Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 25

Paul Reminds the Colossian Believers to Seek after Christ and Heavenly things

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. KJV

As we have declared on many occassions in past studies/commentaries, the Chapter designations were never a part of the original letters written by the Apostle Paul or any of the other Bible writers, but they were added long after by men in order that the text of Scripture could be more easily found and followed. Therefore, having said this once again, the Apostle Paul begins this 3rd Chapter with the tiny primary particle 'If' or 'seeing that' to refer back to everything he has already said in Colossians 2:11-23 or Volumes 22-24 of our study/commentary. Instead of the practice of the old Ceremonial Law, Paul is now directly, distinctly, and dogmatically declaring to these Colossian believers and we believers today what should be our rule for obtaining closeness with God and he says so with these words, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1) (KJV).

The determination of Paul to squash the false teachers and their teaching of trying to take Christians back to the Law of Moses has come to a loud increase in volume here with these words, for Paul wants the saved Colossians to undertsand that 'in Christ' only is everything they need physically or more specifically for their life sustaining needs here as they/we sojourn on the earth will our Heavenly Father supply and provide as our Lord Jesus Himself said with these words when He taught saying, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34) (NKJV).

The English phrase 'be risen with', that being with Christ is translated by one Greek word sunegeiro meaning to rouse (from death) in company with, that is, (figuratively) to revivify (spiritually) in resemblance to: - raise up together, rise with. In other words, because we have been raised from spiritual death, that is, being dead to God by virtue of our sin and raised up by the Resurrection Life and Power of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, then we are to 'seek' or the Greek word for this English word zeteo meaning that we are to go about, desire, endeavour, or seek after the worship of God or what Paul here means by the English phrase 'those things which are above' or in other words heavenly things which things are the huge number of spiritual blessings these Colossian believers and we believers today have in Christ Jesus our Lord as Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers with these words at the very beginning of his letter to them, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3) (NKJV).

Although we are walking down here on the earth often moving about with feet of clay falling sometimes back into the pig pen of our old nature, yet we are spiritually seated exactly where our Lord Jesus sits right now in Heaven and when we see that spiritually and yield ourselves to God the Holy Spirit's guidance, counsel, direction, and steering then and only then can we and do we live an overcoming life over sin, the devil, and the world as our Lord Jesus Himself said with these words to the Lukewarm Church of the Laodiceans, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:21) (NKJV), also as the Apostle Paul said with these words, "And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6) (NKJV). Paul is declaring that the practice of ascetic rules or the practice of rigorous self-discipline by virtue of beating the back of one's body with whips or chains for sin and abstaining from certain foods or will worship or trying to contact angels to mediate between them and God or to seek after angels to learn some future things is non-sense and fantasy and fallacy, but what is truth and sure is to seek after Christ deeper and deeper, "In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) (NKJV).

Because we still are in our earthly tent, tabernacle, house, or body it is often hard for us to remember that we are strangers living in a foreign land, therefore, Paul now reminds these Colossian believers and we believers today to, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) (NKJV). The English phrase 'Set your affection on' is translated by one Greek word phroneo meaning to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction). In other words, Paul is saying seeing that we will be living in heaven for all of eternity, which is a lot longer than we live down here on the earth, then we should think on the things of heaven and learn more of what heaven is like from the Word of God than we do find ourselves minding more of what this life down here is all about (I am sure guilty of this too much), but instead we should be more like those people the Apostle Paul was speaking of when he wrote these words to the Hebrew believers, "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:14-16) (NKJV), to see more clearly who these people were Paul was speaking about read the entire Chapter 11 of Hebrews.

"Love heavenly things; study them; let your hearts be entirely engrossed by them. Now, that ye are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth; and vice versa. This is a very good general rule: 'Be as much in earnest for heavenly and eternal things, as ye formerly were for those that are earthly and perishing.'" Adam Clarke

"It is our privilege that we have risen with Christ; that is, have benefit by the Resurrection of Christ, and by virtue of our union and communion with Him are justified and sanctified, and shall be glorified. Hence he infers that we must seek those things which are above. We must mind the concerns of another world more than the concerns of this. We must make heaven our scope and aim, seek the favour of God above, keep up our communion with the upper world by faith, and hope, and holy love, and make it our constant care and business to secure our title to and qualifications for the heavenly bliss." 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…










Saturday, March 25, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 24

Paul Warns the Colossian Beleivers to Stay Clear of False Worship, but Cling only to Christ Jesus Our Lord Part 3

Colossians 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. KJV

The Apostle Paul now concludes this part of his letter which we now know as Chapter 2 by continuing his denouncing of these Colossian believers their falling back into or falling into the observances of Ceremonial rituals which are void of any spiritual life whatsoever as he says thus so here, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances," (Colossians 2:20) (KJV). The English word 'rudiments' used here is translated by the Greek word stoicheion meaning to conform to or march in line orderly to as in military rank something orderly in arrangement, that is, (by implication) or figuratively to conform to virtue and piety by way of man-made rules or order, procedure, process, and conduct. The English phrase 'are ye subject to ordinances' is translated by one Greek word dogmatizo (which is where we get our English words dogma, dogmas, dogmata) (it is used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to prescribe by statute, that is, (reflexively) to submit to ceremonial rule: - be subject to ordinances. Therefore, Paul uses these two Greek words to raise the red flag of warning against these Colossian believers subjecting themselves to any rule or authority out side of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and His Truth given by Him in the Word of God.

