It seems prudent to point out some undeniable Biblical truths that many preachers, whose sermons and I have read and heard for most of my 66 years of life, refuse to consider, concerning Colossians and Ephesians. There is nothing wrong in pointing these things out in the hope of having a discussion about them. And there is no shame in learning something that was heretofore not considered or known. I am not promoting myself here, I am a nobody. Nevertheless, the following "context" is missing from popular religious philosophies promoted by “Many who come in Christ’s Name”, as Jesus Himself warned, and I thought it the right thing, according to the teaching of the Jesus of the bible, to point some of these things out for the edification the brethren. My hope is that some might
do the study of the Holy Scriptures themselves, which Paul said were trustworthy "
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
One very popular religious philosophy being promoted by the religions of this world that God placed me in, that I’m addressing here concerning Colossians and Ephesians,
is the origin of the “ordinances” promoted by the “Jews Religion” that Paul is saying were “Against Jesus, Paul and the Body of Christ. The popular religious philosophy I am challenging here, is that these were “God’s Ordinances”, that “GOD” was the author of the ordinances that were against Jesus, Paul and the Church of God. That “THEY” were the “
principality and powers” that Jesus Spoiled, made a show of,
and Triumphed over on the Cross, and that because God’s Ordinances were against Jesus, Paul and the Church of God, Jesus came to "nail them to the cross".
I don’t believe this was Paul’s teaching at all, based on what the Bible actually says when all of it is considered, and this study of the Scriptures is the reason why. The entire “City of David” was under the rule of religious men who professed to know God, but were teaching for doctrines
the Commandment of Men, not God. And it was their ordinances that condemned Jesus to death, as they themselves said, “We have a LAW, and by OUR Law HE must die”. Their Law also condemned the Prophets and Stephen to death, and by their Law “the Church of God” was persecuted. Not because I say so, but because Paul said so.
Phil. 3:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, "a Pharisee";
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, (Pharisees Law) blameless.
Whose righteousness did the Pharisees, “Jews Religion” live by according to Paul's Own Teaching? According to “many” who come in Christ’s Name, they were trying to earn salvation
by obeying God’s Law.
But when Paul words are considered, here is what he actually said.
Rom. 10:
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they “being ignorant” "of God's righteousness", and going about to establish “their own” righteousness, “have not submitted themselves” unto the righteousness “of God”.
I found that this is a very touchy subject for some of have been convinced of who promote the ancient philosophy that God's Ordinances are against men, but please believe me when I say I don’t post this study to offend anyone. Only that folks might consider what is actually written and do the study for themselves, and thereby “Proving"
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, and escape the deception God has warned us of so many times.
So in the spirit of God’s Love and the search of God’s Righteousness, please consider the following.
From the very beginning of the Holy Scriptures, which I believe to be a very important part of the Armor of God that HE told us through Paul, to "put on", God has placed His creation into a world in which
God's Word exists, and which also exists, the
voice of another,
who is not God. But is a voice "Contrary to God", and "Against God". The entire purpose of these two voices, in my understanding, is, according to God’s Word, to prove men, “
whether they will walk in my law, or no.”.
Spiritually speaking every person who partakes of the Passover, is brought into this worlderness.
Deut. 8:
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
From the very beginning God placed His People in a world where “other voices” exist, who are contrary to God. The very first deception, shown to us by God for our admonition, is a teaching that promotes the philosophy that God’s Laws are against mankind. That God’s instruction cannot be trusted.
Gen. 3:
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, (Reject God’s Word) then your eyes shall be opened, and (Then) ye shall be as gods, “knowing” good and evil.
As you can see, this “other voice” is teaching that as long as Eve submits to God’s Ordinances and commandments, she will remain “Blind and ignorant”.
And how it does this, according to the very first recorded deception, is to "profess to know God", and even quote "Some" of God's Word in its goal to deceive the whole world into believing that it is God’s instruction in righteousness, that was against mankind.
We can see the influence of this "other voice" from the very beginning. Cain, the world God placed Noah in, the world at Abraham's Time. All these men, like Sodom, knew of God and His Word, but were seduced into believing “another voice”. Israel's children were even seduced by the other voices in the world God placed them in, and God sent them Moses to reinstate the Judgments, Commandments Statutes and Laws Abraham was given, and obeyed for his good and the good of those around him.
In each case, there were "other voices" who also professed to know God, but refused to accept what HE instructed so they could overcome in this world.
Caleb was threatened by the masses who succumbed to this "other voice". But he had a different "spirit" in him and was not persuaded by the "other voices". God sent Prophets who warned over and over and over and over about false teachers, men who preached to them, that HE didn't send. Religious men who preach, as the Prophet teaches, "they
say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you". The exact same message of the serpent to Eve. Isaiah warned about this world’s preachers,
who taught the "precepts of men".
Is. 29:
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
An entire world deceived by the "Other voice" who professes to know God, according to the Holy scriptures.
But there was a New Priest prophesied, "after a different order". A Priest that was to be incorruptible. A Prophet like Moses, who God would give His Words to. The Faithful believers and examples of Faith in the OT waited for this savior in obedience to God, and were tortured and killed for it, by men who "professed to know God".
The very last book in the Holy Scriptures, available to me is Malachi. And he was still furthering this truth of the world we were placed in. Explaining how even the temporary Priesthood Covenant God made with Levi, to convince men to trust God and adopt "HIS" instruction, became corrupted by listening to this “other voice”.
Mal. 2:
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. (
Ex. 32:26)
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did "turn many away from iniquity". 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, (finding fault with them) saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept "my ways", but have been partial in the law.
The Last message I received from God though His Prophets before this High Priest of God came was;
Mal. 4:
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
What many are not taught to consider in this world God placed us in, is that John the Baptist and Jesus were placed in the same world. And the same world surrounding them was deceived by the same “other voice” that professed to know God, even quoting “some” of God’s Word, convincing them as it did Eve, that God's Laws were against them.
I will finish the study in part 2.