure in their spiritual lives, because their wants, come from the source of their sin nature. Some want the glory, while others want the free ride.
And collectively they will all lose in life.
The world will always be full of opinions and issues and controversies. The world will always have plans and ideas to solve this or that problem. And, as Solomon has stated, there isn’t anything that is being tried now, that hasn’t been tried before, and all of those former efforts have failed. He is referring to all of the best laid plans of humanity. None have ever worked.
There is only one plan which will solve all problems and promote peace and prosperity and happiness for everyone, and that plan is Gods plan. Gods plan for you and everyone, is the spiritual life, approached legitimately through ones daily study, learning, residence in fellowship, and then the repetition of that process, which we call the circle of wisdom, throughout your life.
From mans efforts, comes failure and suffering, and nothing more.
From Gods work, comes freedom, justice, health, prosperity, happiness, all things good, and things get even better from there.
But unfortunately people will not let go of their former priorities, until things get really bad. Carnal folks hold fast to their carnal possessions and beliefs. You need to make sure that you are not a participant of that failed group.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Colossians 2:21-22
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:21-22
21 (Touch [haptomai] not; [me] taste [geuomai] not; [mede] handle [thiggano] not; [mede]
22 Which [hos] all [pas] are [esti] to [eis] perish [phthora] with the using; [apochresis]) after [kata] the commandments [entalma] and [kai] doctrines [didaskalia] of men [anthropos]? KJV-Interlinear
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? NASB
Paul states the ‘do not’s’ in rapid succession to emphasize the enthusiasm of those who used these phrases, in their effort to control the daily habits of people’s lives.
Although Moses had written into the first five books of the Bible, many do not’s, all of these things were teaching aids used to teach principles of doctrine.
We reviewed just a short time ago, the concept of circumcision. This was a mandatory practice, but it taught a spiritual principle. The physical act had nothing to do with the spiritual life, but served as a reminder of the spiritual life.
We often have physical things in our daily lives, which serve to remind us of various principles. And why is that?
Well, recall that the unbeliever as well as the out of fellowship believer, mirror each other. They cannot understand the spiritual concepts unless they are in fellowship. Unbelievers cannot get themselves into fellowship unless they first believe in Christ, and believers who commit sins (as we all do), and do not confess them, are in the same boat of lacking comprehension as the unbelievers are.
Therefore, God utilizes and has utilized, many physical concepts to help as reminders of spiritual matters.
Parables are typical examples of this kind of teaching aid.
God uses temporary things, to teach permanent things. Man uses temporary things to cling to those same temporary things. What becomes of one who eats only fish on Friday’s, or refuses to touch a dead thing, or avoids meats, or certain foods and so forth? Well, nothing comes from their practice.
To eat beef on Thursday, and then avoid beef on Friday, has no meaning whatsoever. What you eat, what you wear, what you drink, what day of the week it is, have no affect on the spiritual life. They are irrelevant. Sunday is no more holy than Wednesday.
Your real objective is to feed on Bible doctrine and live by doctrine, continuously day in and day out, throughout your life. That is the essence of the spiritual life. What you think is what you are.
The objective of the spiritual life is to transform your thinking, not your environment. Your habits, your life style, your life, will all change as a result of how you think.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:21-22
21 (Touch [haptomai] not; [me] taste [geuomai] not; [mede] handle [thiggano] not; [mede]
22 Which [hos] all [pas] are [esti] to [eis] perish [phthora] with the using; [apochresis]) after [kata] the commandments [entalma] and [kai] doctrines [didaskalia] of men [anthropos]? KJV-Interlinear
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? NASB
Paul states the ‘do not’s’ in rapid succession to emphasize the enthusiasm of those who used these phrases, in their effort to control the daily habits of people’s lives.
Although Moses had written into the first five books of the Bible, many do not’s, all of these things were teaching aids used to teach principles of doctrine.
We reviewed just a short time ago, the concept of circumcision. This was a mandatory practice, but it taught a spiritual principle. The physical act had nothing to do with the spiritual life, but served as a reminder of the spiritual life.
We often have physical things in our daily lives, which serve to remind us of various principles. And why is that?
Well, recall that the unbeliever as well as the out of fellowship believer, mirror each other. They cannot understand the spiritual concepts unless they are in fellowship. Unbelievers cannot get themselves into fellowship unless they first believe in Christ, and believers who commit sins (as we all do), and do not confess them, are in the same boat of lacking comprehension as the unbelievers are.
Therefore, God utilizes and has utilized, many physical concepts to help as reminders of spiritual matters.
Parables are typical examples of this kind of teaching aid.
God uses temporary things, to teach permanent things. Man uses temporary things to cling to those same temporary things. What becomes of one who eats only fish on Friday’s, or refuses to touch a dead thing, or avoids meats, or certain foods and so forth? Well, nothing comes from their practice.
To eat beef on Thursday, and then avoid beef on Friday, has no meaning whatsoever. What you eat, what you wear, what you drink, what day of the week it is, have no affect on the spiritual life. They are irrelevant. Sunday is no more holy than Wednesday.
Your real objective is to feed on Bible doctrine and live by doctrine, continuously day in and day out, throughout your life. That is the essence of the spiritual life. What you think is what you are.
