Colossians 3:12-13

Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Colossians 3:12

Once again we are told that we have been chosen. God chose us. He picked us out before He ever created anything. We are purified by Christ being in us. We are holy and sanctified by the power of God. We have been set apart for holy use. These are the free gifts that we have been given, in spite of ourselves, so that we can be used by God to serve the world. 

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:28-31

Look at what Paul says. I love this too. This is how we should all feel. 

But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point], and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3

I think that most people are not tenderhearted, kind, or merciful because they are insecure and are condemning themselves. We feel that we are not measuring up or that we are failing, so we look to find faults in others. Misery loves company. But the Truth is that we all measure up because of Grace. So there is absolutely no reason to ever feel condemned. We have been set free and there are no religious laws any longer in place to convict us with. We have complete freedom because of Jesus’ success. 

And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

We have been pronounced righteous and washed clean. There is no reason to ever feel guilty of sin, because sin is now dead for us. This is the Truth that sets us free. Telling ourselves how bad we are won’t stop condemnation. Trying to keep laws or pass laws won’t do it. The only thing that sets us free is the Truth. 

Colossians 3:10-11

And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. Colossians 3:10

We are being molded, we are not molding ourselves, we are being molded to be just like Jesus. We are the clay and our Father, Who is God, is our Potter. Our Father also has a plan. He knows the beginning and the end, so He knows how to best make us and He knows the best process to make us every bit as glorious as Jesus. We are all different and that is a good thing and the time and process will be different for all of us. But amen, we all will be as glorious as Jesus when He returns.  

Why do I keep repeating in these studies that it is our Father Who changes us and Who empowers us? Well, the first reason is the Bible keeps repeating it. Secondly, I was raised in churches that repeatedly told us that we had to do it ourselves. I was told that we had to believe, have faith, tithe, offer, give, forgive, love, and hope. The burden was always placed squarely on us to do it, not our Father in us. The Truth is what set me free and I hope that it does the same for you. Our joy and peace is that our Father will cause, enable, empower, and bring to fruition everything that is needed to cause us to have life and have it abundantly. 

[In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [[d]who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person]. Colossians 3:11

In Christ all distinctions vanish. There is now no more Church of Christ, Church of God, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, or Pentecostal. There is no more Black, White, Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern, or any other race. There is no longer liberal or conservative or male or female. Jesus is all and He is in us all. 

Jesus is everything to all men, all men! That means believing men and non-believing men. Jesus is responsible for all of us without distinction.

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

People may acknowledge Him or they may not, either way Jesus is still responsible for all of us. So ask yourself this, is Jesus really successful or is He just kind of successful?

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. Romans 5:18

For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. Romans 14:11

I believe that on Judgment Day the Victory of Jesus and His Grace and Mercy are going to pleasnantly surprise a whole lot of people. 

Colossians 3:5-9

So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will), Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, Colossians 3:5-9

Ok, how do we kill these evil desires? Do we make rules and laws that say not to do them? No, we can’t do that, because as our Father told us earlier in Colossians laws only puff us up. So if we make laws that tell us not to do these things, we will actually end up doing them more. Do we preach continually and tell people not to do them? I was raised in churches that tried that and all of these things flourished, even though we were told weekly not to do them. So how can we truly kill and deprive evil?

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. John 8:32

It is only the Truth that will set us free and the Truth is Jesus has set us free from any and all laws that could convict us of sin. We are now liberated and free from the bondage of laws. We cannot be convicted. Yep, because of Jesus' success, we are above the law! 

Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4

The Truth is also that our Father is completely responsible for sanctifying us and purifying us. If He isn't doing it, it ain't getting done. 

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Our Father is Faithful to separate us from profane things. We can’t separate ourselves from evil, we can’t kill the evil desires in us, only our Father can and He is faithful to do it. So the only way for us to kill the evil is to be empowered by the Truth that only our Father can do it for us. God alone is our Gardener, Potter, Vine, and Head. We can do nothing without Him and thank God the Truth is that we are never without Him. We can relax and be completely assured that all things are going to work out for our good and we can have the peace that there is absolutely no condemnation for us anymore. 

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2

Colossians 3:4

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. Colossians 3:4

Christ, which is the power of God, is our life. We are not our life, Christ is our life. Christ is our power, our energy, our knowledge, our hope, our faith, our love, our forgiveness, our grace, our everything. We are now one with Him, all that He is, so are we. So why do we seek to call ourselves good? No one is good but God and we are now one with Him. We now, this very moment and every moment, have complete victory. 

Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. 1 John 4:15-18

Our Father shows us that when Jesus appears that we too will appear with Him in glory. He also tells us that we will have boldness on the Day of Judgment. Ask yourself this, when does Jesus appear? Does He appear on Judgment Day or a thousand years before Judgment Day? The Bible tells us that Jesus appears a thousand years before Judgment Day when He ushers in the Millennial Reign of Christ. It is on this day that we will be changed, not on Judgment Day. 