Paul is here making a statement of fact to them at the same time asking them the question (why?) are they receiving such rules and regulations that Christ Jesus our Lord has freed them and us from forever as we recall Paul remindimg them with these words just a few verses back when he said, "Having cancelled {and} blotted out {and} wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees {and} demands which was in force {and} stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside {and} cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] Cross." (Colossians 2:14) (Amplified Bible) and also what Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus with these words, "By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace." (Ephesians 2:15) (Amplified Bible). The Old Covenant forbidded the touching of things declared to be unclean or the eating of foods that were also declared to be unclean and likewise the touching, moving, or working with any of the sacred articles used in the worship of Jehovah, but now Paul declares these old ordinances to be irrelevant or to having no bearing or connection with the worship of God the Father.

This 'new way' of approaching God the Father in spirit and truth (reality) through our Lord Jesus Christ makes all foods clean for they are provided by God to man contrary to the teachings of the false teachers who are listening and heeding seducing spirits as Paul declared to Brother Timothy with these words, "Who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe {and} have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth. For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away {or} refused if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is hallowed {and} consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer." (1 Timothy 4:3-5) (Amplified Bible) and also what this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians with these words, "Do not be carried about by different {and} varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established {and} ennobled {and} strengthened by means of grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit {or} profit to those who observe them." (Hebrews 13:9) (Amplified Bible).

Paul declares all these rules and rituals to be of no value as he says with these words, "Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:22) (KJV). Simply meaning they are of no further use or value in the 'new way' or the New Covenant, seeing that they did not then or now have any real influence upon the mind or thinking of any individual as our Lord Jesus Himself taught with these words, "Stop toiling {and} doing {and} producing for the food that perishes {and} decomposes [in the using], but strive {and} work {and} produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized {and} certified Him {and} put His seal of endorsement upon Him." (John 6:27) (Amplified Bible). Paul declares that all these religious exercises seem good, but they have no spiritual value at all as he declares with these words to the Colossian believers, "Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2:23) (KJV).

What things, the abstaining from certain foods, the voluntary humility, the new moon and holyday observances, the sabbath day observances, the worshipping of angels, etc. Paul uses the English word 'wisdom' here which is translated by the Greek word sophia which means higher knowledge or higher spiritual knowledge. Paul uses the English phrase 'will worship' which is translated by one Greek word ethelothreskeia (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning voluntary (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, that is, sanctimony: - will worship. In other words, these exercises of beating the body with whips or chains for sin or denying the body certain foods thinking this is pleasing to God or following certain rules, rituals, and rites such as the lighting of many candles or wearing long robes or using certain cups and other things are useless to God the Father if the heart be still unrenewed by God the Holy Spirit, for these observances are not bad at all, but what they are not is a way to bring someone closer to God the Father just read Matthew 23 and here what our Lord Jesus thought of these things and the people who observed them who had no love for God at all (John 5:42).

"God has given directions concerning His worship; and He has appointed the seventh day for the peculiar exercises of spiritual duties: other times He has left to man’s convenience; and they abuse the text who say that the appointment of particular times and places for religious service is will-worship. God prescribes the thing, and leaves it to man, except in the case of the Sabbath, to appoint the time and the place; nor is it possible to be too frequent in God’s worship, any more than to be too fervent." Adam Clarke

"All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommended by plausible reasons; but they form a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliation of spirit, that are neither profitable to the soul, nor of any advantage to the body; so that the whole of their religion is nothing worth.  What is here termed will-worship, signifies simply a mode of worship which a man chooses for himself, independently of the revelation which God has given." Adam Clarke

"The idea that doing outward things to the physical body will make spiritual changes to the soul (mind, emotions, and will) is absurd, but it is always like man to be absurd when it comes to his approach to God man has always thought he knew better than God as we found in the two brothers Cain and Abel, for one desired to come to God on God's terms while the other chose his own way to approach God and he was rebuked, "And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect {and} regard for Abel and for his offering, But for Cain and his offering He had no respect {or} regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry {and} indignant, and he looked sad {and} depressed." (Genesis 4:3-5) (Amplified Bible), the same thing continues to this very day and this is why men and women are trying to bypass Jesus Christ (because His way is narrow and His teachings rebuke man's fleshly attempts to reach God)." 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…

















Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 23

Paul Warns the Colossian Beleivers to Stay Clear of False Worship, but Cling only to Christ Jesus Our Lord Part 2

Colossians 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. KJV

The emphatic tone the Apostle Paul takes at the very beginning of this verse lets us know how serious he is about desiring and wanting these Colossian believers to cling to our Lord Jesus Christ, so he says, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Colossians 2:18) (KJV). The English phrase 'let no man' is translated by three (3) Greek words medeis medemia meden which means emphatically not any man; no man; not even one. The English phrase 'beguile you of your reward' is translated by one Greek word katabrabeuo (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) ( It is a word which was employed with reference to the distribution of prizes at the Grecian games) and means here to arbitrate or to act as judge over you or rule over you depriving them of their reward or rewards waiting for them in heaven from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself; figuratively it means to defraud. In other words, Paul wants there to be no doubt in the minds of these Colossian Christians and for we Christians today and for all time that we are to never yield ourselves to the mind bending and mind numbing philosophy of the worldly thinkers and scholars or even the Judaizing teachers then and the legalistic ones today (not even one, no matter how good it seems or sounds) seeking to add rules, rituals, and regulations i.e. do's and dont's on top of the Gospel of Grace, because no man made anything will ever be more powerful than grace coming from the Throne of Grace our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ sits on right now at the Right Hand of God the Father.

