[continued from previous message]   
      
   [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.   
   [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the   
   firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.   
   [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;   
   [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to   
   reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in   
   earth, or things in heaven.   
   [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by   
   wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled   
   [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and   
   unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:   
   [23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away   
   from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to   
   every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;   
      
   Paul's Ministry to the Church   
      
   24 (2Ti 1:8; 2Co 7:4) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake   
   and fill up in my flesh that which is lacking in the afflictions of Christ,   
   for the sake of His body, which is the church.   
   25 (Eph 3:2; Col 1:23) I have been made a servant of it according   
   to the commission of God, which has been given to me for you,   
   to fulfill the word of God,   
   26 (Ro 16:25-26) even the mystery which has been hidden from past ages   
   and generations, but now is revealed to His saints.   
   27 (1Ti 1:1; Ro 8:10) To them God would make known what is the glorious   
   riches of this mystery among the nations. It is Christ in you,   
   the hope of glory,   
   28 (1Co 2:6; Col 1:22) whom we preach, warning everyone and teaching everyone   
   in all wisdom, so that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus.   
   29 (1Co 15:10; Eph 1:19) In this I labor, striving according to His power,   
   which effectively works in me.   
      
   [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is   
   behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which   
   is the church:   
   [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God   
   which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;   
   [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,   
   but now is made manifest to his saints:   
   [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this   
   mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:   
   [28] Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all   
   wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:   
   [29] Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which   
   worketh in me mightily.   
      
   Colossians 2   
      
   1 (Col 1:29; Rev 1:11) I would like you to know what a great struggle   
   I am having for you, and for those at Laodicea,   
   and for everyone who has not seen my face in the flesh,   
   2 (Col 4:8; Ro 16:25) that their hearts may be comforted, being knit together   
   in love, and receive all the riches and assurance of full understanding,   
   and knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,   
   3 (Ro 11:33; 1Co 1:24) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom   
   and knowledge.   
   4 (Eph 5:6) Now this I say lest anyone beguile you with enticing words.   
   5 (1Co 14:40; 1Pe 5:9) For though I am absent in the flesh,   
   yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your orderliness   
   and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.   
      
   [1] For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for   
   them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;   
   [2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and   
   unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the   
   acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;   
   [3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   
   [4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.   
   [5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit,   
   joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in   
   Christ.   
      
   Fullness of Life in Christ   
      
   6 (Col 1:10; 1Th 4:1) As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord,   
   so walk in Him,   
   7 (Eph 3:17; 2:20-22) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,   
   as you have been taught, and abounding with thanksgiving.   
   8 (1Ti 6:20; Gal 4:3) Beware lest anyone captivate you through philosophy   
   and vain deceit, in the tradition of men and the elementary principles   
   of the world, and not after Christ.   
   9 (Col 1:19; Jn 1:14) For in Him lives all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.   
   10 And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all authority and power.   
   11 (Ro 2:29; 6:6) In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision   
   made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,   
   by the circumcision of Christ,   
   12 (Ac 2:24; Ro 4:24) buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were   
   raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him   
   from the dead.   
   13 (Eph 2:1; Jas 2:26) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision   
   of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all   
   sins.   
   14 (Ac 3:19; Col 2:20) He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was   
   against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to   
   the cross.   
   15 (Eph 4:8; Lk 10:18) And having disarmed authorities and powers,   
   He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.   
   16 (Heb 9:10; 1Ch 23:31) Therefore let no one judge you regarding food,   
   or drink, or in respect of a holy day or new moon or sabbath days.   
   17 (Heb 8:5; 10:1) These are shadows of things to come, but the substance   
   belongs to Christ.   
   18 (Col 2:23; 2:8) Do not let anyone cheat you of your reward by delighting   
   in false humility and the worship of angels, dwelling on those things which   
   he has not seen, vainly arrogant due to his unspiritual mind,   
   19 (Eph 4:15-16) and not supporting the head, from which the entire body,   
   nourished and knit together by joints and sinews, grows as God gives   
   the increase.   
      
   [6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:   
   [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been   
   taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.   
   [8] 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.   
   [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.   
   [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and   
   power:   
   [11] 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:   
   [12] 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.   
   [13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,   
   hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;   
   [14] 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;   
   [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them   
   openly, triumphing over them in it.   
   [16] 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:   
   [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)