Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 34

Paul Urges these Colossian Believers to Walk in Christ Peace

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. KJV

What is Peace? We humans define peace in a few ways, such as, the state prevailing during the absence of war or harmonious relations; freedom from disputes or a treaty to cease hostilities or the general security of public places or lastly the absence of mental stress or anxiety. These man-made definitions are fine and I have no argument with any of them, but the 'peace of God' is as high above any of these human derived answers as the heavens are above the earth and this is the peace that every soul on planet earth yearns for, aches for, or longs for, yet everyone outside of Jesus Christ will never know this peace that they so desperately desire, because it is only found in a personal union and relationship with Him. This peace will never come through meditating, or any of the vast other forms of Eastern mysticism, which is like the depth of a street ditch compared to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and His peace which would be like the big ditch, the Grand Canyon.

This English word 'peace' the Apostle Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word eirene meaning by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, or to be set at one again. In other words, God's peace probably is best defined by the words used here as a state of rest or repose or quietness of the soul or inner man or inner woman that comes through believing in and trusting Jesus Christ alone for salvation of the soul as Christ Himself said with these words, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden {and} overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle declares to these Colossian believers and we believers today, that we should allow God's peace to 'rule' in our inner man or inner woman. This English word 'rule' is translated by the Greek word brabeuo (used this one time only in the New Testament) it means to arbitrate, that is, (generally) to govern (figuratively prevail): - rule or to act and serve as an umpire. In other words, just as an umpire in a baseball game is the ultimate arbiter judging and deciding disputes in the game and settling and making the final decision on all calls in the game, so is the peace of God to rule or settle all of the disputes, conflicts, and struggles in our inner man or inner woman by virtue of grief, anger, or any of the other negative emotions that are aroused within us, as well as, the ongoing battle and fight between our renewed, recreated, and reborn nature and our old nature we were born with in the flesh as this Apostle Paul declared to the Galatian believers the conflict and our responsibility in it with these words, "But I say, walk {and} live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to {and} controlled {and} guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings {and} desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free {but} are prevented from doing what you desire to do." (Galatians 5:16-17) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle declares to these Colossian believers and we believers today that 'ye are called in one body', which means that we are bid to come forth into Christ Body (the Church) and be members of His Spiritual Body where He is Peace Himself, therefore, we all who have been born again are called to peace and to walk and live in Christ Peace as He Himself declared with these words, "Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give {and} bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" (John 14:27) (Amplified Bible) and also when He said this, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace {and} confidence. In the world you have tribulation {and} trials {and} distress {and} frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (John  16:33) (Amplified Bible).

As Paul is accustomed to do he declares that they/we are to be thankful for such a blessing from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ that we can know and experience this peace that the world seeks after through working and striving and getting and attaining and on and on, but never coming into this blessed state of spiritual tranquility of soul because it is only found 'in Christ' and as Paul declared to the Philippian believers no one can understand it, but can walk in it and experience its mighty calming, resting, and quieting work upon our souls as he says here, "Do not fret {or} have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance {and} in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison {and} mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) (Amplified Bible).

"We can lose this peace or better said, we can block our experience of God the Father's peace to us through Christ Jesus our Lord by our sin and rebellion and the only way for us to unlock this barricaded steel door is to repent of our sin and turn back to obedience, then the peace of God locked away behind our door of sin and rebellion is opened and the peace of God is once again known by the believer, as better said by the Prophet Isaiah with these words, 'You will guard him {and} keep him in perfect {and} constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, {and} hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].' (Isaiah 26:3-4) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"'The peace of Christ' is ours in the measure in which we live the risen life and put on the new man, and that peace in our hearts will rule, that is, will sit there as umpire; for it will instinctively draw itself into itself, as it were, like the leaves of a sensitive plant, at the approach of evil, and, if we will give heed to its warnings, and have nothing to do with what disturbs it, we shall be saved from falling into many a sin. That peace gathers all the possessors of the new life into blessed harmony. It is peace with God, with ourselves, and with all our brethren; and the fact that all Christians are, by their common life, members of the one body, lays on them all the obligation to keep the unity in the bond of peace. And for all these great blessings, especially for that union with Jesus which gives us a share in His risen life, thankfulness should ever fill our hearts and make all our days and deeds the sacrifice of praise unto Him continually." Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 33

Paul Demands of these Colossian Believers to always show Love to One Another Part 3

Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. KJV

Now Paul consummates these Christian virtues to be put on by these Colossian believers and we believers today by one word 'charity' or 'love' as we would render this word today as he says here, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." (Colossians 3:14) (KJV). That is, over or on top of and covering mercy, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and forgiveness must be put on the love of God just as in the brutally cold temperatures of winter people put on layers of clothing to stay warm with the warmest, largest, and thickest coat put on over all the other clothing to seal in the warmth to the body. In the same manner spiritually, love or the Greek word agape should be put on over all of these others, so as to seal in the rest or to make the others truly sincere and meaningful as this same Apostle declared to the believers in Rome with these words concerning love when he said, "Keep out of debt {and} owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements]. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements {and} is the fulfilling of the Law." (Romans 13:8-10) (Amplified Bible).

The Strong's Concordance defines 'agape' as this love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love. The love of God is made real to each one of us redeemed by the Blood of Christ by way of God the Holy Spirit, for before our union and connection with Him love to us was mostly dominated by the Greek word phelaio meaning sensual love as between a man and a woman, but now through the Holy Spirit we are able to know the complete sphere of God's love to us, for us, and actuated through us to our brothers and sisters in Christ Body as Paul declared with these words again to the believers in Rome, "And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints {or} deludes {or} shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble {and} lovable {and} generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows {and} clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us." (Romans 5:4-8) (Amplified Bible). Note: According to Matthew Henry "Christian unity consists of unanimity and mutual love."