This same Apostle declared the same thing to the Galatian believers with these very powerful words, "[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside {and} invalidate {and} frustrate {and} nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly {and} to no purpose {and} in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.] O YOU poor {and} silly {and} thoughtless {and} unreflecting {and} senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated {or} bewitched {or} cast a spell over you, unto whom--right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly {and} graphically set forth {and} portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law {and} doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish {and} so senseless {and} so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Have you suffered so many things {and} experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)--if it really is to no purpose {and} in vain?" (Galatians 2:21-3:1-4) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase 'in a voluntary humility' 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, this really means a pretended humility or pretended unimportance and lowliness of mind and actions when it is not that which our Lord Jesus Christ requires from His followers, for example some people took to afflicting not only their souls in fasting and abstaining from certain food delicacies, but they also sought to afflict their physical bodies by beating their backs with whips until they would bleed seeing this as a great act of humility and penitence for sinful acts or actions of the flesh or spirit against God. This is not the humility God seeks, but He sees man's humility to be that of clemency or  leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person; modesty and meekness of soul in one's actions to others, even when defrauded or taken advantage of, not beating one's self for their sin, for Christ was smitten once for sin the just for the unjust, we need but go to God the Father with a contrite spirit being repentant and reverent to His Holy Word (Isaiah 66:2).

When Paul says, 'and worshipping of angels', this is a very hard passage that has stumped many a Bible Scholar over the centuries. Whether Paul is fearful of these Colossian believers setting aside God the Holy Spirit to give praise and reverence to 'angels' is unclear to me, for he could mean that these men and women in the Church @ Colosse were attempting to take on the disposition of angels supposing themselves to have the sanctity and superior knowledge of angels thinking that they themselves could live the life of angels here on the earth still in their flesh. Whatever the meaning, Paul is clearly desiring to stear them clear of either notion and keep them focused on the only One they need to continually come to and that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for as he declared to Brother Timothy, He (Christ) is the only buffer between us and God the Father as he said with these words, "For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right {and} proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase 'intruding into' is translated by one Greek word embateuo (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) meaning to walk on or firguratively to embark aboard a vessel or to take a ship; to enter into. Therefore, putting this phrase back with the rest of the text 'intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind', the Apostle is saying those with pretended humility and superior knowledge who taught others to add to the Gospel of Grace were also those who were desiring and declaring themselves to know more of the order and structure of the Holy Angels of God than what the Scriptures reveal, this supposed knowledge is without reason coming from a haughty and proud spirit. Note: "The modern Greeks have a legend that the Arch Angel Michael opened a chasm to draw off an inundation threatening the Colossian Christians." JFB Commentary.

The Apostle Paul comes to one conclusion of all that he has written in verse 18 and that is that all of that only serves to take one farther away from Christ Jesus our Lord as he says with these words, "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." (Colossians 2:19) (KJV). The English word 'holding' is translated by the Greek word krateo meaning great vigor, power, might, strength; to use strength, that is, seize or retain (literally or figuratively): In other words, to hold on to the Head of the Church Christ Jesus our Lord we must completely trust Him alone for our salvation as well as our source of strength during our pilgrimage here on the earth still clothed by our fleshly tent. The English phrase 'having nourishment ministered' is translated by one Greek word epichoregeo meaning to furnish besides, that is, fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute: - add, minister (nourishment, unto). In other words, as we declared above it is grace and grace only that enables a believer to grow spiritually, not any imagined or even real contact with angels for they are sent forth only to aid, help, and support the Christian here on earth in certain circumstances ordained by God the Father for that person or persons, but they are never sent forth to grow the believer in Christ likeness, this only comes through the believers obedience to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

"Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which, after his own imagination, walketh in the humbleness of angels.” Tyndale

"The meaning is, that they would not announce their opinions with dogmatic certainty, but they would put on the appearance of great modesty. In this way, they would become really more dangerous - for no false teachers are so dangerous as those who assume the aspect of great humility, and who manifest great reverence for divine things." Albert Barnes

"Those who do not hold the head, they do in effect disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is the highest disparagement to Christ, who is the Head of the Church, for any of the members of it to make use of any intercessors with God but Him. When men let go their hold of Christ, they catch at that which is next them and will stand them in no stead." Matthew Henry

"True Christian humility joins consciousness of utter personal demerit, with a sense of participation in the divine life through Christ, and in the dignity of our adoption by God. Without the latter being realized, a false self-humiliation results, which displays itself in ceremonies and ascetic self-abasement, which after all is but spiritual pride under the mock guise of humility." JFB Commentary

"There is always going to be those around Christianity who think that they can go beyond the Word of God themselves and discover things concerning angels that were never meant for Christians to know. This comes with a WARNING because we must always remember that there are also fallen angels or demons all around who have succeeded in seducing spiritually thirsty souls into believing error and lies. This is what I believe happened to Joseph Smith the founder of the Mormon church who declared that he had been visited by an angel named Moroniah or Meronie who gave him the words to the Book of Mormon, this Book is in total contradiction or opposition to what the Bible teaches and is an adding to the Bible which the Apostle John warned against with these very stern words, "I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add {and} lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded {and} described in this book." (Revelation 22:18) (Amplified Bible). We must always also remember these words written by the Apostle Paul to Brother Timothy when he wrote, 'BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly {and} expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding {and} seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach' (1 Timothy 4:1) (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…








Saturday, March 18, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 22

Paul Warns the Colossian Beleivers to Stay Clear of False Worship, but Cling only to Christ Jesus Our Lord Part 1

Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. KJV

The people of Israel were required to observe many sacred days unto the Lord God because these days and observances were a picture or forshadowing of the Messiah Christ Jesus our Lord, however, now that He has come and has sacrifiiced Himself once and for all for the sins of man, there is no need for these Mosaic observances to be required as being something necessary for salvation or for forgiveness of sins. Paul now is reinforcing this reality to these believers in Colosse begining with these words, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16) (KJV). The idea Paul is conveying here is that none of these festivals or feast days or even the desire for someone to refrain from eating certain foods or drinking certain things are wrong or bad for any believer to partake therein, but the Colossian believers were never to make these mandates of the Old Covenant be of like significance now that Christ has died and rose again and ascended back to heaven for they have all been satisfied in Him as this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews with these words, "For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." (Hebrews 8:4-7) (NKJV).