The objective of the spiritual life is to transform your thinking, not your environment. Your habits, your life style, your life, will all change as a result of how you think.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Why Christianity
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org Daily Bible Study Index Page Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
DailyBibleStudy.Org Daily Bible Study Index Page Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Why Christianity
-----------
Bible Note: Because the Daily Bible Study has spread rapidly across the world, then with this study, a new segment on the web site of the DailyBibleStudy.Org will begin. Three sections are going to be put into place over the coming days, months and years:
Intro to Christianity (designed to help unbelievers to become saved and enter into the Christian faith),
Basic doctrines of Christianity (designed to help new believers get started in their Spiritual life), and
Advanced Christian Studies (designed to advance believers to spiritual maturity).
-----------
Since the beginning of human history, man has looked beyond himself or heavenward, for something better than anything he already has here in this world.
The search for eternal life, for a higher plane of existence, for something giving oneself more meaning and purpose, has been the pursuit of humanity since the beginning of time.
And is it any wonder? Just look around, and you’ll see hardship and suffering, stress and despair, and the promise of nothing but more of the same in this life.
Looking around you will find yourself inundated with opinion after opinion, religion after religion, and philosophy after philosophy.
And to make matters worse, they all seem to be contradictory, confusing and impossible to sort out.
Why is this?
Well the easy answer is that there once was a God in heaven, who created angels. These angels lived with God until one day they became arrogant. One angel, Lucifer, in particular raised a rebellion against God and tried to overthrow God.
It did not work. He was arrested and tried for his crimes, found guilty and sentenced to eternal condemnation and separation from God.
This, would be rebel, Lucifer now known as Satan, appealed his conviction and implied in his arguments that his trial and sentencing was unjust, so God allowed his appeal to unfold concurrently with human history.
And thus the conflict which was between God and good, and Satan and evil spread to humanity.
Gods objective? To prove that He, God, was completely fair and just in His dealings with evil. Also to prove that Gods policies are better for all of creation, than the policies of Satan.
Satan’s objective was to prove God wrong, to discredit God, and thus to replace God with himself.
On Gods side is truth.
On Satan’s side is deceit and lies. For one cannot destroy truth unless you replace it with lies and convince everyone that the lies are in fact truth.
And so God released to humanity, His policies of truth. And Satan released to humanity everything that is counter to truth, including lies, deceit, confusion, obscurity, and even including bits and pieces of truth within the volumes of lies and lusts that come from evil.
So, how do we sort it all out?
Well that is easier than you can realize. Simply place Christianity in one corner and all of the rest of the religions, cults, philosophies and so forth in the opposite corner.
Christianity promotes a solution for humanity through one savior, named Jesus Christ.
All of the other religions, cults, philosophies and so forth have one thing in common – they all reject Jesus Christ.
Also, all of the other religions, cults, philosophies and so forth have a second thing in common, and that is that they all present the idea that man by mans efforts can accomplish his own destiny, his own maturity, his own advancement to some higher level of existence.
And the fundamental principle of Christianity is that man cannot raise himself up to any higher level than he is at already. That only God can raise man up out of the doom and gloom of his predicaments, and that only God can and does accomplish this in behalf of mankind.
The Bible presents a picture of God, who is perfect and just.
Man is imperfect and unjust.
In order for man to raise himself up to a level of perfection, then he must first eliminate his imperfections out of his essence.
Hinduism began many centuries before the birth of Christ. Buddhism became an offshoot of Hinduism. Judaism along with the first two sought to lift man up by means of some form of living experience. Judaism looked to Gods approval by means of mans efforts. Hinduism and Buddhism looked to mans efforts to elevate himself above this life, into succeeding lives until some form of perfection was reached.
The pagan gods mixed confrontation, sex, power and such in order to advance ones self into a better placement in life.
Todays cults look to fulfill ones satisfaction in life by means of the sinful desires and needs of humanity. And philosophies like technology or science, foresee a better life through discovery and invention.
Whether you are pursuing nature or science, human dignity or some well organized theology, although all of these things have many differences among them, they all have those two same things in common – the idea that man can advance or solve his problems by means of mans efforts, and second, they all ignore or reject Jesus Christ.
This makes Christianity stand out from all of the rest, and makes it easy for people to begin their search for answers, in Christianity, rather than wasting their time and wasting their lives, analyzing hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of opinions that ultimately will lead you to one dead end after another.
Life is a serious business for you. Once you have been born into this world, you have only one thing to look forward to, and that is your eventual death. What then?
If you choose any one of the other philosophies, then you will lose, and you will never get the answers you seek.
If you choose Christianity by believing in Jesus Christ, then you will advance yourself to the most phenomenal victory in life, even one beyond anything you can imagine, and you will find all of the answers you seek.
To enter the Christina life you need only say in your own mind, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ.’ The Father is God the Father to whom all prayers are addressed.
Saying or thinking these six little words won’t harm you one little bit, will take you only a second to think them, and will become the single greatest decision you will ever make in all of your life.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Colossians 2:20
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:20
20 Wherefore [oun] if [ei] ye be dead [apothnesko] with [sun] Christ [Christos] from [apo] the rudiments [stoicheion] of the world, [kosmos] why, [tis] as though [hos] living [zao] in [en] the world, [kosmos] are ye subject to ordinances, [dogmatizo] KJV-Interlinear
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, NASB
Death is a separation from something. In our study, that something is life.
We can die physically from life, or we can die (separate) spiritually from fellowship (our environment where our spiritual life, functions).