Paul calls love 'the bond of perfectness'. First, the English phrase 'the bond' is translated by one Greek word sundesmos meaning a joint tie, that is, ligament, (figuratively) uniting principle, control: - band, bond. In other words, like the ligaments inside the human body connecting and holding together bone, muscle, and skin, so does brotherly love purposed, prompted, and practiced in the Spiritual Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ hold together and unify the Church of God as the Psalmist declares with these very precious words, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar {and} skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]." (Psalms 133:1-3) (Amplified Bible) and as the Apostle John declared with these equally precious words, "And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us." (1 John 3:23) (Amplified Bible).

Second, the English phrase 'of perfectness' is translated by one Greek word teleiotes meaning (the state) completeness (mentally or morally): - perfection (-ness). It is that state or condition of character morally that we strive toward, that is, to be like our Lord Jesus Christ in ever fashion or way and to abide in His Love is the closest we will and can get during our pilgrimage here on the earth to this perfectness as our Lord Jesus Himself told us with these words, "I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love {and} live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love." (John 15:9-10) (Amplified Bible) and this same Apostle Paul said this to the believers in Ephesus, "And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be Apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting {and} the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ {and} the completeness found in Him." (Ephesians 4:11-13) (Amplified Bible).

"Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ have but one commandment from Him and that is that we should love one another as He has and does love each one of us (John 13:34 & John 15:12), when this is truly done in any Church, there will be no gossip or talking about others behind their backs, no fighting over position or status in the Church, no politics or shady deals made that someone may advance to a higher position, no greed for money or stealing money from the Church to get more perishable things, for all of this and many other such things are the enemy of love and the destroyer of it. We find the opposite of all the above behavior detailed for us by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Nor is it only the virtues enumerated here for which love performs this office: but all the else isolated graces of character, it binds or welds into a harmonious whole. As the broad Eastern girdle holds the flowing robes in position, and gives needed firmness to the figure as well as composed order to the attire; so this broad band, woven of softest fabric, keeps all emotions in their due place and makes the attire of the Christian soul beautiful in harmonious completeness. Perhaps it is a yet deeper truth that love produces all these graces. Whatsoever things men call virtues, are best cultivated by cultivating it. So with a somewhat similar meaning to that of our text, but if anything, going deeper down, Paul in another place calls love the fulfilling of the law, even as his Master had taught him that all the complex of duties incumbent upon us were summed up in love to God, and love to men. Whatever I owe to my brother will be discharged if I love God, and live my love. Nothing of it, not even the smallest mite of the debt will be discharged, however vast my sacrifices and services, if I do not." Expositor's Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 32

Paul Demands of these Colossian Believers to always show Love to One Another Part 2

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. KJV

Therefore, if each and every redeemed saint of God washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ our Lord would literally and actually see others as more than ourselves then that would lead us to doing the following also with one another, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13) (KJV). The English word 'forbearing' is translated by the Greek word anechomai meaning (figuratively) put up with: - bear with endure, forbear, or suffer with. In other words, we are required to put up with the faults, the flaws, and the fractures that are visibly and invisibly in each of us, but this should not be a mere requirement, but it should be the response to such love rendered to each of us by the Grace of God as the Proverb declares with these words, "By long forbearance {and} calmness of spirit a judge {or} ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance." (Proverbs 25:15) (Amplified Bible). These Colossian believers then and we believers today are constantly and certainly always having to forbear or put up with men and women in the world in order that we might live peaceably among them, so how much more should we be motivated to put up with the faults of our brethren (being always mindful of our own faults) who like us are a part of the Body of Christ (His Church) and remembering these other words written by this same Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church when he said, "And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it." (1 Corinthians 12:26) (Amplified Bible).

This is true because as the parts of the physical body are connected together and are incapacitated or deprived of strength or power when the smallest part like a finger or toe is hurt, so are the parts of the spiritual Body of Jesus Christ in the same manner hurt when our brothers or sisters are hurt anywhere in the world as Paul said this in Hebrews, "Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are in the body also." (Hebrews 13:3) (Amplified Bible). When my earthly brother was in prison, I felt (not literally, but figuratively) anguish of heart and soul often, just as my Mother did likewise, because of where he was placed he had only my Mom and I to visit him. She did not want him to live with me because of what he had done to Dad, but I never felt concerned when I was in his presence, only grief and sadness as I suffered emotionally and spiritually with his circumstance. This came naturally to me concerning my brother in the flesh and in Christ Jesus and so should be our disposition or attitude of mind concerning every brother or sister in Christ who is suffering currently at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, Boko Haram, The Taliban, Al-Qaida, or ISIS who are killing Christians in brutal horrific fashion as they are fueled by the devil himself.

The Apostle Paul declares to these Colossian believers and we believers today that we are to be forgiving to one another and the English word 'forgiving' is translated by the Greek word charizomai meaning to grant as a favor, that is, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue. It is our responsibility to forgive every sinful offence perpetrated against us by our brothers or sisters when they come to us asking for forgiveness just as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ said to the Apostle Peter when Peter asked, "Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him {and} let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants. When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents [probably about $10,000,000], And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. So, the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything. And his master's heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt. But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe! So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you {all}! But he was unwilling, and he went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow attendants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and told everything that had taken place to their master. Then his master called him and said to him, You contemptible {and} wicked attendant! I forgave {and} cancelled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me to. And should you not have had pity {and} mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity {and} mercy on you? And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed. So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart {his offenses.}" (Matthew 18:21-35) (Amplified Bible).

