5. READ: COLOSSIANS 2:1-19
[Colossians 2:1] "I want you to know how much I am
struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have
not met me personally. [2] My purpose is that they may be
encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the
full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know
the mystery of God, namely, Christ, [3] in Whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] I tell you this so that no
one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. [5] For though I am
absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and
delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in
Christ is.
[6] "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as
Lord, continue to live in Him, [7] rooted and built up in Him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.
[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.
[9] "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives
in bodily form, [10] and you have been given fullness in Christ,
Who is the head over every power and authority. [11] In Him you
were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature [or,
"the flesh"], not with a circumcision done by the hands
of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, [12] having been
buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith
in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead.
[13] "When you were dead in your sins and in the
uncircumcision of your sinful nature [or, "your
flesh"], God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all
our sins, [14] having canceled the written code, with its
regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He
took it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the
powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them by the cross.
[16] "Therefore 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. [17] These are a shadow of the things
that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [18]
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of
angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great
detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him
up with idle notions. [19] He has lost connection with the Head,
from Whom the whole body, supported and held together by its
ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to
grow."
a. What lives in Christ?
b. What is Christ the head over?
c. When are we buried and raised with Christ?
d. When does God forgive all our sins?
e. What does God cause to grow?