Also with these words to these same Hebrew believers, "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come ---  In the volume of the book it is written of Me ---  To do Your will, O God.' Previously saying, 'Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them' (which are offered according to the law), then He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:1-10) (NKJV). Paul is once and for all time declaring the Ceremonial Law to be null and void for these Colossian Christians and likewise for Christians of all time. Note: "When the Apostle Paul speaks here of 'sabbath days', he is speaking of the many sabbath obsevances made by the Jews that were not meant by the 'Sabbath' one day of rest and worship soley yielded to God the Father, this is why we see Paul use the small case only for the term the 'sabbath days'."

The Apostle Paul now directly and clearly states why these Ceremonial Laws are no longer required for the believer in Christ, for the Ceremonial Law, "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Colossians 2:17) (KJV). Paul is saying here that the only purpose for the Old Covenant Ceremonial Laws were to serve as a forshadowing of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that was to come at the fullness of time in the future. The English word 'shadow' is translated by the Greek word skia meaning figuratively shade as it would be cast upon the ground by a tree; a faint and imperfect representation of what was to come. In other words, the Law of Moses or the Ceremonial Laws were but a frail, weak, or inadequate way to forshadow the coming of the Perfect One Jesus Christ as even Moses spoke of His coming to Israel with these words, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear" (Deuteronomy 18:15) (NKJV). The shadow (the Ceremonial Laws) have no life in them, but the Body (Christ Jesus our Lord) is Life as the Apostle John stated with these words, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) (NKJV). Note: "The old saying of 'A picture is worth a thousand words' is great and well meaning, but if you have but a picture of the woman you love, no amount of words will ever make that picture touchable, holdable, sqeezeable, or loveable, but the actual woman in the picture (whom you love) standing right in front of you breathing, talking, and alive able to be touched, held, and kissed is more than the most beautiful picture you could have photographed or painted of her ever done."

"All that they signified is of or in Christ. Between those things themselves which are in Christ, and those which only represented or prefigured them, there is as much difference as there is between a body and a shadow; a solid substance and a mere outline. Having now, therefore, the thing itself the shadow can be to us of no value; and that having come which was prefigured, that which was designed merely to represent it, is no longer binding." Albert Barnes

"The person who judges a believer because that believer is not living under the Jewish laws is really judging Jesus Christ. He is saying that Christ did not finish the work of salvation on the Cross, and that we must add something to it. He is also saying that Jesus Christ is not sufficient for all the spirtual needs of the Christian. The false teachers in Colosse were claiming a 'deeper spiritual life' for all who would practice the law. Outwardly, their practices seemed to be spiritual; but in actual fact, these practices accomplished nothing spiritual." Warren W. Wiersbe

"The Apostle Paul having grown up under the strictest of Jewish Ceremonial Law keeping seeing that he was a Hebrew amongst Hebrews and a Pharisee going back probably many generations knew that hard lesson of abolishing the Old Covenant Laws observed for hundreds of years, but he also now knows that those things were only limited and obscure representations of the real thing or real substance found in the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for as he wrote to the Hebrew believers (that we documented above) if the Ceremonial Law could have given men and women spiritual life, eternal life, then our Lord Jesus Christ would have never put on human flesh and blood and suffer for man's sin, therefore, to return to the Mosaic system is to spit in the face of the Redeemer declaring to Him that His Blood is not enough to satisfy God's Wrath against man's sin at Calvary." 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…




























Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 21

Paul Declares any Authority of Satan and his Demons Destroyed by Christ

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. KJV

Paul wants these believers in Colosse and we believers today to understand the authority they/we have in Christ over the enemy of our souls the devil and so he says, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15) (KJV). Note: "In just a few verses (Colossians 2:18) Paul will warn these Colossian believers against the worship of angels i.e. such as one's Gaurdian Angel or any Angelic being, even saints who have died in years past, however, here I believe the Apostle Paul is strictly speaking of the 'fallen angels' or demons that are under the rule of Satan." When the devil and the angels who rebelled with him were cast down here to the earth they had no authority or rule or dominion upon the earth, but because of Adam's sin against God the devil took over the rule of the earth which was given to Adam by God and the regaining of this rule and authority had to be taken back from the devil by another man and that was done by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ by His death on the Cross for Man's sin and then His Triumphant return or resurrection from the dead three (3) days later and then His Ascenion back to Heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lord's sitting now at God the Father's Right Hand.

Paul uses the English word 'spoiled' here in this verse which is translated by the Greek word apekduomai (used only twice in the New Testament) meaning to put off or away; it is the announcing of the cessation or stopping of something. In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ has won back man's rule and authority over the earth and upon the earth that was seized by the devil and his demons at Adam's fall, but the condition right now is as our Lord Jesus says with these words, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out." (John 12:31) (NKJV). This has all been done by God the Father giving to the world our Lord Jesus Christ who willingly went through sufferring and humiliation from the devil and his demons during His earthly ministry in order to be obedient to God the Father and win back Man's dominion over the devil and his cohorts. The word apekduomai can also be defined in military terms such as to disarm or disarming which is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ has done to the devil and his power over those who belong to Him. It is what conqering Kings do to their enemy after they have been defeated in war, they strip the enemy of their armor and weapontry and this is exactly what our Lord Jesus has done to the devil and his principalities and powers and now this is why the Apostle Paul can say to us these words knowing that in Christ we have victory, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11) (NKJV).

