Colossians
2:8-23Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through
philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the
elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. 9 For the
entire fullness of God’s nature[a]dwells
bodily[b] in
Christ, 10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the
head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were
also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off
the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. 12 Having
been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with
Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the
dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our
trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its
obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the
way by nailing it to the cross. 15 He
disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed
over them by Him.[d]
16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in
regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new
moon or a Sabbath day. 17 These are
a shadow of what was to come; the substance is[f] the
Messiah. 18 Let no one disqualify you,[g] insisting on ascetic
practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm
and inflated without cause by his unspiritual[h] mind. 19 He doesn’t
hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together
by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.
20 If you died with the Messiah to the
elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the
world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t
handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these
regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and
doctrines of men. 23 Although these have a
reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe
treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.
Questions:
1.
What does Paul mean when he
says, “Don’t be captivated by hollow and deceptive philosophies?
A. Don’t
trade your rich belief in Christ for an empty substance. He is all that matters, not random
traditions.
2.
What does it mean to forgive our trespasses, to erase our debt,
and nailed it to the cross?
A. It means
that God took away everyone’s sin, He took away our shame, He dead on the cross
while taking on our sins, so we can have eternal life with Him.
3.
What does verse 16 through 19 mean?
A. ???
4.
What is verses 20 through 23 saying?
A. ???
Summary
Paul starts off by
telling us to let no one in this world take you captive of your beliefs.
What he means by that is no matter if it’s popular or not, you should not
change your strong relationship with God. Don’t get stuck in the crowd be
who you are. Paul is stating that this is our bible we are what it says
we are, we can do what it says we can do, don’t let anyone change your
thoughts or beliefs in christ Jesus. Paul also wants us to know that ,
faith activates God and fear activates the enemy. What this means is when
we trust in Christ Jesus he will be with us and will help us through our
journey in life with him, when we are scared and don’t believe in him our fear
will activate the enemy.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Please help us with our day. Please help us do well on
our test today. I pray that we are safe and we beat the Mountain View Bears.
Thank you for all of the servicemen that have served our country, and please
help our servicemen stay safe. I pray that if we have problems with our families
you will help us get through these tough times. Please help us to always
put you first above all else. We know that with you all things are possible.
And all God’s people say
Amen.
