“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:8-14 ESV)
[NT stands for New Testament and NC stands for New Covenant]
We have many people today within the gatherings of what are called “churches” who are teaching what is “not according to Christ,” and which is not according to the teachings of his New Testament apostles, but which is according to human tradition and according to the thinking of human beings. Some of them want us to be more like Jews and to follow some of their customs and ceremonies. And some are legalists who want to put on us requirements that are not of God but are of the traditions of humans.
Yet others, and this is the most critical of all, are diluting and altering the gospel that Jesus taught, and that his NT apostles taught, in order to make the gospel and Christ more appealing and acceptable to human flesh and to the people of the world they are trying to attract to their gatherings. So they aren’t so much adding on to the gospel additional requirements, like others do, but they are pretty much removing most all of God’s biblical requirements for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God.
But genuine God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ results in us dying with Christ to sin and being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to continue living in sin. We are no longer to let sin reign (be in control) in our mortal bodies to where we obey its passions and desires. For if sin is what we obey, it will lead to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, its end is eternal life (Romans 6:1-23).
For Jesus did not die that horrible death on that cross just to forgive us our sins so that when we die we get to go to heaven. For coming to faith in Jesus Christ means that we are circumcised spiritually of Christ in the putting to death of our sins so that we might now live for him and for his will and purpose for our lives, in the power of God. And we were raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, not like our old lives of sin, but now as followers of Christ in holy living and in obedience to his NC commands.
Therefore, see to it that no one takes you captive by human philosophy and empty deceit and trickery and the twisting of the Scriptures to make them say what they do not say if taught in their appropriate context. See to it that you don’t get trapped into thinking that you have to follow after others’ human traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation. Die with Christ to sin that you might live to him and to his righteousness in the power of God, in holy living, and in obedience to God.
And be students of the Scriptures who study them in their full context so that you don’t end up misinterpreting them, but so that you can see the truth that they are teaching. For if we are going to be those who are obeying the truth of the Scriptures which are taught to those who are of faith in Jesus Christ, then we need to know what they teach, in truth, and in their context, so that we are not being led astray to false doctrines being taught by people in their deceitful scheming. So know the truth! Obey the truth!
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Video Talk
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The Lord’s Anointed
An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
