"For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power; 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, 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, and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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, and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days; which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.
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 (touch not, taste not, handle not; which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 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." (Colossians 2:9-22)
Two very different scriptural passages, and yet, I believe the distinct message in each can be inextricably intertwined. For example, when we abide in Jesus, and His Word abides in us, there is a willingness to press into Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. There is a readiness to please both in season and without, as a consequence of taking on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in water baptism. (Acts 2:37-42) And, similarly, there should be a desire to understand this faith journey that we have just embarked on. A disposition to continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine without wavering.
This is why we are instructed to study His Word to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." (Philippians 3:12-16)
Why? Because grace and peace is multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises ; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge: and to knowledge, temperance, and to temperance, patience, and to patience, godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity, for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:2-10)
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. This is why we abide in Jesus, so that we give diligence to make our calling and election sure, for if we do these things, we shall never fail.
"For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ..." (II Peter 1:11)
Abide in Jesus today, and download His Word into your heart. Stand in the offering plate.
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