But here, the death we are studying is from the carnal life of unbelief, in favor of a spiritual life.
All death occurs in a brief moment, a split second, as it were.
When you die physically, your soul and spirit exit the physical body, leaving it behind (because it is or was, never a part of your future).
When you commit a sin, then you die or separate, from your fellowship status, instantly.
And in our passage, your carnal unbelieving life terminates immediately when you believe in Christ. In an instant, in a split second, your spiritual death springs into life, and as far as your previous life as an unbeliever goes, you are separated from it, dead from it, forever. You can never go back to your unborn state, from your re-born state.
So, when you believe in Christ, from that moment on, for all of your eternal life, you are dead to your unsaved life. Likewise, if you are separated from your unsaved state, then you are no longer under the laws that regulate that previous state.
Here Paul calls them the ‘elementary principles of the world.’
Elementary principles refer to the basics of ones education as a child.
When you are a child you learn the alphabet and numbers. You learn sounds and words, and addition and subtraction. You learn to read and write. And these things are the earliest beginnings of ones education. And that is how Paul describes the principles presented by world opinion.
In one respect, the views of a child are humorous, but very simple. From no child who is just entering the learning process, can any advanced opinion, be found.
And no matter what you think of world opinion, no matter what opinions you might subscribe to, or have subscribed to, they have been no better than the simple and silliest views of a child.
After all, what is said to a child who has stated something that we know is obviously wrong? ‘Wait until you grow up and then you will understand.’
That is exactly what unbelievers, or spiritually deficient believers possess – the silliness of immaturity (at their very best).
World opinion is silly, and irrelevant with regard to life, truth and especially with salvation and a relationship with God.
World opinion promotes such things as human dignity, human ingenuity, human sincerity, human good, human righteousness, and so forth. World opinion is supported by the Levitical Priesthood, the Mosaic Law and all of its regulations, by religion, by cults, by philosophies that are beyond counting. There are so many philosophies out there, I don’t think you could list them all. World opinion is backed up by government, forms, bureaucracy, and volumes of legislative regulations.
World opinion promotes the idea that man, by mans effort, can advance to the level of the Most High. World opinion promotes the idea that man can write his own destiny, manage for all of his own needs, and eventually achieve his own eternal life.
And of course, that does us all no good until that fountain of youth is discovered. Anyone dying prior to that discovery (which includes all of us), will never benefit from that discovery.
And yet, people in vast majorities, will continue to pursue and follow those old rules, which Christ nailed to the Cross, and no longer have any power, force or effect on life.
And Paul asks the question, ‘Why’? If you have been freed from slavery, then why would you go back to it? If you have been given better food, then why go back to slop? If you have been cleaned up from filth and putrid rot, then why would you jump right back into the decaying slop pit?
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:20
20 Wherefore [oun] if [ei] ye be dead [apothnesko] with [sun] Christ [Christos] from [apo] the rudiments [stoicheion] of the world, [kosmos] why, [tis] as though [hos] living [zao] in [en] the world, [kosmos] are ye subject to ordinances, [dogmatizo] KJV-Interlinear
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, NASB
Death is a separation from something. In our study, that something is life.
We can die physically from life, or we can die (separate) spiritually from fellowship (our environment where our spiritual life, functions).
But here, the death we are studying is from the carnal life of unbelief, in favor of a spiritual life.
All death occurs in a brief moment, a split second, as it were.
When you die physically, your soul and spirit exit the physical body, leaving it behind (because it is or was, never a part of your future).
When you commit a sin, then you die or separate, from your fellowship status, instantly.
And in our passage, your carnal unbelieving life terminates immediately when you believe in Christ. In an instant, in a split second, your spiritual death springs into life, and as far as your previous life as an unbeliever goes, you are separated from it, dead from it, forever. You can never go back to your unborn state, from your re-born state.
So, when you believe in Christ, from that moment on, for all of your eternal life, you are dead to your unsaved life. Likewise, if you are separated from your unsaved state, then you are no longer under the laws that regulate that previous state.
Here Paul calls them the ‘elementary principles of the world.’
Elementary principles refer to the basics of ones education as a child.
When you are a child you learn the alphabet and numbers. You learn sounds and words, and addition and subtraction. You learn to read and write. And these things are the earliest beginnings of ones education. And that is how Paul describes the principles presented by world opinion.
In one respect, the views of a child are humorous, but very simple. From no child who is just entering the learning process, can any advanced opinion, be found.
And no matter what you think of world opinion, no matter what opinions you might subscribe to, or have subscribed to, they have been no better than the simple and silliest views of a child.
After all, what is said to a child who has stated something that we know is obviously wrong? ‘Wait until you grow up and then you will understand.’
That is exactly what unbelievers, or spiritually deficient believers possess – the silliness of immaturity (at their very best).
World opinion is silly, and irrelevant with regard to life, truth and especially with salvation and a relationship with God.
World opinion promotes such things as human dignity, human ingenuity, human sincerity, human good, human righteousness, and so forth. World opinion is supported by the Levitical Priesthood, the Mosaic Law and all of its regulations, by religion, by cults, by philosophies that are beyond counting. There are so many philosophies out there, I don’t think you could list them all. World opinion is backed up by government, forms, bureaucracy, and volumes of legislative regulations.