As we showed earlier that the Moral Law of God and the Ceremonial Law was against us before Christ (Galatians 3:10-13), so was the devil against us as a conqering foe, but now just as we have been released from the 'curse of the law' we have been equally released from the power of Satan over us as Paul has already declared to these Colossian believers and we believers today at the very beginning of his letter to them with these words he wrote, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:12-13) (NKJV), for the devil is at all times and always acusing us of sinning to our Heavenly Father as it is stated by the Apostle John with these words in the Book of Revelation, "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.'" (Revelation 12:9-11) (NKJV).

God the Father through God the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Resurrection Power of God the Holy Spirit exposed them for all the host of heaven and earth to see. Paul uses here the English phrase 'made a shew' which is translated by one Greek word deigmatizo (the one time only this word is used in the New Testament) meaning to exhibit as as a speciman or as an example. In other words, all the faithnful angels (in heaven) that fought with the Arch Angel Micheal to defeat the devil and the rebellious angels as well as all of the earths inhabitants who have come to Christ have witnessed the public shame and humiliation of the devil and his principalities and powers by God as they bow at the Name of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9-11). The English phrase 'triumphing over' is translated by one Greek word thriambeuo (this word is used only twice (2) in the New Testament) it means to make a loud enthusiastic procession, that is, (figuratively) to conquer or (by Hebraism) to give victory: - (cause) to triumph (over). In other words, the death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary and His subsequent conqering victory over death by virtue of His Physical Bodily Resurrection from the dead was shouted loudly and often and everywhere by the Apostles and other disciples of Christ all over the known world destroying the devils power over fallen men and women one by one as they heard the Gopsel of Christ and were born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). The two liitle words 'in it' is a reference to Christ Himself and to His Cross where He Bled and died for man's sin as Paul spoke of its mighty power with these words written to the Corinthian believers, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the Power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) (NKJV).

"As the curse of the law was against us, so the power of Satan was against us. He treated with God as the Judge, and redeemed us out of the hands of his justice by a price; but out of the hands of Satan the executioner He redeemed us by power and with a high hand. He led captivity captive. The devil and all the powers of hell were conquered and disarmed by the dying Redeemer." Matthew Henry

"Man's biggest fear since Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden has always been and is still now and always will be the fear of death. It was the devil who took over this power when Adam sinned against God, but now our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death for those who come to Him (physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death) by His death on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead and in so doing has destroyed this fear that the devil could hold over every sinner (Hebrews 2:14)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"The Christian is a freeman. His great Captain has subdued all his enemies, and we should not allow them again to set up their dark empire over our souls. The argument of the Apostle in these verses Colossians 2:13-15 is derived from what Christ has done for us. He mentions four things: (1) He has given us spiritual life. (2) he has forgiven all our trespasses. (3) he has blotted out or abolished the 'ordinances' that were against us. (4) he has triumphed over all our foes. From all this he infers (Colossians 2:16) that we should not be made captive or subdued by any of the rites of superstition, or any of the influences of the kingdom of darkness." Albert Barnes

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…












Saturday, March 11, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 20

Paul Declares these Colossian Beleivers Made Alive to God the Father & Forgiven of All their Sins in Christ

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; KJV

As we touched on 'the spiritual death of every person born into the world' just briefly in the previous study/commentary, Paul is now being more direct to these believers in Colosse and to we believers today and to every sinner (yet to be saved) reading these words, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2:13) (KJV). Paul's desire here is to make these Colossians see and understand, likewise to convict sinners reading these words, that there is no goodness in them and no power or ability in them/us to free ourselves from the 'corrupt sinful nature' every human being inherited from Adam by virtue of his fall or original sin. When Paul writes 'and you being dead', he is writing to men and women who are alive physically, but they were (before Christ) dead spiritually to God. This is what it means for any person to be lost. The sad idea that has been drummed into the heart and minds of people today that there is something inherently good in human beings is wrong, false, and actually a lie spread by the devil to lure men and women into this ridiculous notion that man can get to God and have favor with Him by just being 'good' or the more common phrase of 'a good person' we hear often people refer to themselves as such and to others as such.

Note: "The late Dr. J. Vernon MaGee often was heard saying these very favorite words to me speaking of those of us who have been forgiven, been redeemed, been saved, been born again, while we yet live disobedient and rebellious, 'If we could see ourselves as God sees us we could'nt stand ourselves.'" This is very true of these believers in Colosse and we believers today, therefore, how much more is God never pleased with any works or deeds apart from Jesus Christ or done for the Glory of Jesus Christ. The English phrase 'hath He quickened together' is translated by one Greek word suzoopoieo meaning to reanimate; to revitalize; to give life; to make alive. In other words, it was the love and mercy oozing from the heart of God the Father that sent our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to the earth to sacrifice Himself for us and die in the place of each and every sinner paying our debt to the Father that no amount of 'good works' could ever pay, but instead it is with these Colossian believers and we believers today as Paul declared with these words written to the believers in Ephesus, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7) (NKJV).

Note: "If the beloved saint of the Catholic Church Mother Teresa did all of the work for the poor and sick in Calcutta, India in order to earn favor with God, then all that work was in vain, but (as we believe) she did all of that sacrificial work for those poor and sick people becuase she loved God by virtue of the regenerating work of God the Holy Spirit in her inner woman, then that work was done only for the Glory of God, nothing more." Now Paul describes to these believers in Colosse what happened to their sins and our sins when our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself in our place and so he says, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;" (Colossians 2:14) (KJV). The English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'blotting out' is translated by one Greek word exaleipho meaning to smear out, that is, obliterate (figuratively pardon sin): - blot out, wipe away. In other words, because God's Law requires and demands complete and perfect obedience to it (James 2:10), that is, the Moral Law (the Ten Commandments) and the Jewish Ceremonial Law or as it is better know as the Law of Moses, and no one ever kept either perfectly as our Lord Jesus reproved the Jews who thought they were keeping the Law of Moses with these words, "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" (John 7:19) (NKJV).