The English word 'quarrel' Paul uses depicting the type of dispute is translated by the Greek word momphe (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning blame, that is, (by implication) a fault: - quarrel or disagreement over something or an angry dispute. In other words, as we declared earlier, just as earthly families fight and sometimes marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions, so does this occur in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, but unlike unbelievers we should (for our love for Christ) be always ready to forgive one another and squash such quarrels if it be possible between both disputing parties just as our Lord Jesus explained to us how it must be done with these words, "If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed {and} upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid {and} declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit {and} declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven." (Matthew 18:15-18) (Amplified Bible).

"The idea is, that if another one has given us just occasion of complaint, we are to forgive him; that is, we are: (1) to harbor no malice against him; (2) we are to be ready to do him good as if he had not given us occasion of complaint; (3) we are to be willing to declare that we forgive him when he asks it; and, (4) we are always afterward to treat him as kindly as if he had not injured us - as God treats us when he forgives us." Albert Barnes

"Who required no satisfaction, and sought for nothing in you but the broken, contrite heart, and freely forgave you as soon as you returned to Him. No man should for a moment harbor ill will in his heart to any; but the offended party is not called actually to forgive, till the offender, with sorrow, acknowledges his fault. He should be ready to forgive, and while he is so, he can neither feel hatred nor malice towards the offender; but, as Christ does not forgive us till with penitent hearts we return unto Him, acknowledging our offenses, so those who have trespassed against their neighbor are not to expect any act of forgiveness from the person they have injured, till they acknowledge the offense. Forgive, says the Apostle, even as Christ forgave you - show the same disposition and the same readiness to forgive your offending brethren, as Christ showed towards you." Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 31

Paul Demands of these Colossian Believers to always show Love to One Another Part 1

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; KJV

Inside the home where earthly Father and Mother come together or know one another or make love and there is produced children in the flesh sons and daughters, there is where they are shown love and taught love for their parents, as well as their other siblings. That love taught, nurtured, and expressed is unconditional and rendered to one another because of the blood ties and the time spent together cultivating said love. Although this love is real and strong it is still inferior to the love of God known by the Greek word 'agape', therefore, we find here the Apostle Paul knowing these things demanding that these believers in Colosse and we believers everywhere we are today scattered all over the world always seek to love one another because of belonging to and being adopted by God the Father through the selfless sacrifice of God the Son powered by God the Holy Spirit as he first declares with these words, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;" (Colossians 3:12) (KJV). If there is such strong, sure, and sacred love in the homes of many earthly people without God, then surely there ought to be an even stronger, more solid, and certain love that exist between believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Church of God. Paul begins by using the same expression he used earlier in telling them and us today to put off 'anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth and lying to one another', so here he now in contrast to those things tells us to 'put on' these following things in our relationship and interactions with 'one another'.

First, he declares to these Colossian believers that they are the 'elect' of God. This English word 'elect' is translated by the Greek word eklektos meaning one selected or chosen out of or by implication favorite. These Colossian believers and we who trust Christ Jesus our Lord today are the chosen people of God, surely not because we are good or deserving (we're none of that just sinners), but this is a mystery that frankly I do not understand or comprehend and I would hope no one reading this would let this get out, but I simply don't understand it, but I believe it with all my heart as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words concerning faith, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see {and} the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, election or those chosen by God the Father is what He decrees, declares, and decides and who is any little man or woman to argue with or question Him, for we remember these words spoken by our Lord Jesus in His prayer to God the Father just before He was about to be Crucified for our sins, "I have manifested Your Name [I have revealed Your very Self, Your real Self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have obeyed {and} kept Your word." (John 17:6) (Amplified Bible).

As the 'beloved' of God whom these Colossian believers were and we believers today are, then we must with one another put on 'bowels of mercies'. The English word 'bowels' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word splagchnon meaning figuratively pity or sympathy: - bowels, inward affection, + tender mercy. In other words, we should have an internal desire to see and help in whatever capacity we are blessed to do so our brothers and sisters 'in Christ' as our Lord Jesus Himself sees them and we are to be His agents in bringing them relief from afflictions, persecutions, and sorrow as each of us sojourn, pilgrim, and make our way through this life to our heavenly home with Christ. We should at all times seek to express 'kindness' to one another instead of anger or malice and this English word 'kindness' is translated by the Greek word chrestotes meaning to act toward one in a given manner of goodness and gentleness. In other words, although there are certainly to be disputes, disagreements, and discourse as found in every earthly family and will also be found in God's family (the Church), we are not to resort to the actions of the unbelievers trying to hurt others due to these disagreements.

Unfortunately, some of the Corinthian believers were doing just that and the Apostle had to sternly rebuke them for this with these words, "If then you do have such cases of everyday life to decide, why do you appoint [as judges to lay them before] those who [from the standpoint] of the Church count for least {and} are without standing? I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who [in action is governed by piety and integrity and] is wise {and} competent enough to decide [the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels] between members of the brotherhood, But brother goes to law against brother, and that before [Gentile judges who are] unbelievers [without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ]? Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you). Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong {and} be deprived of what is your due? Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)? But [instead it is you] yourselves who wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren [by so treating them]!" (1 Corinthians 6:4-8) (Amplified Bible), but we are to do just the opposite of this by showing and being gentle with one another settling our differences by hearing out both sides and allowing another well respected and loved brother or sister in the Church decide in the dispute and both disagreeing parties excepting the decision in the love of Christ and moving on, so as not to bring harm or division to the entire body of believers in the Church.