World opinion promotes the idea that man, by mans effort, can advance to the level of the Most High. World opinion promotes the idea that man can write his own destiny, manage for all of his own needs, and eventually achieve his own eternal life.
And of course, that does us all no good until that fountain of youth is discovered. Anyone dying prior to that discovery (which includes all of us), will never benefit from that discovery.
And yet, people in vast majorities, will continue to pursue and follow those old rules, which Christ nailed to the Cross, and no longer have any power, force or effect on life.
And Paul asks the question, ‘Why’? If you have been freed from slavery, then why would you go back to it? If you have been given better food, then why go back to slop? If you have been cleaned up from filth and putrid rot, then why would you jump right back into the decaying slop pit?
Friday, June 5, 2009
Colossians 2:19
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:19
19 And [kai] not [ou] holding [krateo] the Head, [kephale] from [ek] which [hos] all [pas] the body [soma] by [dia] joints [haphe] and [kai] bands [sundesmos] having nourishment ministered, [epichoregeo] and [kai] knit together, [sumbibazo] increaseth [auxano] with the increase [auxesis] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. NASB
There are two possible masters in existence, Christ, and the world. You can serve only one.
Christ is the single embodiment of all that is true and essential in your life. The world is not.
Christ is the single and sole source of all nourishment, support, and provision for all aspects of ones life. The world is not.
The body, ‘soma,’ is the representation of the ‘completed whole’ of not only ones self being, but also including all of the environment and circumstances that will ever enter into or impact ones life.
The human body is a compilation of many different components, each functioning in their own respective way, for one purpose, and that purpose is to keep the body alive, healthy, and in tack.
Likewise, the body of Christ is the collection of every believer, every word of doctrine, every truth from God, specifically designed to support, maintain, and perpetuate the spiritual stability and prosperity of every believer.
If you choose Christ as the template for living your life, then your success, happiness, security and so forth are assured.
If you choose the world as the template for your life, then failure is your guarantee.
True growth and prosperity comes only from God. Jesus Christ controls history.
False growth and prosperity comes from this world. The world controls nothing.
Even as we sit on the sidelines and watch the unraveling of our own economic policies, through the many czars and grand ideas that seem to be coming out of the woodwork, we do still have one to whom we can look for deliverance from the almost certain disasters that lie ahead.
Jesus Christ controls history, and through Him and Him alone, will the repercussions of the ideas of all of todays world leaders be allowed to send us all into an economic oblivion, or overruled, or delayed, or turned in a different direction, because of a barrage of prayers from believers all over the world.
And while leaders will take the credit for things that seem to go right, or shift the blame for things gone wrong, Jesus Christ is at all times in complete control over every aspect of every element, in every persons life, and more.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:19
19 And [kai] not [ou] holding [krateo] the Head, [kephale] from [ek] which [hos] all [pas] the body [soma] by [dia] joints [haphe] and [kai] bands [sundesmos] having nourishment ministered, [epichoregeo] and [kai] knit together, [sumbibazo] increaseth [auxano] with the increase [auxesis] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. NASB
There are two possible masters in existence, Christ, and the world. You can serve only one.
Christ is the single embodiment of all that is true and essential in your life. The world is not.
Christ is the single and sole source of all nourishment, support, and provision for all aspects of ones life. The world is not.
The body, ‘soma,’ is the representation of the ‘completed whole’ of not only ones self being, but also including all of the environment and circumstances that will ever enter into or impact ones life.
The human body is a compilation of many different components, each functioning in their own respective way, for one purpose, and that purpose is to keep the body alive, healthy, and in tack.
Likewise, the body of Christ is the collection of every believer, every word of doctrine, every truth from God, specifically designed to support, maintain, and perpetuate the spiritual stability and prosperity of every believer.
If you choose Christ as the template for living your life, then your success, happiness, security and so forth are assured.
If you choose the world as the template for your life, then failure is your guarantee.
True growth and prosperity comes only from God. Jesus Christ controls history.
False growth and prosperity comes from this world. The world controls nothing.
Even as we sit on the sidelines and watch the unraveling of our own economic policies, through the many czars and grand ideas that seem to be coming out of the woodwork, we do still have one to whom we can look for deliverance from the almost certain disasters that lie ahead.
Jesus Christ controls history, and through Him and Him alone, will the repercussions of the ideas of all of todays world leaders be allowed to send us all into an economic oblivion, or overruled, or delayed, or turned in a different direction, because of a barrage of prayers from believers all over the world.
And while leaders will take the credit for things that seem to go right, or shift the blame for things gone wrong, Jesus Christ is at all times in complete control over every aspect of every element, in every persons life, and more.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Colossians 2:18
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:18
18 Let [katabrabeuo] no man [medeis] beguile [katabrabeuo] you [humas] of your reward [katabrabeuo] in [en] a voluntary [thelo] humility [tapeinophrosune] and [kai] worshipping [threskeia] of angels, [aggelos] intruding into [embateuo] those things which [hos] he hath [horao] not [me] seen, [horao] vainly [eike] puffed up [phusioo] by [hupo] his [autos] fleshly [sarx] mind, [nous] KJV-Interlinear
18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, NASB
At first glance you might think that this verse is concerned with someone out there, deceiving you or turning you away from doctrine, which of course it does, however, the word for prize, ‘katabrabeuo,’ is a word used for a prize already won.
In those ancient times, competitions were conducted on a regular basis. And the competitions were well known to everyone.
