Exploring Christ's Spiritual Laws

Webers.Home · Dec 21, 2018

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Col 2:8 . . See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

What he's talking about there are humanistic versions of Christianity; especially those built upon proprietary traditions rather than "the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us" (2Ths 2:15). Those kinds of Christianity are insidious because they're typically a subtle blend of truth and error. Paul wasn't just being rhetorical; no, the time is now when pew warmers are buying into humanistic versions of Christianity.

"Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when they will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and seek teachers who will tell them what it is they wish to hear. They will reject the truth and heed fantasies." (2Tim 4:2-4)

The reason that they will heed what Paul calls "fantasies" is because anything but the truth is far and away more appealing to the human mind. Take for example Stephen Hawking's theory that a cosmos can come into existence sans intelligent design; in other words: sans a creator. Stephen's arguments are clever, sophisticated, and scientific; viz: they make sense; and they are widely accepted by his admirers.

Christians are privy to the origin of the cosmos-- in all its forms of life, matter, and energy --not by science, but by revelation; which of course die-hard scientists cannot accept due to revelation's lack of so-called empirical evidence; though there's circumstantial evidence aplenty all around in nature and indeed the very heavens in which men like Hawkings are so absorbed.
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Webers.Home · Dec 22, 2018

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Col 2:16-17 . .Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

Some humanistic versions of Christianity incorporate diets, rituals, rites, and holy days of obligation. According to the principles stipulated in the 14th chapter of Romans, those things are optional rather than mandatory. To insist otherwise is to play God and to usurp Christ's sovereign right to make the rules for his own church.
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Webers.Home · Dec 23, 2018

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Col 2:18a . . Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial.

Now we're getting into the sphere of asceticism; which Christ has never
approved. Asceticism describes a life-style characterized by abstinence from
materialism and various sorts of worldly pleasures (e.g. sex, cosmetics,
movies, dancing, alcohol, romance novels, soaps, gambling, and the
accumulation of material wealth) often with the aim of pursuing religious and
spiritual goals. Ascetics, by the very nature of their philosophy, insinuate
that Christ was wrong to consume wine and/or provide it for a wedding.

Ascetics think themselves to possess a superior spirituality over and above
regular Christians; but Paul popped that bubble soundly.

"These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them
conceited. They are not connected to Christ, the head of the body." (Col
2:18c-19)

(chuckle) Paul depicted ascetics as kind of like the headless horseman in the
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.
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Webers.Home · Dec 24, 2018

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Col 2:18b . . And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even
though they say they have had visions about this.

I have actually encountered Christians who claim to have patron ghosts:
spirits with whom they communicate and that help them in daily life. I do
not dispute their claim seeing as how the existence of familiar spirits is
validated by Lev 20:6 et al; but Christ rules against letting them influence
your thinking; even as Jehovah condemns to death any among His people
who dabble in that sort of thing.

Apparitions are very effective. Just look at the number of Christians whose
religious beliefs are influenced by appearances like Our Lady of Fatima and
the Miracle of the Tilma (Our Lady of Guadalupe). That only goes to show
how true it is that people tend to believe only what they can see with their
own two eyes. In the end, that "show me" attitude will result in humanity's
ruin as they watch a statue come to life and start giving orders to execute
people who refuse to worship it. (Rev 13:13-15)

Heed what Rev 13:13-15 says; and be warned. Its lesson is obvious:
miracles and/or apparitions cannot be trusted to validate one's religious
beliefs. In point of fact; numbers of people passing themselves off as
Christians are going to Hell and eternal suffering in spite of their ability to
perform miracles. (Matt 7:22-23)

Paul said he would never listen to even a real live genuine holy angel of God
from Heaven unless the angel preached the very same message as the one
he himself preached (Gal 1:6-9). As anyone familiar with Virgin sightings
knows, they never preach the same message as Paul's; no they preach
things like world peace, devotion to Jesus' mom, immaculate hearts, and
rosaries.
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Webers.Home · Dec 26, 2018

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Col 3:1-2 . . Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts
on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your
minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is
now hidden with Christ in God.