The English phrase 'humbleness of mind' is translated by one Greek word tapeinophrosune meaning humiliation of mind, that is, modesty: - humbleness of mind, humility (of mind), lowliness (of mind). In other words, we should not see ourselves as some great person in intellect or ability, but instead we should see ourselves in the light of Christ Jesus our Lord which would make us see that we are woefully inadequate in every aspect of our lives, therefore, we should be mindful to see or esteem other believers as more knowledgeable, more loving, more compassionate, and all around more adequate than ourselves and if every believer in Jesus Christ would do this, then there would be no room for ego's and fights over status or title in the Church of Christ as Paul said in this manner to the Philippian believers, "So by whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in Christ, by whatever] strengthening {and} consoling {and} encouraging [our relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy, Fill up {and} complete my joy by living in harmony {and} being of the same mind {and} one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind {and} intention. Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit {and} empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than {and} superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem {and} look upon {and} be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude {and} purpose {and} [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God {and} in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped {or} retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men {and} was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased {and} humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!" (Philippians 2:1-8) (Amplified Bible).

The English word meekness is translated by the Greek word praotes meaning gentleness; by implication humility: - meekness and also it simply means strength that is under control and that control by God as Moses was declared to be the meekest man on earth as the Scripture says here, "Now the man Moses was very meek (gentle, kind, and humble) {or} above all the men on the face of the earth." (Number 12:3) (Amplified Bible), but we must not forget that Moses killed an Egyptian before God made him meek, "One day, after Moses was grown, it happened that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of [Moses'] brethren. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." (Exodus 2:11-12) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we see then that meekness is not what man makes himself, but what God works in man, any man who would yield to Him. The English word 'longsuffering' is translated by the Greek word makrothumia meaning with long (enduring) temper, that is, leniently: - patiently. In other words, we are to be patient with one another knowing and understanding that we all are still stained with many imperfections, impurities, and incompetence’s, but we are each beloved of our Heavenly Father, therefore, we must see one another as He sees us through the blood of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as it is said of God the Father with these words, "But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy {and} loving-kindness and truth." (Psalm 86:15) (Amplified Bible).

"The fact that you thus belong to one and the same Church; that you have been redeemed by the same blood, and chosen by the same grace, and that you are all brethren, should lead you to manifest a spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love."  Albert Barnes

"The only virtues touched on here are the various manifestations of love, such as quick susceptibility to others’ sorrows; readiness to help by act as well as to pity in word; lowliness in estimating one’s own claims, which will lead to bearing evils without resentment or recompensing the like." Alexander MacLaren

"If we love deeply our earthly brothers and sisters, children, and parents in the flesh (and we do, I know I do), then of how much deeper our love should be for those who have tasted of the heavenly calling from Jesus Christ our Lord and become a part of His very own Glorified Body to spend not 20, 30, 40, 50, or even 100 years together, but for all eternity forever together." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 30

Paul Declares that all people 'in Christ' are Equal

Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. KJV

Our man-made dictionaries like Webster define Christianity this way (1) A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as Savior. (2) The collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia). This sounds good and all stated here is true, but if we want to know in reality what the definition is we must always put away man's wisdom and seek the Wisdom from God and here we find God the Holy Spirit giving the Apostle Paul the true definition as he writes these words to the Colossian believers, "Christ is all, and in all" and there we have it the definition of Christianity in six words. In the first part of Colossians 3:11, Paul declares to these believers and we believers today that every person born into God's family by the Gospel message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are all equal and none are better than any others. This is also what makes Jesus Christ stand out as singularly unique to all others who founded religions or belief systems, because Christ seeks not to establish religion or belief systems, but instead He seeks a loving union with sinners of every tribe, race, kindred, tongue, people, and nation of the world and no one is excluded because of his or her color or gender or nationality.

Man has always divided himself from one another by virtue of these things going all the way back to the beginning times after Adam's fall with his son's Cain and Abel. We find throughout our human history that one race of people has elevated themselves above another race and in so doing subjected the 'so-called' inferior race to the most brutal enslavement. Even in our Churches as we prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday we will still find a huge divide of race in these places of worship. However, the Apostle Paul wants these Colossian believers and all believers of every era to understand that with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ there is only one dividing, distinguishing, or disuniting thing among all the people of this world and that is belief or unbelief, nothing else matters. The Jews during this time of the Apostle’s letter considered all other people to be dogs, that is, the Gentile nations were considered by the Jew to be savage people and that only they were God's people forever, however, the mystery of the Gospel of Grace being preached to the Gentile races was hidden from the Jews and all other human beings until Christ came and sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world, but the Jew should have recognized the purpose of our Lord's first coming in humility and sacrifice for man's sin by such prophecies as this one by the Prophet Hosea when he said, "And I will sow her for Myself anew in the land, and I will have love, pity, {and} mercy for her who had not obtained love, pity, {and} mercy; and I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people, and they shall say, You are my God!" (Hosea 2:23) (Amplified Bible).

The Jews also made much of the outward circumcision in the flesh of every male child and many even carried it into the Churches after Christ death and resurrection disturbing the faith of many Gentiles who had come to Christ with the notion that they could not truly or really be saved unless they submitted themselves to circumcision and Paul fought against their heresy in every Church with the Word of God as he spoke of them using this harsh language when writing to Brother Titus, "For there are many disorderly {and} unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) {and} misleading talkers and self-deceivers {and} deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism]. Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing {and} subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage {and} disreputable gain. One of their [very] number, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle {and} lazy gluttons. And this account of them is [really] true. Because it is [true], rebuke them sharply [deal sternly, even severely with them], so that they may be sound in the faith {and} free from error, [And may show their soundness by] ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths {and} fables or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject {and} turn their backs on the Truth." (Titus 1:10-14) (Amplified Bible). Paul wants it to be clearly understood that the most savage people on the earth living in the Amazon or anywhere else are no greater sinner than the man or woman living atop a penthouse or on a sprawling spread of 1,000 acres with a 15,000 square foot home, but when the Gospel of Christ pierces, permeates, and penetrates their sinful souls, then the savage in the Amazon and the man in the penthouse and the man in the 15,000 square foot home are all equal in the sight of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and loved and beloved by Him the same, for there is no respect of person with God (Romans 2:11).

Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is the renewer, the redeemer, and the resurrector of every sinner dead in trespasses and sin, therefore, He is in all His regenerated people and He is everything to each one of us, so we must see one another as He sees all of us and that is through the eyes of love. Therefore, to think of some other brother or sister 'in Christ' as below you or inferior to you is to think lowly of our Lord Jesus Himself and to see Him as you see the brothers or sisters you think are below you, instead we should always and at all times see one another in this light that Paul declared to the believers in Corinth, "For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13) (Amplified Bible). Note: "We must also remember the words of the Apostle John in 1 John 4:1 and try or test the spirits because the devil has supernatural power also through the agencies of witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery, voodoo, etc. that he can mask or disguise into appearing to be from God when it is not from God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit at all."

"All mankind are His creatures, all conditions are disposed and regulated by His providence, and all human beings are equally purchased by His Blood. He alone is the source whence all have proceeded, and to Him alone all must return. He is the Maker, Preserver, Savior, and Judge of all men." Adam Clarke

"The great thing that constitutes the uniqueness of the Church is, that Christ is its Savior, and that all are His friends and followers. Its members lay aside all other distinctions, and are known only as His friends. They are not known as Jews and Gentiles; as of this nation or that; as slaves or freemen, but they are known as Christians; distinguished from all the rest of mankind as the united friends of the Redeemer." Albert Barnes

"In Christ' Church there does not exist any distinction between the people who have been redeemed (Galatians 6:15). There should not be seen in the Church any different races or nationalities, but only one new race of humanity the 'new creation' (2 Corinthians 5:17) and this is exactly how our Lord Jesus sees His Church and it is what was Prophesied of what He would do as recorded by the Apostle Matthew with these words from the Old Testament, 'Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved in {and} with Whom My soul is well pleased {and} has found its delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim {and} show forth justice to the nations. He will not strive {or} wrangle or cry out loudly; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice {and} a just cause to victory. And in {and} on His name will the Gentiles (the peoples outside of Israel) set their hopes.' (Matthew 12:18-21) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 29

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers to Put Off their Old Man and to Put On the New Man Part 2

Colossians 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:  KJV

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to confronting believers who were guilty of lying or being less than genuine with other believers for selfish reasons or even out of fear of what others may say about them or think of them as illustrated in his confrontation with one of the first disciples of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, "But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested {and} opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blameable {and} stood condemned. For up to the time that certain persons came from James, he ate his meals with the Gentile [converts]; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he withdrew {and} held himself aloof from the Gentiles and [ate] separately for fear of those of the circumcision [party]. And the rest of the Jews along with him also concealed their true convictions {and} acted insincerely, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (their example of insincerity and pretense). But as soon as I saw that they were not straightforward {and} were not living up to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before everybody present, If you, though born a Jew, can live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you dare now to urge {and} practically force the Gentiles to [comply with the ritual of Judaism and] live like Jews?" (Galatians 2:11-14) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, having this boldness for the truth of the Gospel of Grace, we see why Paul separated the exhortation against lying from the other sins in the previous verses. Paul considered lying or playing the hypocrite with other believers to be of the utmost in dangerous behavior that could come into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, because just like the disease of cancer inside the physical body not usually staying in one place, but instead growing, spreading, and infecting other healthy parts of the body, so would lies, lying to one another, and liars spread within the Church of God and infect the entire Body of Christ. The English word 'lie' is translated by the Greek word pseudomai which is middle voice of an apparently primary verb; meaning to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood. The 'old man' is the reference to the person's corrupt nature that every human being is born with passed down to us from Adam and due to Adam's original sin as this same Apostle Paul explained to the believers in Rome with these words, "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man (Adam), and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned." (Romans 5:12) (Amplified Bible). 

Because of the Second Adam (our Lord Jesus Christ) and His Sacrifice on the Cross for our sin, now we have the ability to yield to Him through the Holy Spirit and put away or put off our 'old man' just as one would remove an old damaged garment just as Paul also declared to these same Roman believers with these words, "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." (Romans 6:6) (Amplified Bible). Believers lying 'one to another' is like the hand of the human body reaching up and pulling out one of the eyes, this act hurts the entire human body and so does the act of believers deceiving one another by lying and so Paul said this to the Ephesian believers, "Therefore, rejecting all falsity {and} being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body {and} members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25) (Amplified Bible). Paul wants these believers in Colosse and we believers today to focus in on the cultivation or refinement of the 'new man' or the 'new creation' we have been given within our souls at the moment of our 'new birth' and so he says, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:" (Colossians 3:10) (KJV).

The English phrase 'having put on' is translated by one Greek word enduo meaning (in the sense of sinking into a garment) or figuratively to put on a garment of clothing. In other words, just as we are to put off the old man and his deeds of unrighteousness, we are to put on the new man the recreated man and his deeds of righteousness as the Apostle Paul said with these words to the believers in Rome, "Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer {and} yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness." (Romans 6:13) (Amplified Bible). The 'new man' is not a product of self-improvement or picking one's self up by their bootstraps, but instead like the Triune God created everything Genesis Chapter 1, so has He created a 'new man' or 'new woman' in every true genuine believer in Jesus Christ as Paul said with these words written to the Ephesian believers, "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." (Ephesians 2:10) (Amplified Bible) and also these words Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth teaching them the same concept, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) (Amplified Bible).