Likewise, the winner was awarded a prize for finishing first in his event. And having won, there was a judge of the event, often times called the ‘brabeus,’ or one who handed out the award already won.
What does this tell us? Well, not everyone who Paul is addressing has advanced to spiritual maturity. However, the prize for spiritual maturity is contingent on advancing to spiritual maturity. So, if we are at risk of losing a prize, then it must have already been awarded.
And if it is possible to lose a prize, then it is because of our failure to advance to maturity. Therefore, your loss is your fault.
God has already made provision for each and every person. You might want to review the ‘Parables’ to reacquaint yourself with some of these principles.
To the victor goes the spoils, and to the loser, nothing. And in fact to the winner, goes all of the potential winnings of the loser, as well. So to the winner, the one who advances to spiritual maturity in all that it represents, goes a phenomenal prize.
Unbelievers lose their prize, obviously. Immature believers lose much or all of their prize, depending on the degree, or lack of it, of their spiritual growth. He receives his own prize, but also a share in all of the lost prizes that everyone else has lost.
We continue the description of the vastness of your potential reward in heaven, which sooner or later should boggle your mind, and then perhaps you will actually get serious about your spiritual life.
Some folks will be hot for doctrine from their emotions, but that soon wears off. Some folks have to be impressed, or have to analyze every little detail of doctrine. They have to have doctrine proved to them, as though they are some kind of prize themselves, that God must want.
Some folks will simply slip off the band wagon and lose interest. After all if Bible study does not result in some form of immediate blessing, then what good is it?
You can only be beguiled, charmed away, lured, enticed, fascinated away into the world, if you are not focused on Bible doctrine.
And those doing the beguiling, are those who possess an extreme and serious view of life, even to the point of demonstrating phenomenal objectivity, even to the point of demonstrating the tenacity of learning that the angels demonstrate. This is not a reference to angel worship, but to imitating angels. The angels look deeply into the things of this world in order to learn, 1 Pet. 1:12.
But as far a these deceptions go, they originate from the carnal mind, from the sin nature, and therefore take facts and draw wrong conclusions. Evolution, is a good example of this type of misdirection of truth. Evolution has become an almost universal truth for society, while creationism has become the object of jokes.
Almost every social issue is a potential trap for luring you away from truth.
The politics, philosophies and theories of the world, all elbow their way to center stage, pushing truth aside. Why? Because the object of evil is to distract you. And the more sincerity and integrity that evil can portray, then the more likely that people will adopt its views.
Without doctrine, without as daily dose of Bible study, then you will become a natural prey, subscriber, and member of those views.
Your only defense and guard against any distraction, is your spiritual life.
In eternity past, God established for you, a prize for eternity. Your prize is contingent on your believing in Christ, on your advancement to spiritual maturity, on your maximizing your spiritual production through living within the spiritual environment which God has designed.
In a competition, the trophy is held up for all to see. It is theirs for the taking, but they have to enter the race, and run it, and finish it, before they can receive the prize.
In life, too many do not bother to enter the race. Too many drop out of the race when they do enter it.
Too many listen to the rhetoric of the world, listen to the propaganda of their disabilities, listen to the enticements of immediate gratification offered, and adopt the excuses and indifferences and prejudices of the world.
Majorities become indignant and that is their arrogance. Minorities become convinced that they lack opportunity, and that is their arrogance. All use their own excuses or attitudes as justification for their approach to life.
And to what end? They gain or pursue some form of worldly prize which is nothing but a shadow, holding on to nothing but emptiness in effect, and losing a vast fortune, a galactic fortune, but never realizing it until it is really too late.
Professors can be convincing. Politicians can be convincing. Priests can be convincing. Celebrities can be convincing. Racists can be convincing. Anyone who advances some sin nature component of your life, something that entices you, can convince you easily, because if you lack doctrine, then you have no defense against their trap. And you walk right in, with your eyes wide open.
And then, you lose.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:18
18 Let [katabrabeuo] no man [medeis] beguile [katabrabeuo] you [humas] of your reward [katabrabeuo] in [en] a voluntary [thelo] humility [tapeinophrosune] and [kai] worshipping [threskeia] of angels, [aggelos] intruding into [embateuo] those things which [hos] he hath [horao] not [me] seen, [horao] vainly [eike] puffed up [phusioo] by [hupo] his [autos] fleshly [sarx] mind, [nous] KJV-Interlinear
18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, NASB
At first glance you might think that this verse is concerned with someone out there, deceiving you or turning you away from doctrine, which of course it does, however, the word for prize, ‘katabrabeuo,’ is a word used for a prize already won.
In those ancient times, competitions were conducted on a regular basis. And the competitions were well known to everyone.
Likewise, the winner was awarded a prize for finishing first in his event. And having won, there was a judge of the event, often times called the ‘brabeus,’ or one who handed out the award already won.
What does this tell us? Well, not everyone who Paul is addressing has advanced to spiritual maturity. However, the prize for spiritual maturity is contingent on advancing to spiritual maturity. So, if we are at risk of losing a prize, then it must have already been awarded.
And if it is possible to lose a prize, then it is because of our failure to advance to maturity. Therefore, your loss is your fault.
God has already made provision for each and every person. You might want to review the ‘Parables’ to reacquaint yourself with some of these principles.