Christianity is a lethal religion. It puts its believers to death on the cross with
Christ as joint principals in the purpose of his crucifixion. They are
encouraged to think of that as a reality; and not only that, but also to
account their resurrection to immortality a done deal, i.e. it's in the bag
because they are joint principals in that too. (Rom 6:3-11, Gal 2:20)
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Webers.Home · Dec 27, 2018

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Col 3:5a . . Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature

The earthly nature of Christ's believing followers was judged, sentenced, and
executed on his cross but they won't be rid of it till they pass on because
man's earthly nature is part and parcel of his earthly human body.

"Nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Rom 7:18)

However, if Christ's followers want to take advantage of God's kindly
patronage and providence, they have got to take the bull by the horns. This
has been an axiom since the very beginning.

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what
is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must
master it." (Gen 4:6-7)

(And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice
the truth" (1John 1:5-7)

The Christian way of life is literally an on-going perpetual fight against
nature.

"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with
me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at
work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

. . .What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my
mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of
sin." (Rom 7:21-25)

At this point, the epistle lists a catalogue of behaviors that aren't practiced in
heaven; and since Christ's sheep are destined for that place, they need to
start living now like they will be living then.
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Webers.Home · Dec 28, 2018

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Col 3:5b-11 . . sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,
anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Webster's defines "malice" as: desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to
another. Behaviors like deliberate chafing, needling, ridicule, mockery,
taunts, demeaning comments, ugly words that tear people down rather than
build them up, denigrating labels, biting sarcasm, fault-finding, carping
criticism, thoughtless remarks, petty ill will, spite, vindictiveness, and
stalking are all malicious behaviors that no one in heaven ever practices
because heaven is a place of peace.

The koiné Greek word for "filthy conversation" is aischrologia (ahee-skhrol
og-ee'-ah) and means: vile conversation.

Webster's defines "vile" as: (1) morally despicable or abhorrent, (2)
physically repulsive; viz: foul and/or odious, (3) of little worth or account;
viz: common, vulgar, (4) tending to degrade, demean, and/or denigrate, (5)
disgustingly and/or utterly bad; viz: obnoxious, contemptible, unacceptable,
disagreeable, and (6) base; viz: crude, churlish, unrefined.
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Webers.Home · Dec 29, 2018

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Col 3:9-10 . . Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self
with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in
knowledge in the image of its Creator.

It's interesting that the Colossian believers were lying to each other, and no
doubt would have continued to lie if Paul had not commanded them to stop
it.

The koiné Greek word for "renewed" is anakainoo (an-ak-ahee-no'-o) which
means: to renovate; which Webster's defines as: (1) to restore to a former
better state (as by cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding), and (2) to restore to
life, vigor, or activity: revive. This renovation process takes place only by
means of conscientious Bible study combined with uncompromising personal
evaluations. (Rom 12:1-2)
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Webers.Home · Dec 30, 2018

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Col 3:12 . .Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Apparently the Colossian believers were neither compassionate, nor kind,
nor humble, nor gentle, nor patient, and would have continued to be that
way had not Paul hadn't commanded them otherwise.

Paul's basis for these commands is the Colossians' standing as "God's
chosen people, holy and dearly beloved" I mean: is it appropriate for people
in that kind of a relationship with God to act like devils?

You know, judging from the descriptions of some of the first century
churches, I get the impression that were we to go back in time to visit one,
we'd be walking into a snake pit.
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Webers.Home · Dec 31, 2018

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Col 3:13-14 . . Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another. Forgive as The Lord forgave you. And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Love can be roughly defined as affection; which itself can be roughly defined
as tenderness. One of the Lord's constant rubs with his religious opponents
was their virtually 100% lack of tenderness; which effectively invalidated
their rituals.

"Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice." (Matt
9:13)

Some folk honestly believe that Christ's statement, taken from Hosea 6:6,
practically repealed the entire God-given book of Leviticus. But that's not
what either Hosea or Jesus were saying. They meant that God much prefers
that people be civil to each other rather than religious to their fingertips.