And he gripped and overpowered the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and [securely] bound him for a thousand years. Then he hurled him into the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and closed it and sealed it above him, so that he should no longer lead astray and deceive and seduce the nations until the thousand years were at an end. After that he must be liberated for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom authority to act as judges and to pass sentence was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain with axes [beheaded] for their witnessing to Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived again and ruled with Christ (the Messiah) a thousand years. The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years. 20:2-6

Judgment Day holds no power over us, because we will be just like Jesus is on that day. We have passed from Judgment and we will judge along with Jesus. See how John tells us that He saw the Thrones, not the just the Throne. We will judge with Grace and Mercy with our Lord, Who we are one with on Judgment Day, we will not be judged.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. John 5:24

Jesus is not going to be judged on Judgment Day and we are one with Him. We are going to rule with Him for a thousand years before Judgment Day and Jesus plainly tells us that we will not be judged. So don’t ever fret about Judgment Day. 

Colossians 3:1-3

If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

Just look at what we are told here in Colossians 3: we have been raised with Christ. We are raised up right now with Jesus, we don’t have to wait for this, because our salvation is right now, it’s today. With that in mind let me ask you, when you think about Jesus, as He is today, do you think that he can fall away from God? Do you think that He can loose what He has been given by our Father? Do you think that He has fears, doubts, or is concerned with failing? My bet is that you don’t think about any of these things, my guess is that you think about His glory, power, and victory. The Truth is that we have been raised up with Him, so we too enjoy all of these glorious and powerful attributes. There is nothing that Jesus is or has that we are not one with. 

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. John 17:22-23

And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Romans 8:17-18

The Truth allows us to realize that Christ is in us right now and that we are one with all that He is and all that He has. The Truth allows us to realize that keeping laws and rules do not give us these things. We know that we are only one with the Glory of Christ through Grace. We have the Mind of Christ that knows beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Victory and Glory of Christ will never be taken away from us. How could it be, we have been raised up and made one with Christ? If His glory, power, and honor could be taken from us, then they could be taken from Him and that cannot happen. 

For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. Titus 2:11-14

As long as we focus on laws, we will be puffed up and we will fail. It is only when we are empowered by the Truth to realize that we have been raised up and that we are one with Jesus, that the deeds of our flesh will end and we will begin to live a life that is fully concerned with those around us.  

Colossians 2:20-21

If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as] Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.] Colossians 2:20-21

 

Why do we submit to rules? Why do so many want to impose rules? I believe that people demand rules and people follow rules because to the world it looks like we are being religious. But according to our Father rules and laws are the farthest thing from what Jesus came and secured for us. 

According to the Bible rules and laws have absolutely no value in checking our flesh from acting up. Read verse 21 again, we are told so very plainly that rules and laws have no value in checking the indulgences of our flesh. We are old that the only thing laws do is honor the flesh. Laws do not honor God. I hear preachers tell drunks not to drink, yet they still drink. I hear preachers tell people not to fornicate or commit adultery and both are common place in society today. I hear them say not to be homosexual and homosexuality is not only socially accepted it is now legal to for same sex couples to be married. All of these Rules look and sound religious, but none of them are truly helping people live in the fulness of what Jesus came and secured for us.

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. Romans 8:3-4

For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. Romans 10:3-4

Our flesh never allowed laws to work, our Father knew this, so He came in the flesh and overcame the weaknesses of our flesh. Jesus was victorious. Jesus is our righteousness. Jesus is no completely responsible for making us who we are to be. We are not ignorant of this Truth. We do not try to establish a righteousness that is based on laws, Christ in us has ended all laws. This is why we have life and have it abundantly, because we do not depend on our flesh or ourselves for anything. We are new creatures. We are now one with Christ. He is now greater in us and because of Him we are now more than conquerors. 

 

Colossians 2:16-19

Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:16-17

Did our Father just tell us that the Sabbath only has a symbolic value? Wow, I know several people that would think that I was a complete heretic for saying such a thing. But it is right there in Colossians 2.  Jesus told the Scribes that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man. Far too many religious people get all caught up in fleshly things like one day being better than another day. None of those kind of things matter, the only thing that matters is Love. Love is the only thing that covers a multitude of sin. Love is never jealous, it isn’t mean, it’s forgiving, it’s kind, gentle, and Love is eternal. Love doesn’t display itself arrogantly. 

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.1 Corinthians 13:4

For the Bride of Christ, Love is just in us, we can’t help but to love. We can’t help but to Love because Jesus and His Love constantly remain in us. 

