CHAPTER 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;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and
of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul expresses "great conflict" for them whom he knew, and
also concerning those in Colosse who have not seen him.

The concern Paul has is that they are subjected constantly to
Judaizing Christians and Pagan philosophy.

The desire, expressed here, is that they will be "comforted,"
"knit together in love," and have understanding of God, the Father,
and of Christ.

Note the statement in verse 3.
IN God the Father, and IN Christ, they should have the
"treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Christians should have the same TODAY!
Remember, the message of Paul to the church in Colosse, is
a message to Christians TODAY also!

We should have "full assurance" of God offering to reconcile
ANY person through the sacrifice of Christ!
We should have a genuine conviction that surrender to Christ
produces eternal salvation! (See John 3:16)
We should (all Christians) have such a "knowledge" of this
rich treasure that we can SHARE it with others.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
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.

Just as in Colosse, even today, there are many who would
"beguile ...with enticing words."
Yet we have the TRUTH in Christ, that God loves, and wants
ALL Christians to maintain "stedfastness" in the faith of Christ!

ALL Christians should be with one another in spiritual servitude
to Christ.
Yes, there are many different ideas concerning Christianity.
However, "...we being many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another." (Rom. 12:5)

Be "steadfast" enough in Christ, that you will not be deceived
by renowned figures, or philosophical giants!

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus as Lord, so
walk ye in Him:
7 Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye
have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Physical maintenance causes the longevity of a house.
Spiritual maintenance causes the longevity of a Christian life!

As Christians, we should be "Rooted" in Christ, and "(e)stablished"
in the "faith" through the teaching of God's Holy Spirit as
we study the Word of God.
When a person truly receives Christ as Lord, he/she also
receives faith in the Bible as God's manual for living.
Remember, as a Christian studies the Bible, God's Holy Spirit
is our TEACHER to help us understand. (See John 14:26)

"..So WALK ye in HIM."
Christians should yearn to learn.
And, the reason is that they can walk, talk, teach, and help
others to understand the grace of God that offers salvation!
Be THANKFUL that God has GIVEN His Word for us to study
and learn!

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.
9 For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Get this from vs 9: If you have Christ, you have God!
Jesus is the ONLY "express image" of God's person!!
(See Heb. 1:3)
And see (Col. 1:19), where the Scripture says, "For it
pleased the Father than in Him (Christ) should all fulness dwell!"

THEREFORE, learn of Him through Bible study; and, you will
NOT allow mankind to DECEIVE you by traditions or elementary
discussions of the world, or philosophical statements!

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality
and power.

Everything you need for total salvation is found in Jesus Christ!
Salvation begins and ends with Jesus' sacrificial death, and His
justifying resurrection from the dead.
If you have Christ, you already HAVE ALL you NEED to be
secure in His faith!

BECAUSE.....

11 In Whom (Christ) 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:
12 Buried with Him in baptism, wherein ye are risen with Him
through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him
from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew
of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

When Christ enters someones heart, that person receives MORE
than fleshly circumcision.
That person receives a HEART and MIND change.
His/her first comprehension is to RECOGNIZE sin and be
REPULSED by it.
And, secondly, if sin is committed by the Christian, he/she is
CONVICTED and turns to God with confession of the sin, and
asking forgiveness for it.

When a person is baptized, it is a symbol of dying to selfish
desires and being raised by Christ to a new way of life; which
is surrender to Christ's WILL in his/her life.

Christ has ALREADY BLOTTED OUT all the ordinances of the
old law, and provided forgiveness.
Christ took those sins AWAY by spiritually accepting them upon
Himself and placing them as far as East is from West.
(See Ps. 103:12)

Look at verse 15 above.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He CONQUERED ALL the
demonic forces of evil!
And, He arose TRIUMPHANT over all their demonic powers
taking seat at the right hand of God (the place of power).
(See Rom. 8:38 and Eph. 1:21)

Once we surrender to Christ, NOTHING can seperate us from
Him! Not even DEATH! (See John 14:3)

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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of
Christ.

Peter might have been a little legalistic in Acts 10; but God
caused him to have a vision.
In that vision he saw "all manner of fourfooted beasts of the
earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air."
(Acts 10:12)

Then there was a voice that said, "Rise, Peter, kill, and eat."(Acts 10:13)

Peter refused, saying, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten
any thing that is common or unclean." (Acts 10:14)

But the voice said, "What God hath cleansed, that call not
thou common." (Acts 10:15)

Of course, that Scripture concerning Peter was about calling
others UNCLEAN because of their heritage.
However it also applied to creatures for food.
NOW...
Paul says in 1Tim. 4:4-5, "For every creature of God is good,
and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer."

SOOOOO --- let no person JUDGE you in what you eat or drink,
because if you partake of it with a prayer invoking God's
blessing, it is accepted for you.
And, also it directs our attention to the laws of the new
moon," and certain sabbath days.

The main reason the Scripture points to this is that some
Judaizers were trying to compell Gentile Christians to abide by
Old Testament laws.
But THOSE were just "a SHADOW of things to come!"

When Christ came, then the fulness of God's law was
ACCOMPLISHED!!!

AGAIN, let me say, If you have Christ, you have God, and you
have ALL you NEED!

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has
not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and
bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth
with the increase of God.

Christian, your "reward" in Christ, is salvation from the
traditions of men.
Your "reward" is being IN CHRIST and being secured
of your eternity WITH Him!

So, if a person comes exhibiting great humility, and says you must
worship angels, DON'T!!
That person would be "..vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."
In other words, his imagination is far-reaching and beyond what
our Lord desires from us.
Angels are not to be worshipped.
They are "..ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them
who shall be heirs of salvation." (Heb. 1:14)
They are sent by God to aid us and help us.

A person worshipping angels is not holding to the "Head"
which is Christ!
HE is the head of the whole body of believers!

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not:
22 Which all are to perish with the using:) after
the commandments of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship,
and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the
satisfying of the flesh.

Being born again in Christ, a person is NOT subject to the
"rudiments" or basic elementary things of the world
which PERISH!
We are subject to CHRIST ALONE!

Observing the traditional taboos of men may exhibit
a form of "will worship" but there is no "honor"
in it.

The Scripture here states some of the "will worship":
"Touch not; taste not; handle not..."

I have diabetes. And, there are some things I should not
eat because they will harm my body.
But I'm not going to deprive myself of SPURGING once in
awhile.
I must exercise diligence concerning my intake of sugar and
carbohydrates.
But it doesn't mean I can't have a little ice-cream each day!

The main point of this chapter is to show that we should not
be deceived by those who teach "rudiments," or basic things
of the law and traditions of men.
We are made FREE in Christ to worship as HE says, not as
others say!

Thank you for joining in this Bible study.
Please return to study another day.