In other words; an insensitive person's lack of things like empathy,
compassion, sympathy, patience, tolerance, affableness, helpfulness, pity,
courtesy, humility, peace, love, and understanding, causes God to reject
their worship just as thoroughly and bluntly as He rejected Cain's. I really
think that God is insulted when cold-hearted, implacable people come to
church actually thinking He's glad to see them show up for some quality
time together.
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Webers.Home · Jan 1, 2019

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Col 3:15a . . Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members
of one body you were called to peace.

The world is not impressed when believers are at war with themselves.
There is a very subtle hint to that effect at Gen 13:1-7. How do you suppose
Abram's and Lot's squabbling looked to the pagans? When God's people
can't get along, outsiders become disgusted with them and they sure won't
be influenced for God in a good way when the Lord's people are fighting
amongst themselves like that.

Years ago, when I was a young welder just starting out on my own, I rented
a small room in a daylight basement from a man who was the senior pastor
of a medium-sized Seventh Day Adventist church in the Portland Oregon
area. He and his wife radiated the luster of polished spirituality whenever I
spoke with them out in the yard, but in my location under the floor of the
house, I could overhear their bitter quarrels upstairs behind closed doors.
Was I favorably inclined to attend his church? No.

A church without peace is a church deprived of the Spirit.

"The fruit of the Spirit is peace." (Gal 5:22-23)

NOTE: Christ's followers are also called to hope (Eph 4:4), fellowship (1Cor
1:9), blessing (1Pet 3:9), grace (Gal 1:6), liberty (Gal 5:13), kingdom and
glory (1Thess 2:12), holiness (1Thess 4:7), eternal life (1Tim 6:12),
suffering (1Pet 2:21), and eternal glory (1Pet 5:10)
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Webers.Home · Jan 2, 2019

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Col 3:15b . . And be thankful.

In an America accustomed to entitlements, bail-outs, reparations, stimulus
packages, federally funded school lunches, FEMA, SNAP, TANF, and an
abundance of perks, free-bees, and social programs; it's very unusual to find
thankful citizens. Most are arrogant and demanding; taking their blessings
for granted.

I was particularly annoyed back in January 2010 by a Haitian man's angry
complaint in the news that America wasn't responding fast enough to his
country's needs created by their earthquake. That man is a perfect example
of someone who has no appreciation for charity; but rather, sees charity as
an entitlement rather than a blessing.

My #1 nephew was a Seneca man who took the spiritual values of his
Iroquois ancestors very seriously. Some Christians would no doubt think of
my nephew as a heathen, but he was far more thankful for his blessings--
due to the influences of Hiawatha and Handsome Lake --then many of the
intellectual pew warmers that I've encountered in the several churches I've
attended over the years.
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Webers.Home · Jan 3, 2019

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Col 3:16 . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom

Before attempting to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom., it's
essential that the word of Christ first dwell in you richly; which is from the
Greek word plousios (ploo-see'-oce) which means: copious; defined by
Webster's as yielding something abundantly. In other words: fruitful-- very
fruitful.

"By this my Father is glorified; that you bear much fruit" (John 15:8)

Col 3:16 is not an easy command to obey because it requires walking the
walk rather than talking the talk.

"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and yields
crops useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed,
whose end is to be burned." (Heb 6:7-8)

In other words; the wisdom we're talking about here is gained by life
experience wherein Christ's teachings have been put into practice rather
than merely memorized.
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Webers.Home · Jan 4, 2019

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Col 3:17 . .Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus.

In other words; Christ's followers should conduct themselves as Christians
as opposed to conducting themselves in any old way they feel like.

A simple way to apply Col 3:17 is just to ask yourself: Can my master put
his signature on this? If you know in your heart he cannot, then you do not
have Christ's authorization to proceed. If you proceed anyway, then you will
be off-reservation, in your own little world of anarchy and rebellion against
Christ's sovereign right, as the lord and master of Christianity, to manage
your affairs.
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Webers.Home · Jan 6, 2019

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Col 3:18 . .Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in The Lord.

That's pretty much reiterates posts No.170 and No.171.

The submission we're talking about here is entirely positional.