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit, And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Colossians 2:18-19

How many people are being told that they are disqualified because they do not go to church on Sunday? How many people are told that they are going to Hell because they do not belong to a man made denomination? These things are of the flesh and they puff us up. You want to know if someone is actually one with Christ, look at their fruit. Look to see if a person is filled with Love, do they intercede even for those who seem to be the worst? Are they gentle, kind, forbearing, patient, and long suffering? These are the signs of a Bride of Christ. If a person is constantly talking about how they go to Church, how they tithe, how they pray, or how they serve watch out. You need to watch out for these kind of people because love does not draw attention towards self, true love directs attention towards God.

So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:4

But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. Matthew 6:6

So stop worrying about people who judge you. They judged Jesus like crazy, so what should we expect? Do not be defrauded by people who want to place all kinds of rules on us. We can rest assured that Love will always be greater in us than anything, including ourselves, that is in this world. Love will lead us into the paths of righteousness. Love will prune out of us all that needs pruning. Love will never leave us or forsake us. Rules do not and will not keep Love in us. Love isn't the laving kind, He stays with us, even at our worst.

Galatians 2:15

[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. Colossians 2:15

All of our enemies have been disarmed! That is one terrific statement of Truth. How many times have you heard in Church someone say that satan attacked them this week? The question is what did he attack you with? Because the Truth is that he has been disarmed so he has no weapons. There is nothing that he can come at us with and as we studied yesterday we can’t break any laws either, because there are now no laws for us to break. So that means that there is now no condemnation for us. Our glory is that we now live in complete and total liberty because of Jesus’ success. 

In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. Galatians 5:1

We have been completely and totally liberated by Christ, so don’t let anyone try to bring you back into bondage. Look around religion and see what so many so called Christian leaders are trying to do to us. We are constantly being condemned by these wolves for our lifestyles, maybe we drink, maybe we are going through a divorce, maybe we are a homosexual, maybe we don’t belong to their denomination, or whatever else preachers like these like to point out about us. But here is the Truth, according to the Bible even our own righteousness is as filthy rags. We don’t have any relationship with our Father based on our works or our own efforts, we have a relationship with our Father that is based solely on the free Grace that He Alone gives. 

So stop beating yourself up. We all have faults, but not one of those faults will ever keep our Father from being in us or for us. We enjoy the peace that Jesus will clean up what is needed in us. A plant does not prune itself, the gardner does, and God is our Gardener. A lump of clay does not mold itself, the potter does and Jesus is our Potter. Sheep do not protect themselves, the shepherd does and Jesus is our Shepherd. So whatever our faults are, and I am sure that they are many, are up to our Head, which is Jesus, to take care of. This Truth allows us to relax and be assured that they will be taken care of. 

Our faults do not allow satan to attack us or harm us, because he has been disarmed. Our faults do not allow us to be convicted with, because we are now dead to laws. We may have faults, but those faults do not stop us from being one with Perfection and Jesus’ perfection keeps us and saves us to the uttermost. We are righteous and perfect right now because of Grace, so why take thought for shortcomings? The Truth is when we actually are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stop taking thought for our faults is when our faults will disappear from us.  

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:28-31

Colossians 2:12-14

[Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead. And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. Colossians 2:12-14

Jesus did away with all of the legal decrees that could ever convict us of sin. Now think about what that actually means for us? Jesus did away with all of the laws that could ever convict us of sin. Jesus nailed every last one of them to the Cross, every Law last law, even the Ten Commandments. There is now only Grace and Mercy for us, there are no laws. 

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Why do you think satan was thrown out of Heaven when Jesus was raised from the dead?

Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! Revelation 12:10

Satan was cast out of Heaven because there is nothing for him to accuse us with anymore. There are no laws to convict us with, so we aren’t breaking any rules. Grace and Mercy are all that is left for us. Don’t let this freedom and liberty scare you. Many think that this Truth will encourage people to just go and do whatever they want to do, but this Truth is what will finally allow people to live in the fulness of what we have been given. 

I have been around churches and religion my whole life and the preachers are always telling us what we shouldn’t do. Yet, the things that they say not to do are still being done and if you look around in the world they are increasing. Giving people rules doesn’t work, giving them the Truth does and the Truth is there are no laws anymore to convict us with. It is not up to us to keep ourselves, it is up to Jesus to keep us. He will cause us to be the people our Father wants us to be, so we never have to fear the complete and total freedom that we have been given.

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23

Colossians 2:11

In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts). Colossians 2:11

Ask yourself this, is Jesus good at what He does? Is He mediocre? Is He slack? He isn’t, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Creator of all things and if He is in charge of stripping off our corrupt flesh, you can rest assured that it is stripped off! Again, just as with our previous studies, notice that the Bible tells us that we were circumcised, not that we will be, but that we were. The Truth is that Jesus has already done all that is needed for us so that we may have the fulness of our Father dwelling permanently within us. 