However, our Lord Jesus Christ kept both the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law perfectly, thereby, satisfying God the Father's Righteousness and Holiness and therefore, these Colossian believers and we believers 'in Christ' today and for all times are made right with God the Father's Law by virtue of Christ obedience to it (see Hebrews 8:7-13). The sins/debt (including their guilt and cry before God the Father) that were on the ledger of these Colossian believers and on the ledger of every believer today and for all times were 'nailed to Christ Cross' never to be required repayment and we are free from debt and complete in Christ and blessed to have our sins covered by His Blood (Romans 4:7-8), so as the Apostle John says of our Lord so it is true, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) (NKJV). Note: "There is a huge difference between a person being 'in sin' verses a person 'committing an act of sin'."

"At the very moment we are made alive to God the Father by Christ death and subsequent resusrrection from the dead, we are immediately and for all time and eternity forgiven of our tresspasses and sins by virtue of them being covered or hidden from the Father in Christ perfection, this is what makes a saint, nothing else." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Doubly dead to God, not only wallowing in trespasses, outward sins, but also in the uncircumcision of your flesh - A beautiful expression for original sin, the inbred corruption of your nature, your uncircumcised heart and affections. Hath He - God the Father. Quickened together with Him - Making you partakers of the power of His resurrection. It is evident the Apostle thus far speaks, not of justification, but of sanctification only." John Wesley

"A state of sin is a state of spiritual death. Those who are in sin are dead in sin. As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the corruption and putrefaction of it, so sin is the corruption or depravation of the soul. As a man who is dead is unable to help himself by any power of his own, so an habitual sinner is morally impotent: though he has a natural power, or the power of a reasonable creature, he has not a spiritual power, till he has the divine life or a renewed nature." 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…





















Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 19

Paul Declares these Colossian Beleivers Spiritually Circumcised by Christ

Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. KJV

Having completed his discourse to these Colossian believers detailing, describing, and documenting the only truth of who Jesus Christ was then, is now, and will forever be (God manifested in Bodily or Human form), Paul now declares to these believers in Colosse and we believers today and for all times what faith in Christ Jesus our Lord has done for us and to us by saying, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:" (Colossians 2:11) (KJV). When Paul says here that "ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands", he means that redeemed believers in Jesus Christ have had an internal circumcision and not that which is external. Christ Jesus our Lord through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit has cut away the believers 'love for sin' and replaced it with 'love for Jesus', however, this does not mean that any true redeemed believer in Christ lives out the rest of their lives perfect and sinless, but what it does mean is that a true believer can never accept sin as his or her normal way or pattern of life and living and with power and grace from God the Holy Spirit, they endeavor to see sin cut away rather than accepting sin as we did before Christ.

The Apostle Paul spoke of this 'spiritual circumcision' even as it pertained to the Jews (he being a Jew himself) when he wrote these words to the believers in Rome, "For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly {and} publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God." (Romans 2:28-29) (Amplified Bible). This is likewise true of the Christian, he or she is a true Christian only if they have been circumcised in their inner man or inner woman by the Holy Spirit of God period, no amount of good deeds or religious observances or water baptism only or any other things can make a sinner a saint but this miraculous, merciful, and mighty act of God upon the soul.

The English phrase 'putting off' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word apekdusis (used this one and only time in the New Testament) meaning to strip off or take away or to divest or dispose of something; it denotes a seperation or reversal; to unclothe. In other words, every sinner that has yet to be redeemed by the 'Blood of Jesus' the 'Blood of the Lamb' wears sin as a garment regularly with no ability or power to ever take off or put off that garment by their own strength or power, however, when the 'Blood of Jesus' has been applied to a sinners sinful soul, then and only then can that sinner now (by the power of the Holy Spirit) put away or put off or take off that garment of sin that is a part of the 'old nature' through the grace of God as Paul declared to the believers in Rome when he wrote these words, "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]. What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we live not under Law but under God's favor {and} mercy? Certainly not! Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed {and} to which you were committed. And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). I am speaking in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members [and faculties] as servants to impurity and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members [and faculties] once for all as servants to righteousness (right being and doing) [which leads] to sanctification." (Romans 6:14-19) (Amplified Bible).

This circumcision was also the result of our being raised or resurrected from spiritual death; spiritual death simply meaning to have no communication with God or to be cut off from Him spiritually, therefore, Paul now says this to these believers in Colosse that they were, "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12) (KJV). The English phrase 'buried with' is translated by the Greek word sunthapto (used only twice in the New Testament) and here it means to enter in company with, that is, (figuratively) to assimilate spiritually (to Christ by a burial as to sin): - bury with. In other words, in the water Baptism ceremony every sinner is declaring their personal spiritual resurrection by the work and power of the Holy Spirit and that this water Baptism is symbolic of their death to sin and new life in Christ as the Apostle Paul declared it to the Roman believers with these words, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live {and} behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the Cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective {and} inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin." (Romans 6:3-6) (Amplified Bible).

