Could you please turn to Colossians this afternoon, Colossians chapter 2, and I'm going to read from verse 8 today. Colossians chapter 2 and verse 8. The title of this message is "Beware, be careful." Shaul Paul is writing to the believers at Colossae, and in the second chapter, after speaking with them in the first seven verses about the necessity that believers will grow in the Messiah, that believers will grow in the Messiah, in Christ. In verse 8 to verse 15, he is calling them to beware, to be careful. And you notice how he began this portion of Colossians 2. Verse 8 he says this: "Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of man, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.

For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without heads, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Mashiach, "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. and you, being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses, blotting out the handwritings of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." I'm going to read just so far for this meeting today. You see, beloved brothers and sisters, after Paul, after Shaul wrote to the Colossians, in the first seven verses of the second chapter, showing to them the real burden that he had for the Colossians. Do you remember? In the earlier verses, in especially verses 1 to 3 of chapter 2, he said, "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh." He showed them that he had so much conflict on behalf of the believers at Colossae, who did not even see him.

Then he told them the necessity of growth in Mashiach, in Christ, in Messiah, in verses 4 to 7, where he told them, especially in verse 7, where he said to them, "Being rooted, being built up in him, established in the faith, as he had been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." You see, he was laboring and laboring in writing this letter to them, to show them the necessity of being rooted, being built up, being established in the faith, bounding in faith and being thankful, then immediately, he gives them a warning. You know, there is always a necessity to give warning to believers. Just like us as parents, those of us that are parents, or those of us that are children, we always received from our parents' warning.

I remember years ago, my grandmother used to tell me in Jerusalem, "Gideon, don't go to the streets, don't waste your time in the streets, with friends that are not good for you, come to the synagogue." I still remember that, you know, warning me to be careful, because there is an inclination to go astray, to go away from the right path. We too as believers have always a danger, because you know the enemy of God, the enemy of the people of God, always seeking to cause the people, the children of God, to divert from the simplicity that is existing in Yeshua the Messiah. And so really, in our passage right now, from verses 8 to verse 15, here is Paul, Shaul, give them a warning, and really the title for us here today, is beware, be careful.

And now notice what he does. There are basically two major points. Number one, is verses 8, 9, and 10, Paul warns the Colossians. Number two, verses 11 to 15, Paul shows the Colossians, or how the believers have been fulfilled, complete in the person of the Messiah. And he belaboring it here, when he first of all gives them the warning, and then he shows them that there is nothing lacking, when you have the Lord Jesus the Messiah as your Lord and Savior. But look what he began. He says in verse 8, Beware, lest any name spoil you through philosophy, vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of this world, and not after Christ, not after Mashiach, not after Messiah.

Be careful, be careful, he telling them in verse 8, that you will not be spoiled, through philosophy, and vain deceit. Now you know what is happening in the first century, the church, the assembly, the congregation, and the body of Messiah had been founded. People got saved at Colossians, became part of the family of God, and then they had been instructed concerning the simplicity that was in the Messiah, but then it didn't take so long. When these believers began to be influenced by all kinds of things that have been brought upon them. You notice he says here, don't allow yourself to be spoiled by philosophy. You know what is philosophy?

Philosophy is simply the love of wisdom. And you know how? It doesn't take too long. The simple ABC of the Bible becomes so complicated, because human wisdom had been placed into the simplicity which is in the Word of God. And so, here is what we learn here, that there is a wisdom of man, had been placed, mingled with the simplicity which is in the Word of God, and all of a sudden, the ABC of the Bible, of the Gospel, is no longer there. And other human wisdom becomes part of our so-called walk with the Lord. And here the Apostle Paul is telling these dear believers, he says you be careful, because human wisdom is not going to add anything to what you have in the Messiah.

And so, you know how? Human wisdom, you know, people seem to know a lot more than God. At least they think they know a lot more than God. It doesn't take too long that people try to interpret the Bible the word they want to, and they put into the Word of God that which is really not there. And you know what, we have to be very careful ourselves. Because human interpretation, and human opinion, and human wisdom, is that which rejected the simplicity of the Scripture of the person of the Messiah. I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians for one moment there. 1 Corinthians, the first chapter.