To the victor goes the spoils, and to the loser, nothing. And in fact to the winner, goes all of the potential winnings of the loser, as well. So to the winner, the one who advances to spiritual maturity in all that it represents, goes a phenomenal prize.
Unbelievers lose their prize, obviously. Immature believers lose much or all of their prize, depending on the degree, or lack of it, of their spiritual growth. He receives his own prize, but also a share in all of the lost prizes that everyone else has lost.
We continue the description of the vastness of your potential reward in heaven, which sooner or later should boggle your mind, and then perhaps you will actually get serious about your spiritual life.
Some folks will be hot for doctrine from their emotions, but that soon wears off. Some folks have to be impressed, or have to analyze every little detail of doctrine. They have to have doctrine proved to them, as though they are some kind of prize themselves, that God must want.
Some folks will simply slip off the band wagon and lose interest. After all if Bible study does not result in some form of immediate blessing, then what good is it?
You can only be beguiled, charmed away, lured, enticed, fascinated away into the world, if you are not focused on Bible doctrine.
And those doing the beguiling, are those who possess an extreme and serious view of life, even to the point of demonstrating phenomenal objectivity, even to the point of demonstrating the tenacity of learning that the angels demonstrate. This is not a reference to angel worship, but to imitating angels. The angels look deeply into the things of this world in order to learn, 1 Pet. 1:12.
But as far a these deceptions go, they originate from the carnal mind, from the sin nature, and therefore take facts and draw wrong conclusions. Evolution, is a good example of this type of misdirection of truth. Evolution has become an almost universal truth for society, while creationism has become the object of jokes.
Almost every social issue is a potential trap for luring you away from truth.
The politics, philosophies and theories of the world, all elbow their way to center stage, pushing truth aside. Why? Because the object of evil is to distract you. And the more sincerity and integrity that evil can portray, then the more likely that people will adopt its views.
Without doctrine, without as daily dose of Bible study, then you will become a natural prey, subscriber, and member of those views.
Your only defense and guard against any distraction, is your spiritual life.
In eternity past, God established for you, a prize for eternity. Your prize is contingent on your believing in Christ, on your advancement to spiritual maturity, on your maximizing your spiritual production through living within the spiritual environment which God has designed.
In a competition, the trophy is held up for all to see. It is theirs for the taking, but they have to enter the race, and run it, and finish it, before they can receive the prize.
In life, too many do not bother to enter the race. Too many drop out of the race when they do enter it.
Too many listen to the rhetoric of the world, listen to the propaganda of their disabilities, listen to the enticements of immediate gratification offered, and adopt the excuses and indifferences and prejudices of the world.
Majorities become indignant and that is their arrogance. Minorities become convinced that they lack opportunity, and that is their arrogance. All use their own excuses or attitudes as justification for their approach to life.
And to what end? They gain or pursue some form of worldly prize which is nothing but a shadow, holding on to nothing but emptiness in effect, and losing a vast fortune, a galactic fortune, but never realizing it until it is really too late.
Professors can be convincing. Politicians can be convincing. Priests can be convincing. Celebrities can be convincing. Racists can be convincing. Anyone who advances some sin nature component of your life, something that entices you, can convince you easily, because if you lack doctrine, then you have no defense against their trap. And you walk right in, with your eyes wide open.
And then, you lose.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Colossians 2:17
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:17
17 Which [hos] are [esti] a shadow [skia] of things to come; [mello] but [de] the body [soma] is of Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. NASB
A shadow is something that is undefined, without substance, without the usual sensations obtained by the senses – no texture, no aroma, no depth, no color, no substance and so forth.
The body, here, represents that which has substance, form and color and texture and sound and aroma, etc.
In the last few verses, we have seen that all of the rules and regulations of the Mosaic Law, all of the rules and regulation, the norms and standards of society, all of these things are inefficient and otherwise useless in completing our life existence.
What we lack from birth is salvation, and then after salvation, maturity, and then after maturity, a productive life, and then after productivity, wealth. And all of these things in dimensions so vast, so abundant that we could never measure them all.
Anything of this earth is but a shadow, an empty bodiless emptiness capable of accomplishing nothing.
Christ is the body, the substance, the source of all growth, of all life, of all mechanisms for accomplishing ones completeness in life.
Paul has stated that he was graciously allowed to visit Paradise and Heaven, and he has returned after those visits. He never wrote down anything concerning his visit, but explained that what he saw and heard was so vast and so great, that words were inadequate for communicating them. However, he was prohibited from disclosing those things. So his visit was for his benefit not ours.
John and Daniel saw visions and they in turn wrote what they heard and saw, for our benefit. And this was the same for other prophets and apostles.
So if what we have in this world is shadow only, then what could the reality, the substance of reality be like?
If you have watched something like the History Channel on TV, then you probably have noticed that throughout history, there is a thread of violence resulting from mans arrogance, that flows through history.
With all of the reality of heaven and the afterlife in full view of everyone, then how could humanity have possibly ignored it all in pursuit of their empty efforts? All of those centuries of folks are gone. What did they accomplish for themselves? Nothing!
They are either in Heaven or in Torments, and only now understand the uselessness of their efforts in life. And what of people of today? What has anyone learned from history? What have we learned from Paul and others?
That there is a vast reality out there, beyond which we cannot even begin to imagine, but our access is as near to our possession as our own thoughts. And what does anyone do about it?
