We are now in the next portion of the New Witness of the power in the Covenant of Grace, found in Colossians 1 and 2, which has this to reveal beginning at verse 1:9 through 2:15;
Colossians 1:26 and 2:2 of 9-14, 15-20, 21-23, 24-2:5, 6-7, 8-15 " For this reason, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His (plan and purpose of) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of GOD. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For HE has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And HE is before all things, and in Himself all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE might hold preeminence. For in Him all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the (altar) blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the (assembly as a) church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from GOD that was given to me for you, to make the word (of promise and secret things) of GOD fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed in His saints. To them GOD chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him (Christ) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature (complete) in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that HE powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of GOD's mystery, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in (His anointing of) Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled (with His anointing) in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body (the stale harden flesh of your hearts foreskin and) of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in (deaths) baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of GOD, Who raised Him (with us) from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, GOD made alive together within Himself, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This HE set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."
From here we the LORD willing will look at some hidden things as the Spirit leads.
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