"All that was designed by circumcision, literally performed, is accomplished in them that believe through the Spirit and Power of Christ. It is not a cutting off of a part of the flesh, but a putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ; He having undergone and performed this, and all other rites necessary to qualify Him to be a mediator between God and man; for, being made under the law, He was subject to all its ordinances, and every act of His contributed to the salvation of men." Adam Clarke

"By a firm belief on the agency of God in raising Him up; that is, a belief of the fact that God has raised Him from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is often represented as the foundation of all our hopes; and, as He was raised from the grave to die no more, so, in virtue of that we are raised from the death of sin to eternal spiritual life. The belief of this is shown by our baptism, whatever be the mode in which that ordinance is performed, and as well shown in one mode as another." Albert Barnes

"At the conversion or regeneration or the new birth of every sinner to faith in Jesus Christ, there is an invisible spiritual circumcision that God the Holy Spirit performs upon that sinful soul (John 3:8) changing them from the 'love for sin' to the 'love for God' and immediately the appetites become new and different and as the Apostle John says, 'we love him because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19), but from that moment forward in the believers 'walk of faith' it is their responsibility to keep themselves in the 'love of God' (Jude 1:21) and we are to be constantly striving to do as Paul declared to the Ephesian believers, 'Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts {and} desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.' (Ephesians 4:22-24) (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…

























 



Saturday, March 4, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 18

Paul Reminds these Colossian Believers they are Complete in Christ

Colossians 2:8-10 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: KJV

Paul continues his language from the previous verses warning these Colossian believers against the errors and lies being spread about in their land and other places by the Judaizing teachers attempting to mix the law of Moses in with the Gospel of Christ. Paul warns them to be active in guarding against those who would teach that their must be added rituals, rules, or requirements needed or necessary to please God outside of simple faith in Christ. Paul uses the English word 'spoil' which is translated by the Greek word sulagogeo (the one time only this word is used in the New Testament) meaning to strip or to rob; to lead away or to seduce. Paul uses the English word 'philosiphy' which is translated by the Greek word philosophia meaning one who is fond of wise things; Jewish sophistry. Paul uses in this first half of this verse the English phrase 'vain deceit' simply meaning empty delusions, guile, and trickery. Therefore, in other words, Paul wants them and us today to be on guard against those who would attempt to lead us away from following after Christ as we find and see Him in the Scripture robbing us through the use of wise sophisticated words into and after empty deceptions that are only intended to draw us away from Christ to then follow after human and worldly wisdom ("after the tradition of men") as Paul calls it, which is nothing worth anything as Paul said to the Corinthian believers with these words, "For it is written: " I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:19-24) (NKJV).

Paul's warning to these Colossian believers by saying 'beware' is akin to someone calling out to a person walking down the street looking down or away from their path unaware that he or she is about to walk into a pole or a street sign and someone calls out to them 'look out!', this is the very alert the Apostle Paul is trying to relay here to these Colossian believers and we believers today and every believ er of every era. Paul wants these believers in Colosse well informed as to who Christ Jesus the Lord truly is and not have them seeking after other knowlegde or wisdom that is outside of Him, therefore, he says to them, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) (KJV). This is perhaps the most profound statement Paul has made and declared in any of his letters to the Churches, for in this one sentence we see God in human flesh. Paul uses the English word 'dwelleth' or in our American English 'dwells' which is translated by the Greek word katoikeo meaning to house permanently, that is, reside (literally or figuratively): - dwell, inhabitant.  In other words, to put it plainly and simply, in the Body of Jesus Christ lived God (YAHWEH) and all that He is which is far from our understanding. To deny this fact, reality, and truth is to reject God and to resist salvation.

After saying all of these things about our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in the previous two verses, Paul now wants them and us to be planted and grounded in these truths understanding that in Him (Christ) we have everything we need right now and for eternity as the Apostle Peter  declared with these words, "Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:1-4) (NKJV). Paul then is now relaying this same message the Apostle Peter gave using these different words when he says to them now, "And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2:10) (KJV). The completion in Christ means to be filled up to the full, satisfied, made perfect and supplied with everything needed as the Apostle John declared with these words concerning Christ and us, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16) (NKJV). Everything that was lacking in the first covenant of ceremonial laws was completely and fully manifested in the Gopspel of Jesus Christ and this second covenant is far greater than the first as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians with these words, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6) (NKJV).

"Christ is the yardstick by which to measure philosophy and all phases of human knowledge. The Gnostics were measuring Christ by their philosophy as many men are doing today. They have it backwards. Christ is the measure for all human knowledge since He is the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe." Robertson's Word Pictures

"For in Him  dwelleth - Inhabiteth, continually abideth, all the fulness of the Godhead. Believers are 'filled with all the fulness of God,' Ephesians 3:19. But in Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead; the most full Godhead; not only divine powers, but divine nature, Colossians 1:19. Bodily - Personally, really, substantially. The very substance of God, if one might so speak, dwells in Christ in the most full sense." John Wesley

"It was the Son of God who came in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7). Paul here disposes of the Docetic theory (The heretical doctrine (associated with the Gnostics) that Jesus had no human body and His sufferings and death on the Cross were apparent rather than real) that Jesus had no human body as well as the Cerinthian separation between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. He asserts plainly the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ in corporeal form." Robertson's Word Pictures

"The Jews governed themselves by the traditions of their elders and the rudiments or elements of the world, the rites and observances which were only preparatory and introductory to the Gospel state; the Gentiles mixed their maxims of philosophy with their Christian principles; and both alienated their minds from Christ. Those who pin their faith on other men's sleeves, and walk in the way of the world, have turned away from following after Christ. The deceivers were especially the Jewish teachers, who endeavoured to keep up the law of Moses in conjunction with the Gospel of Christ, but really in competition with it and contradiction to it." Matthew Henry

"The Apostle Paul so loved to see every new beleiver in Jesus Christ grow in grace and knowledge of Him alone and at the same time he hated when he saw the Judaizing teachers coming in and diluting, that is, corrupting, debasing, or making impure the Gospel of Grace by adding a foreign or inferior substance of works righteousness by virtue of continuing to keep the Jewish ceremonial laws and replacing the believers freedom in Christ  which is superior with that which is inferior and so Paul would plead with beleivers to rebuke such nonsense as he did with Brother Timothy with these words, "O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:20) (NKJV)." 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…














Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 17


Paul Exhorts the Colossian Believers to Continue their Steadfast Faith in Christ
Colossians 2:4-7 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. KJV

All of Paul’s words up to now written to them, all his struggles, fights, and wrestling with the devil and his principalities and powers in prayer for them was done for the very reason Paul now writes here, “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” (Colossians 2:4) (KJV). Paul had been in many battles with the devil and saw his method of attack often and he knew that one of his most successful battle strategies used by his emissaries was that of great swelling speech and language that sounds very spiritual, spurious, and even special, but was very false, fraudulent, and foolish as it was spewed out by those who taught error and lies on his behalf. Also, one of the chief weapons these people would use to gain the confidence of their hearers was flattery or praise that was very excessive, yet highly insincere (beware of those who are always praising what you say or do). Flattery is one of the quickest ways the enemy gets into the head of unsuspecting sinners and even true believers in Christ to soften them up, so that he then can draw them away from the simplicity of the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of Christ and lead people into believing in and worshipping angels like their Guardian angel again drawing them away from Jesus Christ. The English phrase Paul uses here in this verse ‘should beguile’ is translated by one Greek word paralogizomai meaning to misreckon, that is, delude: - beguile, deceive. The English phrase ‘enticing words’ Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word pithanologia (used here this one time in the New Testament) meaning convincing speech or persuasive language.

Therefore, to combat this from occurring in the heart and minds of these believers in Colosse Paul fought in prayer and is now fighting by virtue of this letter to warn these believers and keep them from being enticed by the enemy and his lies just as he likewise warned the believers in Rome at the end of his letter to them with these words, “I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties {and} cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. [I warn you to turn aside from them, to] avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites {and} base desires, and by ingratiating and flattering speech, they beguile the hearts of the unsuspecting {and} simpleminded [people]. For while your loyalty {and} obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed {and} wise as to what is good and innocent {and} guileless as to what is evil. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you.” (Romans 16:17-20) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now encourages them to continue on in their faith in Christ knowing that he is with them ‘in spirit’ to help them along this ‘narrow way’ that is life in Christ Jesus our Lord as he says with these words, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:5) (KJV). The English word ‘beholding’ is translated by the Greek word blepo a primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively): to regard, to see, or to take heed. The English word ‘order’ is translated by the Greek word taxis meaning to arrange in an orderly manner; regular arrangement, that is, (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character); the idea of a military line that is unbroken and intact. The English word ‘steadfastness’ is translated by the Greek word stereoma (used this one time only here in the New Testament) meaning something established, that is, (abstractly) confirmation (stability): - steadfastness; to solidify or make strong. Therefore, we see then that Paul saw this Church as he looked on in the spirit at them through the testimony of Epaphras and others that despite the attacks from the enemy through his false teachers they were like a well regimented military platoon in order and intact solid and established in their faith in Christ.

So, then Paul now reminds, reiterates, and reinforces for them what their faith is based upon and that is Christ only or Christ alone as He was, is, and forever will be so Paul says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” (Colossian 2:6) (KJV). This is one of the few times in the Entire New Testament that ‘Christ Jesus the Lord’ has been used. Paul uses it in this manner to speak of Christ as (the Messiah) and Jesus the Lord as who He is as the One True God, the Lord God so frequently referenced in the Old Testament. Paul is here speaking of the Person whom these sinners in Colosse (saved by grace) received in their inner man or inner woman is their Messiah, but He is the One and Only God who created them and us and everything else in His vast universes. They and we are to walk or live in Him or by His grace freely given to them/us so that we would avoid the enticing words and the deceptive flattering speech spewed out all over the land on radio, television, magazines, the internet, and other places speaking of the feel good gospel, the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel and the inclusive gospel of tolerance declaring that all ways of religion and spirituality will lead people to heaven, this is what Paul wanted to warn these believers in Colosse from taking the bait and he was at the same time warning we believers today and of every era (without him knowing at the time).

When these Colossian sinners and we sinners today received Christ Jesus the Lord, He became our Lord, Master, and Savior and therefore, everyone with this testimony cannot ever believe that any sinner whether he or she is Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or any other man-made religion will go to heaven without faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wants them/us to be well, “Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:7) (KJV). When Paul says here be ‘rooted and built up in Christ’, he is using human language that any farmer or gardener would quickly understand, seeing that when a seed is planted in the ground and nourished by the sun and water, the roots begin to grow down deep into the soil creating a firm stable base for the leaves to sprout and then the fruit to bud on the tree, so it must be with these Colossian believers and we believers today to be like a tree planted by the rivers of living water (Psalm 1:3) (Christ) and “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14) (NKJV).

“The very fact that these Colossian sinners and we sinners today who have been allowed the privilege of trusting Jesus Christ for salvation, should only cause us to swell up in thanksgiving to God the Father for snatching us out of the fire of His Judgement and adopting such filthy dirty sinners (as we are) as sons and daughters. Can you imagine such love and grace better than this?” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

“Built up is an architectural term. It is in the present tense: ‘being built up.’ When we trust Christ to save us, we are put on the foundation; from then on, we grow in grace. The word ‘edify’ found often in Paul’s letters simply means to ‘build up.’ To make spiritual progress means to keep adding to the temple to the glory of God.” Warren W. Wiersbe

“It is not usual with the Apostle to employ this double metaphor, taken partly from the growth of a tree and the increase of a building. They are to be rooted; as the good seed had been already sown, it is to take root, and the roots are to spread far, wide, and deep. They are to be grounded; as the foundation has already been laid, they are to build thereon. In the one case, they are to bear much fruit; in the other, they are to grow up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. 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…