Even casual readers will recognize this text below. I, like, most of you have heard it many times from various pulpiteers from time to time. But as I was reading it this morning, a couple of fresh revelations birthed within. I was blessed within. Maybe what I will share will be a blessing to you also.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
How many trespasses have been forgiven? And since they were forgiven 2000 years ago, before we were ever thought of, it has to mean that HE chose to forgive us because HE fulfilled all the just requirements of the law, having suffered all the punishment for ALL our trespasses. From conception to the last breath. HALLELYAH. FORGIVEN ALL. GLORY!!!! HE forgave, because HE bore the just punishment. This is why HE could proclaim that HE came not to condemn us, but to SAVE US (John 3:17). Oh my, my. Come on somebody.
Col 2:14 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;
Where does it say HE blotted out the commandments? It simply does not say that. What was blotted out was all of this worthless anti-christ religious denominational inventions of men. Most of what many of you call "church", was blotted out 2000 years ago. If this be so, and it is, why oh why would you work so diligently to keep it alive?
Church attendance is not the expression of salvation. Oh no, no, no. The expression of saving grace is HOLINESS. HOLINESS unto the LORD. As I have said previous, it's not about the gifts you think you have, but about the HOLINESS of WHO YOU ARE. All else, is a demonic system designed to exalt some, and deceive all. And though many would blatantly DENY this truth, your faith is in your going to church, and not in YESHUA HA'MACHIACH and HIS shed blood. It's all about "come and hear the preacher" and not about "come to the CROSS to be united with HIM in HIS death. What dies with HIM. YOU DO. YOU DID, when HE died for you and I. You and I must surrender to the DEATH of the CROSS, death to sin and self, in order to squeeze through that narrow gate that leads to life.
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
When a king and his army would overtake their foes, the leaders were brought back as PROOF for all to see. Then, one by one, they were put to DEATH. Not on the battle field, but before all the people under the victor. He made a show of them openly. And this is what CHRIST did on the CROSS. It exposed their religiosity for what it really is. DECEPTION.
Oh this is the one that really leaped off the page to me. Why? Because these principalities are not satanic forces of darkness as is most often preached. These principalities and powers are those of the religious kind, who labor to keep you in bondage to themselves. RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP of any kind!! TheY would have you believe that their handwriting and preaching of ordinances rather than CHRIST is so much more important than freedom of faith as evidenced by obvious holy living on your behalf. RELIGION was BLOTTED OUT and shown for what it is. DECEPTION. Doctrines of demons. Man made rules, convenants, statements of faith, sinners prayer, you name it, they claim it. ALL WORTHLESS. Worse, they are ALL AN ABOMINATION before HAYAH (I AM). ANTI-CHRIST. Their rules were defeated before they were invented.
This is why institutional christianity is a curse. Proof? WHERE IS THE HOLINESS. WHERE IS THE CHARITY. WHERE IS THE SERVICE OF MINISTRY. The LORD said if you want to be "somebody" in HIS kingdom, SERVE ALL THE OTHERS. LOVE THEM as you love the LORD. This is the LIGHT that pierces the darkness.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This "light" is defined as "good works". Good works wherever you are, not at some blotted out steeple house on the corner. The light of the sun provides illumination of all things upon the earth, but it also provides warmth to all, good and bad, saved and the rest. And this is the kind of light that is evidenced in HOLY LIVING. How can we testify that we have "faith", when there is little to no light of holiness and love shinning forth to be seen?
Those who are in bondage to religious leadership and it's ordinances hate the LIGHT of good works. Why? Because good works as defined in Matt 25:31-46 is sorely missing in their "ministry". They HATE being exposed for who and what they are, as our text above plainly does. "Their church" is a religious business, as evidenced by the "money changers" and those merchandisers of men, when YESHUA cleared the temple. Oh they have their clever disguises. But they are no match for your good works, unexpected acts of kindness and love. Your true good works embarrasses these deceivers, because it is your WORKS and not your WORDS, that shows them for what they truly are. Come out from among them, and be ye separate. Become a lover of YEHOVAN and your NEIGHBOR, as evidenced by the way you live each moment of each day. HOLINESS. PURITY (guarding your vessel against any and all toxins and debris), and OBEDIENCE, the proclamation of the validity of our faith that needs no words to explain. Selah.