"Lie not one to another (Col_3:9), for it is contrary both to the law of truth and the law of love, it is both unjust and unkind, and naturally tends to destroy all faith and friendship among mankind. Lying makes us like the devil (who is the father of lies), and is a prime part of the devil's image upon our souls; and therefore we are cautioned against this sin by this general reason." Matthew Henry

"In Christ we profess to have put off the old man, i.e., the habits of our former life, Col_3:9; now let us actually do so, in the power of the Holy Spirit. We profess to have put on the risen Christ, Col_3:10; now let us don the attire and habits of the new man. Too many Christians resemble Lazarus, quickened from his death-sleep, but still arrayed in grave-clothes. Too few array themselves in the radiant beauty of the risen Lord, which is the common heritage of all who believe in Him, whatever their rank or nationality." F. B. Meyer

"It is our joy to know that the new principles of thinking and being (as we declared in a previous study/commentary) is not of our own doing, but that the very God who created everything that is visible (the earth, sun, stars, moon, galaxies, etc., and invisible (gravity, sound, the wind, etc.) has recreated us from our lowly, base, vile, corrupt condition we were born in and with, but now He gives to us a 'new man' and is renewing us internally even at the same time our physical bodies are perishing (2 Corinthians 4:16), yet our glory concealed now (Romans 8:18) will soon be revealed for all eternity with the same glory the Christ Himself has (John 17:22), what more needs to be said after that." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 28

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers to Put Off their Old Man and to Put On the New Man Part 1

Colossians 3:7-8 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. KJV

The desire of the natural man or the man without Jesus Christ, that is, without a personal union or relationship with Christ is always and only geared toward that which satisfies the appetites or cravings of the fleshly body and the corrupt nature born inside every sinner as Paul said to the Corinthian beleivers with these words, "But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept {or} welcome {or} admit into his heart the gifts {and} teachings {and} revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned {and} estimated {and} appreciated." (1 Corinthians 2:14) (Amplified Bible), therefore, Paul reminds these believers in Colosse and we believers today that this is no longer our condition becuase of our regeneration and new birth by God the Holy Spirit as he says with these words to them and us, "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." (Colossians 3:7) (KJV).

However, we do now recognize and understand the teachings and revelations demonstrated to us by internal promptings, pricks, and proddings from the Word of God being made real to us and powerful to us as we read and study it prayerfully as Paul made known to the Galatian believers with these words, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites {and} desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]" (Galatians 5:24-25) (Amplified Bible), also we must be like Job when he spoke these words concerning himself and his sin, "Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more? Should [God's] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion." (Job 34:32-33) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now comes to his urging and persuading these Colossian believers and we believers today to heed the promptings of God the Holy Spirit and walk or live in and under His control by saying, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3:8) (KJV). The English phrase 'put off' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word apotithemi meaning to put away (literally or figuratively): - cast off, lay aside, lay down), put (off). The Englsih word 'anger' is translated by the Greek word orge meaning properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment: indignation or vengeance. The English word 'wrath' is translated by the Greek word thumos meaning passion (as if breathing hard): - fierceness; intense anger (usually on an epic scale); belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong. The English word 'malice' is translated by the Greek word kakia meaning badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble: - evil, maliciousness, naughtiness, wickedness, that is, feeling a need to see others suffer. The English word 'blasphemy' is translated by the Greek word blasphemia meaning vilification (especially against God): - blasphemy, evil speaking, railing. The English phrase 'filthy communication' is translated by one Greek word aischrologia (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning vile or base conversation; profanity, that is, vulgar or irreverent speech or action.

Therefore, putting all of this together we find Paul saying to these Colossian believers and we believers today that we must treat this behavior like a dirty or sweaty clothing garment one has on, but it makes them so uncomfortable due to the sweat, dirt, and filth that it must be taken off soon and replaced with a dry clean garment of clothing which makes the wearer feel much better, likewise, we are to be uncomfortable or feel spiritual discomfort embracing any of these behaviors, therefore, like an unclean or dirty garment is taken off by a person, so must we 'put away' 'cast off' or 'lay aside' all of this spiritual dirt or filth in order that we keep our inner man or inner woman from contamination which will lead to doing outwardly something regretful, reprehensible, and wrong to some other person, even another believer, but instead we must heed these words from the Psalmist King David, "Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing." (Psalms 37:8) (Amplified Bible) and these words written by the Apostle James, "For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]." (James 1:20) (Amplified Bible).

"The use of profanity is common place in our society today and ever since man was thrown out of the Garden of Eden by God, but the profane words spoken by men and women flippingly with no regard of the consequences is just a reflection of their disconnection to the Divine Loving Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who said this of idle words spoken by men and women, 'But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified {and} acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned {and} sentenced.' (Matthew 12:36-37) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions: But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the Gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The Gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted and deliberate; it is anger heightened and settled. And, as the corrupt principles in the heart must be cut off, so the product of them in the tongue; as blasphemy, which seems there to mean, not so much speaking ill of God as speaking ill of men, giving ill language to them, or raising ill reports of them, and injuring their good name by any evil arts, - filthy communication, that is, all lewd and wanton discourse, which comes from a polluted mind in the speaker and propagates the same defilements in the hearers." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 27

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers to Crucify their Flesh

Colossians 3:5-6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: KJV

In the first four verses, we find the Apostle Paul reminding these believers in Colosse of what they and we have in our union with our Lord, Master, And Savior Jesus Christ. Now having done so, Paul is now reminding these believers and we believers today that we now have a responsibility to our Lord Jesus Christ and we have work that we must do in order that we would show him our love to Him and for Him not merely saying to Him 'I love You' but manifesting that love to Him by way of obedience, as He (Christ) Himself declared with these words recorded for us by the Apostle John would occur, "If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands." (John 14:15) (Amplified Bible) and also He went on to say this as well, "The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world? Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe {and} obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear {and} heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me." (John 14:21-24 (Amplified Bible).