For example; we ought to respect senior citizens not because they themselves have done anything to earn it, rather, because it's a respect that their age deserves. (cf. Lev 19:32)

Back when Queen Elizabeth II became monarch, her husband Philip felt humiliated to have to kneel to his own wife till she explained to him that he wouldn't be kneeling to her, rather, to the crown.

In other words: it's the position that deserves the respect rather than the person in it. So, wives give your husbands the respect due to their position in the home rather than the blokes they are.

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to The Lord." (Eph 5:22)

That's a pretty tall order for Christian wives in a modern culture that constantly pressures them to be strong and masculine rather than soft and feminine; to be superiors rather than subordinates; and to be assertive, confrontational, and defiant rather than reasonable, peaceable, and cooperative.
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Webers.Home · Jan 7, 2019

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Col 3:19 . . Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Harsh can be defined a number of ways.

1• Abrasive

2• Abusive

3• Critical

4• Unfriendly

5• Uncivil

6• Rough

7• Oppressive

8• Cruel

9• Hostile

10• Loud

11• Demanding

12• Intolerant

13• Impatient

14• Insensitive

15• Unyielding

Those behaviors are very effective at making a Christian wife's existence
bitter, i.e. a living hell; especially a Christian wife who's making an honest
effort to comply with Col 3:18 as per post No.215
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Webers.Home · Jan 8, 2019

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Col 3:20 . . Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the
Lord.

That command pertains only to Christian kids; not to just any kid who
happens to be looking in. And it needs to be said that not every kid in a
Christian home is a Christian kid. Some are demon seeds: that's just a fact
of life and it can't be helped.

The Greek word for "obey" in that verse is hupakouo (hoop-ak-oo'-o) which
is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean, variously, to hear under (as a
subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to
a command or authority.

Too many television sit-coms today portray kids who don't listen to their
parents. But of course those sit-com kids have no desire to please the Lord.
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Webers.Home · Jan 9, 2019

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Col 3:21 . . Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become
discouraged.

The koiné Greek word for "discouraged" is athumeo (ath-oo-meh'-o) which
has to do with breaking the spirit. Really bad cases of embitterment can
cause a child to lose the will to excel; sometimes even the will to live, i.e.
suicidal.
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Webers.Home · Jan 10, 2019

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Col 3:22-25 . . Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it,
not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of
heart and reverence for The Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for The Lord, not for men

Some Christians tend to forget that they live in a fishbowl; a sort of Big
Brother society where God misses nothing.

"Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the
grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children,
do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But
just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each
man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."
(1Pet 1:13-17)
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Webers.Home · Jan 11, 2019

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Col 4:1 . . Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because
you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

If America's corporations, factories, and businesses would comply with just
that one teensy little edict, it would end the need for labor unions. It would
also put sweatshops and the exploitation of foreign poverty and immigrant
labor out to pasture too.

Most businesses try to avoid giving their employees what is right and fair in
order to get better bottom lines on their quarterly reports. Fair and right
wages and benefits are expensive and cut into profits. Herein is one of the
evils of corporatism. The ones that have gone public have a fiduciary
responsibility (they say) to shareholders to grow and produce profits;
therefore they will not hesitate to throw workforces to the wolves in order to
fulfill that responsibility.

Whenever you see a big corporation like Boeing ask it's workforce to take a
wage cut; that is what they are doing-- throwing their workforce to the
wolves to protect the corporation from sustaining a loss; the meanwhile
taking little thought to the fact that wage cuts make it that much more
difficult for workforces to survive in an inflationary economy. Corporations
complain that the cost of doing business is hurting them. Well; what do they
think the cost of living is doing to their workforces?

A popular corporate business plan nowadays involves moving headquarters
offshore, thus sheltering millions, and even billions of dollars of profits from
US taxes. What that means is; the US taxes that would have been paid on
those profits do not go towards funding the Federal budget and/or servicing
the Federal debt. In other words: corporations are not all that civic-minded
nor patriotic when it comes to money; on the contrary, they are showcases
of greed and selfishness to the detriment of their fellow Americans; while the
chief executive officers gorge themselves at the hog trough of stupendous
salary and benefit packages, and colossal bonuses.
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