Man made ordinances and traditions can strip us of our identity in Christ.
I essence we could allow ourselves to be stripped of our identity in Christ by the very choices we make.
How?
By persuasion of deceit for the love of wisdom ...
What?
How?
By persuasion of deceit for the love of wisdom ...
What?
Setting it straight
Paul writes to the group of Christ-followers in Colossae he has never met.
Paul writes to the group of Christ-followers in Colossae he has never met.
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;
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 יהוה, the Father, and of the Messiah;
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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 and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in the Messiah.
As ye have therefore received the Messiah Yahushua the Master, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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 the Messiah.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the might in bodily form.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2:1-10
Can we make sense of it?
Yes. Paul says that in Christ we have everything that we need. As the Teacher (Holy Spirit) teaches us through His word, His exact Truth (Jesus), we walk as we received. In Jesus is all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge we need. That is why the whole of the Bible is all about Him (Jesus).
He also gives a word of warning to be on guard, to beware, though.
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 the Messiah.
We can be spoiled, sulagōgeō or stripped of this precious Gift that we have.
How?
Through philosophy.
Philosophy is a compound Greek word from philo which is the love of, and the word sophia which is wisdom. Philosophy - the love of wisdom.
And through vain deceipt, or empty apatē or delusions. To be a wise-crack, know-it-all person who is just out to impress people with their knowledge, even if it is empty and without compassion that comes by traditions of men.
Traditions of men?
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mar 7:13
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 the Messiah.
We can be spoiled, sulagōgeō or stripped of this precious Gift that we have.
How?
Through philosophy.
Philosophy is a compound Greek word from philo which is the love of, and the word sophia which is wisdom. Philosophy - the love of wisdom.
And through vain deceipt, or empty apatē or delusions. To be a wise-crack, know-it-all person who is just out to impress people with their knowledge, even if it is empty and without compassion that comes by traditions of men.
Traditions of men?
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mar 7:13
Tradition in Greek is paradosis meaning the law and ordinances of the old covenant. Yes, those elements the institutional church is so preoccupied, possessed and troubled with - the rudiments or the orderly arrangements and principles of the doctrine of men - religion.
These are the things not of Jesus. In fact, many of these churches I attended does not even mention His name ...
Rather ...
In Him we have all the fullness God, His power, His love, His affection, His mercy, His kindness, His patience ...
In contrast to following religion, in Him we are complete Who is way-above any principality or authority in this world.
In Him we have identity.
It is a mere matter of choice ...
These are the things not of Jesus. In fact, many of these churches I attended does not even mention His name ...
Rather ...
In Him we have all the fullness God, His power, His love, His affection, His mercy, His kindness, His patience ...
In contrast to following religion, in Him we are complete Who is way-above any principality or authority in this world.
In Him we have identity.
It is a mere matter of choice ...