So then with the sounding of these words in the Apostle Paul's ear he writes this to these Colossian believers and to we belivers today, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" (Colossians 3:5) (KJV). The English word 'mortify' Paul uses at the very beginning of this verse (used here and only two other places in the New Testament) is translated by the Greek word nekroo which means in this case (figuratively) to subdue, that is, to put down by force or authority; make subordinate, dependent, or subservient; to conquer, to chasten, or to crucify. The English word 'members' is translated by the Greek word melos meaning a limb or part of the body. In other words, Paul places the responsibility upon every individual believer to cooperate with God the Holy Spirit that our members or limbs which were always used (before we encountered Christ and the Gospel) to gratify our fleshly appetites, that is, our corrupt nature we were born with that always and only wants to be pleased by that which is sin and evil, but because we now have a 'new nature' that does not want to be gratified ever with sin and evil, then we are the responsible party as to which tiger or lion we will obey and the one we feed the most is the one that will be the strongest as the Apostle Paul said to the believers in Rome with these words, "For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever." (Romans 8:13) (Amplified Bible). We choose and are not ever forced by our Lord Jesus Christ into obedience.

The list of sins Paul declares here is just a sample, for there are certainly many more, but he wanted to lay out for these Colossian believers most likely the sins that plagued many of them before Christ and the Gospel. The first one 'fornication' is translated by the Greek word porneia (which is where we get our English word pornography) meaning harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication. The second word 'uncleaness' is translated by the Greek word akatharsia meaning impurity (the quality), physically or morally: - uncleanness. The third word or English phrase 'inordinate affection' is translated by one Greek word pathos meaning properly suffering (“pathos”), that is, (subjectively) a passion (especially concupiscence): - (inordinate) affection, lust. The fourth word 'concupiscence' is translated by the Greek word epithumia meaning a longing (especially for what is forbidden): - concupiscence, desire, lust (after). The fifth word 'covetousness' is translated by the Greek word pleonexia meaning (by implication) fraudulency, extortion: - covetous (-ness) practices, greediness. The sixth word 'idolatry' is translated by the Greek word eidololatreia meaning worship or to worship something.

In other words, all of these sins listed are what come out of our corrupt natures naturally without any deterrent or hinderance as Paul said to the believers in Rome with these words, "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what benefit (return) did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None] for the end of those things is death." (Romans 6:20-21) (Amplified Bible) and also these words to the same believers in Rome, "But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]." (Romans 7:23) (Amplified Bible).

However, now we believers have an 'Obstructor' God the Holy Spirit, but only when we do not grieve Him and cause Him to be silent, but instead when we yield to His gentle promptings within our spirit, then and only then can we reckon ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God as Paul again declared to the Roman believers with these words, "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. Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings {and} be subject to its lusts {and} evil passions. Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer {and} yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness. 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 6:11-14) (Amplified Bible).

The children of disobedience are those who have resisted, rebuffed, or out and out rejected the Gospel of Grace or the Gospel of Christ and in so doing they remain 'in their sins' as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said with these words to many of the Jews who did just that, "He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be--if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins." (John 8:23-24) (Amplified Bible).

"The Gnostic philosophy or belief system back when the Apostle Paul wrote this letter (it is still prevelant today, just under new names) was the extreme of license on the plea that the soul is not affected by the deeds of the body, but we know from the Word of God that this is not true because of these words written by the Apostle Peter, 'Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers {and} exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.' (1 Peter 2:11) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"The Apostle exhorts the Colossians to the mortification of sin, the great hindrance to seeking the things which are above. Since it is our duty to set our affections upon heavenly things, it is our duty to mortify our members which are upon the earth, and which naturally incline us to the things of the world: 'Mortify them, that is, subdue the vicious habits of mind which prevailed in your Gentile state. Kill them, suppress them, as you do weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them, or as you kill an enemy who fights against you and wounds you.'" Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 26

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers that Christ is their Life

Colossians 3:3-4 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. KJV

Now the Apostle Paul gives the reason for wanting and deeply desiring these Colossian believers and we believers today to spend our time setting our affections on heaven and not on this temporary, fading away earthly life by saying, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:4) (KJV). What does Paul mean by telling men and women, boys and girls who were definately physically alive and breathing that they were 'dead'? The English phrase 'ye are dead' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word apothnesko meaning here figuratively to be off of or removed away from something near; it is a sign or indication of something being slain; likewise it denotes seperation from something. In other words, Paul is declaring here to these Colossian Christians and we Christians today and of every generation past, present, and future that we have be removed from the world being our biggest influence and motivator or we have been seperated from pleasing the world and its clouded, crooked, and corrupt system of business and operation. The world's system set up by Satan and run by him says do whatever and hurt whomever to get all you can and all you want by any means necessary, for it will satisfy you and last forever, however, now these Colossian believers and we believers today have died to this philosophy and way of living.

We find this so elequently detailed for us in this account our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ gave of a certain man who followed the world's system, "Someone from the crowd said to Him, Master, order my brother to divide the inheritance {and} share it with me. But He told him, 'Man, who has appointed Me a judge or umpire {and} divider over you?' And He said to them, 'Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in {and} is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance {or} that which is over and above his needs.' Then He told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man was fertile {and} yielded plentifully. And he considered {and} debated within himself, What shall I do? I have no place [in which] to gather together my harvest. And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain {or produce} and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, {and} enjoy yourself merrily. But God said to him, You fool! This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with the one who continues to lay up {and} hoard possessions for himself and is not rich [in his relation] to God [this is how he fares].'" (Luke 12:13-21) (Amplified Bible).