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:17
17 Which [hos] are [esti] a shadow [skia] of things to come; [mello] but [de] the body [soma] is of Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. NASB
A shadow is something that is undefined, without substance, without the usual sensations obtained by the senses – no texture, no aroma, no depth, no color, no substance and so forth.
The body, here, represents that which has substance, form and color and texture and sound and aroma, etc.
In the last few verses, we have seen that all of the rules and regulations of the Mosaic Law, all of the rules and regulation, the norms and standards of society, all of these things are inefficient and otherwise useless in completing our life existence.
What we lack from birth is salvation, and then after salvation, maturity, and then after maturity, a productive life, and then after productivity, wealth. And all of these things in dimensions so vast, so abundant that we could never measure them all.
Anything of this earth is but a shadow, an empty bodiless emptiness capable of accomplishing nothing.
Christ is the body, the substance, the source of all growth, of all life, of all mechanisms for accomplishing ones completeness in life.
Paul has stated that he was graciously allowed to visit Paradise and Heaven, and he has returned after those visits. He never wrote down anything concerning his visit, but explained that what he saw and heard was so vast and so great, that words were inadequate for communicating them. However, he was prohibited from disclosing those things. So his visit was for his benefit not ours.
John and Daniel saw visions and they in turn wrote what they heard and saw, for our benefit. And this was the same for other prophets and apostles.
So if what we have in this world is shadow only, then what could the reality, the substance of reality be like?
If you have watched something like the History Channel on TV, then you probably have noticed that throughout history, there is a thread of violence resulting from mans arrogance, that flows through history.
With all of the reality of heaven and the afterlife in full view of everyone, then how could humanity have possibly ignored it all in pursuit of their empty efforts? All of those centuries of folks are gone. What did they accomplish for themselves? Nothing!
They are either in Heaven or in Torments, and only now understand the uselessness of their efforts in life. And what of people of today? What has anyone learned from history? What have we learned from Paul and others?
That there is a vast reality out there, beyond which we cannot even begin to imagine, but our access is as near to our possession as our own thoughts. And what does anyone do about it?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Colossians 2:16
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:16
16 Let [krino] no [me] man [tis] therefore [oun] judge [krino] you [humas] in [en] meat, [brosis] or [e] in [en] drink, [posis] or [e] in [en] respect [meros] of an holyday, [heorte] or [e] of the new moon, [noumenia] or [e] of the sabbath [sabbaton] days: KJV-Interlinear
16 Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — NASB
Since the Mosaic Law was filled with social laws, with dietary laws, with worship laws, with celebrations and festivals, and sacrifices and such, and since Christ has in effect nailed that contract to the Cross, then all of those things are no longer in force, or effect.
A few years after the writing of this letter, the Roman Legions would once and for all destroy the remaining remnants of the Levitical rituals, by destroying Jerusalem and most everything in and around it.
No person is obligated to live by those written rules, and certainly no person has the right to impose those old rules on others.
Prior to the Cross, all of life was burdened by the slavery to the old rules, simply because the Cross had not yet freed humanity from the burdens imposed by this world.
Once Christ had fulfilled all of the old rules, and once Christ had paid the price demanded by sin and death, and once Christ had risen, thus securing complete freedom from any further death or slavery to the world, then any person who believes in Him is likewise freed from obligation to the arbitrary rules that the world imposes on humanity.
Now the rules we are referring to here are any rules, or social norms by which humanity seeks to replace salvation and/or the spiritual life.
The rules of divine establishment, due process, law and order and so forth, remain in effect since they have nothing to do with salvation or the spiritual life, but have been put in place by God in order to provide an environment of safety and provision and perpetuation of humanity, to offset the jungle laws which try to dominate and subordinate and destroy humanity.
We have now, the completed Bible, which is our spiritual food. All physical foods for the body are irrelevant to ones spiritual life.
We have now, the perpetual moment to moment Sabbath which we call being in fellowship, which is our place of perpetual resident worship. Our temple, church, etc., is inside of our soul and not inside of a building made with physical materials.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:16
16 Let [krino] no [me] man [tis] therefore [oun] judge [krino] you [humas] in [en] meat, [brosis] or [e] in [en] drink, [posis] or [e] in [en] respect [meros] of an holyday, [heorte] or [e] of the new moon, [noumenia] or [e] of the sabbath [sabbaton] days: KJV-Interlinear
16 Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — NASB
Since the Mosaic Law was filled with social laws, with dietary laws, with worship laws, with celebrations and festivals, and sacrifices and such, and since Christ has in effect nailed that contract to the Cross, then all of those things are no longer in force, or effect.
A few years after the writing of this letter, the Roman Legions would once and for all destroy the remaining remnants of the Levitical rituals, by destroying Jerusalem and most everything in and around it.
No person is obligated to live by those written rules, and certainly no person has the right to impose those old rules on others.
Prior to the Cross, all of life was burdened by the slavery to the old rules, simply because the Cross had not yet freed humanity from the burdens imposed by this world.
Once Christ had fulfilled all of the old rules, and once Christ had paid the price demanded by sin and death, and once Christ had risen, thus securing complete freedom from any further death or slavery to the world, then any person who believes in Him is likewise freed from obligation to the arbitrary rules that the world imposes on humanity.
Now the rules we are referring to here are any rules, or social norms by which humanity seeks to replace salvation and/or the spiritual life.