Paul is writing to the Corinthians, and he's saying to them, in verse 18, 1 Corinthians 1:18, he says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. And I will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" You see, already there at Corinth, there was also that issue. You know, the people seem to think that they have a lot more knowledge and wisdom than God himself.

And here he gives warning. And how we need, beloved brothers and sisters, to apply this to ourselves. You know how we need, I've just received an email yesterday, I received an email from a young man by the name of Joshua, a Jewish man, who wrote me an email and said, "I have written on a computer to another friend, they talk to each other, and the other fellow is also a Jewish man. Both of them are young men. One of them is a believer, one of them is not a believer." And he said, "You can see I'm not a missionary, I do not know how to share, and I wish that this person will come to know that Mashiach, that Jesus, that Yeshua is the Messiah." But you can see in the conversation, he sent to me the whole long conversation that these two individuals have had.

And how sad. I mean, I was really sad. It reminds me of the time when I became, I was struggling with the person of Yeshua. Is he our Mashiach? As a Jewish boy, as an Israeli boy, I was struggling. And you know what? People began to put things into the Bible that are not there. When there is human wisdom and opinion, it makes it so difficult for people, Jewish people and non-Jewish people, make it so much more complicated. The simplicity that is in the Gospel, it's so simple, clear, if we are only bowing to what God says in His Word. But, human wisdom, human opinion have been added, and placed instead of the simplicity of God.

And how this young man, when he conversed with the other, how you could see it, that it makes it so difficult by traditions and human opinion of all kinds of religious groups, whether it is Jewish, or whether it is Christian, or whether it is Muslim, whatever you want to call it. Human opinion has no place in the Word of God. God said it, we are to believe it, and that's how to settle it, because God said in His Word what He had to say. And so, Paul is saying to them, you know what? Be careful. Beware lest any man, he doesn't only speaking about Satan, you know, Satan also beguile Eve.

He comes as an angel of light. Yes, but here he is speaking about men. People, who coming with a cloak, as if they are religious, and they know everything about the Word of God, they can settle every problem you have. And they coming in that appearance, and they beguile people who are actually, even people who are believers, or children of God, you will notice, that many places are filled with many followers, who simply did not stand, and accepted what God said in His Word. By the way, when he says, beware lest any man spoil you, he doesn't talk about unbelievers. The you is the Colossians.

The you is the believers that exist today, this little city there, the Colossians, the young believers. He says, you be careful, lest any man will spoil you. And you notice what it said, with the word here for the spoiling here, it's like taking you captive. It's like kidnapping a person. You know, one of the reasons why, among our Jewish people, they don't like the word missionaries, because the word missionary, seemed like somebody coming and kidnap a Jewish child, away from his own roots, away from his own basis, and taking him or her into their own religion. That's why they don't like, never liked the word missionaries, because missionary got a bad name, because it seemed like they are kidnapping.

They are captive, taking captive people that belong to the nation of Israel. But here in this case, he's warning true believers, lest somebody else will kidnap them, will take them captive to some sort of thing that is not basic to the ABC of the Word of God. Oh, how sad it is, when believers, should have been already mature, who should have been growing, in the grace of the knowledge of Yeshua the Messiah, who should be already standing on their two feet, and knowing the ABC of the Word of God, they have been kidnapped, and been taken captive, to all kind of human philosophy, human opinion.

And you notice, he says in this verse, you notice, he's continuing, when he's speaking, but he says, through philosophy, but empty deceit. You know, religion, can be so deceptive, very tricky. You know, I just came from Israel. I've seen religious Jews. I've seen religious Christians. I've seen religious Muslims. I've seen religiosity, through and through. We have it, not only in Israel, we have it all over the world. Religion, all kind of activity, all kind of, do this, and don't do this, and do this, and don't do this, and all kind of things. Look, you search for them, in the word of God. They ain't there.