Now that Jesus Christ has manifested Himself in the flesh and suffered, bled, and died for our sins on the Cross @ Calvary, we now 'in Him' have died to this worldly system and our new resurrected life from spiritrual death is hidden 'in Him' and this English phrase 'is hid' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word krupto which is a primary verb meaning to conceal (properly by covering): - hide (self), keep secret, secret [-ly]. In other words, this new spiritual resurrection life we have is not only given to us from our Lord Jesus Christ, but it is concealed, covered, and consist in Him, therefore making it completely impenetrable by the devil and his principalities and powers or the human instruments or as I like to refer to them as the two-legged devils all about and around us as we sojourn here away from our heavenly home on the earth as our Lord Jesus Himself said with these words, "The sheep that are My own hear {and} are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it {or} perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater {and} mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are One." (John 10:27-30) (Amplified Bible).

Also as the Apostle Paul spoke of this same concept when he said these words to Brother Timothy, "And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard {and} keep that which has been entrusted to me {and} which I have committed [to Him] until that day." (2 Timothy 1:12) (Amplified Bible) and also as the Apostle John wrote with these words, "Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes {and} is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble {and} be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is." (1 John 3:2) (Amplified Bible). Paul now declares that although this new resurrected spiritual life given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ is hid 'in Him' and with Him, He is going to manifest or reveal His Glory to the entire world one day and likewise at that time will our complete glory be also revealed for all to see as Paul says with these words, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4) (KJV). The key word in this verse is the English word 'appear' and it is translated by the Greek word phaneroo meaning to render apparent (literally or figuratively): - appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self). In other words, when our Lord Jesus Christ raptures us up in the clouds to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) then we will be instantly and immediately glorified eternally and that Eternal Glory that we have now hidden in us and in Him will be revealed in our permanent Glorified bodies.

And it will be just like His as He prayed these words as recorded for us by the Apostle John, "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. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:22-24) (Amplified Bible) and also as this same Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the Roman believers, "[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! For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly {and} longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]." (Romans 8:18-19) (Amplified Bible) and finally also again as this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian believers with these words, "But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly {and} patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, Who will transform {and} fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to {and} be like the body of His glory {and} majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21) (Amplified Bible).

"As yet Christians do not always recognize the 'life' of one another, so hidden is it, and even at times doubt as to their own life, so weak is it, and so harassed with temptations (Psa_51:1-19; Rom_7:1-25). in God — to whom Christ has ascended. Our 'life' is 'laid up for' us in God (Col_1:5), and is secured by the decree of Him who is invisible to the world (2Ti_4:8)." JFB Commentary

"The language here is taken probably from treasure which is 'hid' or concealed in a place of security; and the idea is, that eternal life is an invaluable jewel or treasure, which is laid up with Christ in heaven where God is. There it is safely deposited. It has this security, that it is with the Redeemer, and that He is in the presence of God; and thus nothing can reach it or take it away. It is not left with us, or intrusted to our keeping - for then it might be lost as we might lose an invaluable jewel; or it might be wrested from us; or we might be defrauded of it; but it is now laid up far out of our sight, and far from the reach of all our enemies, and with one who can 'keep that which we have committed to Him against that day;' 2 Timothy 1:12. Our eternal life, therefore, is as secure as it could possibly be made. The true condition of the Christian is, that he is 'dead' to this world, but that he has immortal life in prospect, and that is secure, being in the holy keeping of his Redeemer, now in the presence of God. From this it follows that he should regard himself as living for heaven." Albert Barnes

"We cannot make too much of 'Christ our sacrifice,' but some of us make too little of 'Christ our life,' and thereby fail to understand in all its fullness that other truth on which they fasten so exclusively. Union with Christ in the possession of His life in us, and the consequent rooting of our lives in Him, is a truth which much of the evangelical Christianity of this day needs to see more clearly. The life is 'hid,' as being united with Jesus, and consequently withdrawn from the world, which neither comprehends nor sustains it. A Christian man is bound to manifest to the utmost of his power what is the motive and aim of his life; but the devout life is, like the divine life, a mystery, unrevealed after all revelation. The practical conclusion from this blessed union with Jesus is that we are, as Christians, bound to be true in our conduct to the facts of our spiritual life, and to turn away from the world, which is now not our home, and set our mind (not only our 'affections') on things above. Surely the Christ, 'seated on the right hand of God,' will be as a magnet to draw our conscious being upwards to Himself. Surely union with Him in His death will lead us to die to the world which is alien to us, and to live in aspiration, thought, desire, love, and obedience with Him in His calm abode, whence He rules and blesses the souls whom, through their faith, He has made to live the new life of heaven on earth." Alexander MacLaren

"The resurrected life that we have been given by our Lord Jesus Christ is not entirely hidden from us (but from the rest of the world), for we see internally the changes that have manifested or evidenced by our changes in thinking, doing, and our attitudes towards certain issues that are seen as controversial, for example one big one for me was the use of profanity, before Christ I saw nothing wrong with me speaking such words often and even all the time, now it makes me cringe and feel creepy when these words come out of my mouth or even when I hear them spoken, for our Lord Jesus said this of the words spoken by men, 'The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.' (Luke 6:45) (Amplified Bible), also my thoughts on abortion before Christ were simple then and that was a women should be able to do with here own body whatever she felt best for her, but now I see and know that human life begins at the very moment of conception, that is, this new unique individual soul formed by God the Father as He spoke of the Prophet Jeremiah with these words, 'Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated {and} set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' (Jeremiah 1:4-5) (Amplified Bible), so then abortion done for any reason other than to save the Mother's life is the murdering of human life according to God the Father." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…