The rules of divine establishment, due process, law and order and so forth, remain in effect since they have nothing to do with salvation or the spiritual life, but have been put in place by God in order to provide an environment of safety and provision and perpetuation of humanity, to offset the jungle laws which try to dominate and subordinate and destroy humanity.
We have now, the completed Bible, which is our spiritual food. All physical foods for the body are irrelevant to ones spiritual life.
We have now, the perpetual moment to moment Sabbath which we call being in fellowship, which is our place of perpetual resident worship. Our temple, church, etc., is inside of our soul and not inside of a building made with physical materials.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Colossians 2:15
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:15
15 And having spoiled [apekduomai] principalities [arche] and [kai] powers, [exousia] he made a shew of them [deigmatizo] openly [en], [parrhesia] triumphing over [thriambeuo] them [autos] in [en] it. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. NASB
Paul had written this letter to the Colossians in the early-mid 60’s A.D. About ten years earlier, in the early 50’s A.D., Paul had written two letters to the Corinthians.
In 2 Cor. 12, Paul related an experience in which he was allowed to visit both Heaven and Paradise. Likewise, in Ephesians 4, Paul related the story of Christ descending down into Hades, and into Paradise specifically, and leading all of the captives contained therein (Old Testament believers), out of Paradise, and up into Heaven.
2 Cor. 12:1-4
12 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows —
4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. NASB
Eph. 4:8-10
8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) NASB
Psa. 68:18
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there. NASB
Here, Paul ties these events together, in the greatest procession, parade ever held in history.
Paul was witness to the empty Paradise, and to the presence of all of the believers, once held in Paradise, now in Heaven.
And here Paul tells us that this procession, totally disarmed Satan, and all evil powers, policies, ideas, etc., that have ever existed.
This is a military word, ‘apekduomai,’ which refers to the total control that a victor possesses over the defeated enemy.
Once the Cross had concluded, once the death and burial (and announcement of victory to those resident in all of Hades) had concluded, once Christ had risen in resurrection, He went down into the bowels of the earth, without any hindrance, objection, or resistance, and retrieved all of the Old Testament believers who had been held captive in Paradise (because of Satan’s objections throughout history), until the events and victory of the Cross had been accomplished.
So, in full public view (from heavens perspective), Christ led the largest, and longest, and most dramatic victory parade in all of history, into Heaven.
In over four-thousand years of history, from Adam to the time of the Cross, there could have easily been several trillions of believers held in Paradise. Combine that with possibly unknown trillions more of angels, the party and celebrations held along the way, and in heaven itself had to have been one beyond imagination.
We probably cannot even begin to imagine the singing and joy and happiness and celebrations that all of those people experienced at that time. Not only was it a phenomenal event in history, but they actually participated in it.
One day, we, who are, and will, and have lived in this dispensation, of the Church Age, will have our parade, when the Rapture occurs. And as with our initial reaction, all knees bent, all heads bowed, they too most likely had that same initial reaction. And then the party began …..
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 2:15
15 And having spoiled [apekduomai] principalities [arche] and [kai] powers, [exousia] he made a shew of them [deigmatizo] openly [en], [parrhesia] triumphing over [thriambeuo] them [autos] in [en] it. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. NASB
Paul had written this letter to the Colossians in the early-mid 60’s A.D. About ten years earlier, in the early 50’s A.D., Paul had written two letters to the Corinthians.
In 2 Cor. 12, Paul related an experience in which he was allowed to visit both Heaven and Paradise. Likewise, in Ephesians 4, Paul related the story of Christ descending down into Hades, and into Paradise specifically, and leading all of the captives contained therein (Old Testament believers), out of Paradise, and up into Heaven.
2 Cor. 12:1-4
12 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows —
4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. NASB
Eph. 4:8-10
8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) NASB
Psa. 68:18
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there. NASB
Here, Paul ties these events together, in the greatest procession, parade ever held in history.
Paul was witness to the empty Paradise, and to the presence of all of the believers, once held in Paradise, now in Heaven.
And here Paul tells us that this procession, totally disarmed Satan, and all evil powers, policies, ideas, etc., that have ever existed.
This is a military word, ‘apekduomai,’ which refers to the total control that a victor possesses over the defeated enemy.
Once the Cross had concluded, once the death and burial (and announcement of victory to those resident in all of Hades) had concluded, once Christ had risen in resurrection, He went down into the bowels of the earth, without any hindrance, objection, or resistance, and retrieved all of the Old Testament believers who had been held captive in Paradise (because of Satan’s objections throughout history), until the events and victory of the Cross had been accomplished.
So, in full public view (from heavens perspective), Christ led the largest, and longest, and most dramatic victory parade in all of history, into Heaven.
In over four-thousand years of history, from Adam to the time of the Cross, there could have easily been several trillions of believers held in Paradise. Combine that with possibly unknown trillions more of angels, the party and celebrations held along the way, and in heaven itself had to have been one beyond imagination.
We probably cannot even begin to imagine the singing and joy and happiness and celebrations that all of those people experienced at that time. Not only was it a phenomenal event in history, but they actually participated in it.
One day, we, who are, and will, and have lived in this dispensation, of the Church Age, will have our parade, when the Rapture occurs. And as with our initial reaction, all knees bent, all heads bowed, they too most likely had that same initial reaction. And then the party began …..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)