HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1450
C O LO S S I A N S 3
forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record
of the charges against us and took it away by
nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed* the spiritual rulers and authorities. He
shamed them publicly by his victory over them
on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what
you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain
holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality
yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on
pious self-denial or the worship of angels,* saying they have had visions about these things.
Their sinful minds have made them proud,
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the
head of the body. For he holds the whole body
together with its joints and ligaments, and it
grows as God nourishes it.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has
set you free from the spiritual powers of this
world. So why do you keep on following the
rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle!
Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are
mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may
seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering
a person’s evil desires.
Living the New Life
Since you have been raised to new life with
Christ, set your sights on the realities of
heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor
at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of
heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to
this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ
3
• Racism &
Prejudice
CO LO S S IA NS 3 :5 -1 1
Sometimes we may think racism is an
invention of our modern world. But the
world of the New Testament was torn by
the same cultural and ethnic strife that
still plagues human civilization. Jews
despised Samaritans, Greeks distrusted
Jews, and everyone feared the “barbarians” living in distant lands. This passage
identifies racist attitudes with the “sinful,
earthly things” that believers are to put
behind them as they follow Christ. Anyone attempting to justify racism or
prejudice by using the Bible is completely
misrepresenting God, who created and
loves people of every race and culture.
page 1080
in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your* life, is
revealed to the whole world, you will share in
all his glory.
— promises —
from God
You have died with Christ,
and he has set you
free from the spiritual
powers of this world.
C O LO S S I A N S 2 :2 0
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things
lurking within you. Have nothing to do with
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an
idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.* 7 You used to do these things when your
life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the
time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to
each other, for you have stripped off your old
sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on
your new nature, and be renewed as you learn
to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In
this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew
or a Gentile,* circumcised or uncircumcised,
barbaric, uncivilized,* slave, or free. Christ is
all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people
he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s
faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must
forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds us all together in perfect
harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from
Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one
body you are called to live in peace. And always
be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each
other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs to God with
thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say,
do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks through him to God the Father.
Instructions for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting
for those who belong to the Lord.
2:15 Or he stripped off. 2:18 Or or worshiping with angels.
3:4 Some manuscripts read our. 3:6 Some manuscripts
read is coming on all who disobey him. 3:11a Greek a Greek.
3:11b Greek Barbarian, Scythian.