But people like to be religious. And it's become so deceptive. There is no relationship, to the person of the Messiah. Oh yes, there's all kind of activity. Seemingly, as if that makes you closer to God. But it doesn't really do the right thing. And that's why he's warning them, in verse 8, don't allow any man, to take you captive, through human opinion, and notice, and vain, empty lies, deceit. Be careful for this. Be careful, because religiosity, come in all kind of clothes, all kind of way, that the religious individuals, can dress himself. You, and I, and the believers, and Colossians, and all believers, have to be extremely careful, for this type of thing.

We have to ask ourselves the question. What I do, does that bring me closer to the Lord Jesus? Does that make me more like Him? Does that produce in me the features, and the morals of the Messiah? That's the question. Or does that make me look, in our outside appearance, I look like everybody look at me, and say, wow, this person is so close to God, because he did this, or did that. Wow, we have to be extremely careful. That's the warning, that He's giving them. You notice, He's telling them, in this philosophy, is a vain deceit, and then notice, after the tradition, of man.

You know, we have a movie, that has been produced, Hitler on the roof, where, the word tradition, is being mentioned. Tradition! That's the way, we have done it, all our life. Tradition! Now mind you, there are traditions. If tradition, have produced, a deviation, from the simplicity, of the word of God, then the tradition, has no value. Now there are many traditions, and customs, and there's no problem with them, providing, it doesn't take the child of God, away from the simplicity, which is found, which is found, in the word of God. And you know, the Bible, and I'll show you this, in a moment, human tradition.

You know, the Bible, we have what you call, a couple of times, in the scriptures, the word tradition. But, biblical tradition, and, human tradition, or tradition of man, are two, different things. Let me just read you, something for a moment. Turn to Matthew chapter 15. Here's a very clear example. In chapter 15, the Messiah is walking, with his disciples. And we read in verse 1, Then came to Yeshua, the scribes, and the Pharisees, which were in Jerusalem, and they said unto him, in verse 2, Why do thy disciples, transgress the traditions, of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread. Here's the Pharisees. Here's the scribes.

They approach Yeshua, the Messiah, as he walked with his disciples, eating there, as he's traveling there. And they ask the simple question, and they say, Why do the disciples, transgress the traditions, of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread. Now we know very well, that it's always good, to wash hands, when you eat. Especially when you got your hands dirty. Because if you touch the food, with your hands, dirty hands, and then you put it in your mouth, it's going to your body, and you can get sick from that. But beloved, they don't talk about, cleansiness here. They don't talk about, it's good to be clean.

When they were speaking about, washing the hands, they have a tradition, as which have been developed, and I told you this years ago. Traditions of the washing of the hands. You're going to go again, to Israel today, any public place, most of the public place, you'll have a little pot, that you put water, and you wash your hands. One, two, three, four, five. That's the tradition. It's not so much for cleanliness. It's not soap involved here. It's simply a tradition, that the elders have developed, over the years. And just the same as this, there are all kind of traditions, among Christendom, that are unbelievable, that are not found in the Bible.

That's why the Lord told them, in verse three. He answered, and he said unto them, in Matthew 15:3, Why do ye also transgress, the commandment of God, with your tradition? For God commended, saying, Honor thy father, and thy mother. And all these things. He's speaking about, the internal condition of man, that ought to be right with God, and all the external tradition. That violate the word of God, that set aside the simplicity of God. He's warning them, and he's saying to them, why do you transgress, transgress the commandments of God, by your human tradition? And we have that too, beloved brothers and sisters. And I've experienced this, in the last 30 years, of being a believer and so on.

You experience this, among the people of God, that there are so many traditions, that are coming. And the problem is, not so much with the tradition, but when they begin to take their place, before the word of God, God, or this is a red light, that ought to give us a word. So he's mentioning here, in these verses, he's saying to them, why do you transgress the commandments of God, with your own tradition? And here's the warning. He's giving that warning here, to the Colossians, when he's telling them, you will be careful, beware lest any man spoil you, through philosophy, and vain deceit, after the tradition of men.