But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

We are holy right now. We are completely free from sin right now. We have been set free from any and all laws that could ever convict us of any wrongdoing. Jesus came and completely changed things.

DO YOU not know, brethren--for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law--that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive? For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband. Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:1-4

[To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress].

Because we have been circumcised and stripped of our sinful flesh by Christ, we have been set free from the Laws that could convict us of sin. We now live by Grace. We are not Holy by our works, we are holy only because of Grace. You see as long as we think that we have to work to be holy, we never will live in the fulness of what Jesus accomplished for us. As long as we think that we need to work to be righteous, we will actually keep on doing the things that we do not want to do. But when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to realize that our holiness is just freely given to us and there is nothing that we can do to keep it, that is when we will actually stop doing the things of the world. 

For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and mercy]. Romans 6:14

Colossians 2:9-10

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. Colossians 2:9-10

Our Father plainly and clearly tells us here in Colossians that He now dwells in us, just as He dwells in Jesus. Our Father tells us that we have been made full, just like Jesus is full and He tells us that we now have fulness of life. Now is the time of our Salvation. Salvation is present tense, not future tense. We are right now new creatures in Christ, every old thing about us has past away, and all things have become new for us. 

We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]. 6:4-7

Look at what we are told in Romans 6: we were buried, not that we will be buried, but that we were buried, past tense, it has already happened. Then we are told that we too live in newness of life, right now, present tense. Finally we are shown that our body was nailed to the Cross, past tense. So all of this means that we have been loosed and freed completely from sin, just as Jesus is free from sin. There is nothing that hinders our Father from completely being one with us as He is completely One with Jesus, right now, this very moment. This is the way that we should think, because this is the Truth that glorifies what Jesus actually accomplished for us.

Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

We are perfect right now, if we were not, how would our Perfect Father dwell completely in us? We are perfect through Grace, not works. We all fret so much about works, the work was Jesus’ and He completed the task. He fought and won the battle for us. He ever lives to insure that we are saved to the uttermost. 

Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—Galatians 1:3-4

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

Colossians 2:6-8

6 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

There are a ton of sermons that tell us that we have to stay with Christ. The burden in so many of these sermons is squarely placed on us. Here is the Truth that sets us free and that gives us peace that passes all of our understanding: it is not up to us to stay with the Lord, it is up to the Lord to keep us. Jesus is the Shepherd and we are the sheep. Jesus is the the Vine and we are the branches, and our Father is the Potter and we are the clay.

And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one]. John 17:11

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]-- To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it). Jude 24-25 

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things which we suggest and with which we charge you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4

8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

Far too many in religion want us to fear. They want us to be captive to our own humanity, but the glorious Truth is that it is completely up to Jesus to keep us and to present us perfect. Jesus ever lives to insure that we are saved to the uttermost. So we do not have to take any thought whatsoever about keeping ourselves or being led astray, because our Shepherd will never leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to worry about measuring up because our Potter will never make us any other way than perfect. We cannot fail, God will not permit it. 

Colossians 2:5

5 For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

This is one of the things that I think about all of the time. The Bible tells us that we worship our Father in Spirit and in Truth.

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. John 4:23

I think that we far too often believe that we have to physically be in each others presence to truly be connected. The Truth is that we are spirits and our spirits are one with each other. The Bible tells us that we are as Jesus is, even while we are on this earth. Jesus has a body, it was raised from the dead and is now in Heaven with our Father. Jesus has a Spirit and that Spirit now lives within us. We too have a body, it is here on the earth, and we too have a spirit, a spirit that is one with Jesus’ spirit. So that means that we are connected with each other just as Jesus is connected with us. We are connected all of the time with each other. We don’t have to physically be in the same room to communicate. We don’t need phones, the internet, or any physical communication to be connected and unified. Think of the power and unity that this gives us. According to Jesus our unity in the Spirit is the power that will allow the world to actually believe and be set free.

That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. John 17:21-23

Wherever two or more of us are, there Jesus is in the midst of us. Our glory is that we are always with two or more. We are always with millions upon millions. Whether we are alive or dead makes no difference, we are always perfectly connected and unified with the entire body of Christ.  

Colossians 2:1-4

For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face and known me personally. [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). Colossians 2:1-2

Remember that the secret just isn’t Christ, it is Christ in you. So how do we get the assured conviction of understanding that it is Christ in us? 

Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Romans 15:5-6

But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. 1 John 2:20

The Truth is that we can’t do anything on our own to become convinced of the Truth that will set us free, it has to be our Father. Our Father has to give us the full understanding that His Anointing abides permanently within us. 

In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom ([comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. Colossians 2:3-4

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

So don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t fully convinced. It is not your responsible to convince yourself. It is our Father’s responsibility to convince you!