Look what Paul said, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Paul is writing, here's biblical tradition, biblical facts, which is in the word of God. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Moreover, brethren, I deliver unto you, I declare unto you, the gospel, which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory, what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that the Messiah died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and he rose again, on the third day, according to the scriptures.

Here's Paul, giving to them, a biblical tradition. What is a biblical tradition? It is tradition, that is based upon the word of God. Based upon the simplicity, which is found, in the Messiah. And he's giving them, this instruction in 1 Corinthians, where he tells you, I declare something to you, you follow that, which I declare to you, because it's based upon, the scriptures. It is according, to the scriptures. He is using this expression, traditions, in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, and I'll read this verse as well. In verse 15, Paul is saying this, and I'm reading. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the tradition, which ye have been taught, whether by word, or in our epistles.

Here he used the word tradition again. But what he means, in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, he does not speak about human tradition, but he's speaking about biblical tradition, which he has given them as an instruction. And so beloved, this is important for us. We have to be extremely careful, not to fall, or not to be drawn, and not to be spoiled, kidnapped, by somebody putting a human philosophy, man's tradition upon us, and drawing us away from that which is simple, in accordance with the word of God. And so, in verse 8, Beware. Let's let him spoil you. Through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and notice the last thing he said in verse 8, and after the rudiments of this world.

This expression, the rudiments of this world, is according to the world basis. It is really the world's opinion. You know, these people who are playing around, with all kind of things, that the enemy, have been seeking to draw people away. You know, these women who read your poem. And then there are those, that are cults, with all its influence, mysticism, and all kind of things like that, that we have to be careful from. There are those who are playing with horoscopes, and Ouija boards, and they want to know the future. You know, all kind of rudiments, that belong to this world. This world, it doesn't belong to the Lord.

It doesn't belong to the Bible. It doesn't have anything to do, with the things of God. Be careful, he's saying to them. Be careful, that people will not, kidnap you, through philosophy, empty deceit, human tradition, and the rudiments of this world. And notice the last thing he says here, and not after Christ, the Messiah. Anything, beloved, that takes us away from Messiah, from Yeshua, is not of God. Anything, that make much more of the flesh, and less of the person of the Messiah, is not from God. And, beloved, listen, sometimes, we feel, that we are not quite fulfilled. We are not quite satisfied, with the things, that God have taught us, in his word.

So what do we do? We begin to search somewhere else. And we think, if we are going to replace the Messiah, with some kind of a tradition, that is going to make me closer to God. And you know, he finds very quickly, that he is very empty, very shallow, very far, from what God have intended, for his own beloved people. And so that's why, he gives us this warning. And you know, when we go away, when we go astray, from the things, from the simplicity, which found in Christ, in the Messiah, we find ourselves losers, at the end of the game. It doesn't change our salvation.

Our salvation depends upon, the work of the Messiah. But we find ourselves, not enjoying, what God has intended for us. Look what God said, about Israel. He says in Jeremiah chapter 2, and verse 13, "For my people have committed two evils. Number one, they have forsaken the fountain, of the living water. Number two, and they hew themselves out, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Two evils they have committed, and you and I, are just the same capable, of doing that. Number one, they have forsaken, the fountain, of living waters. And what did they do? Number two, they hewed for themselves, broken cisterns, that do not hold water.

That's religion. That's human opinion. That's the rudiments, of this world. That's the philosophy of man. Forsaking the fountain, of living water. Can you imagine? You see, God is saying, here he says, they have forsaken, basically he says, they have forsaken me. And they dug cisterns, that have no water to give, could not hold water. Beloved, listen. Christ, the Messiah, is the fountain, of the living water. He is the soul thirst, to satisfy. He is the one, Yeshua the Messiah, who can satisfy, the heart, and the soul, of every one of us. Religion, man's opinion, rudiments of this world, vain deceit, could never satisfy, the heart of the child of God.

It becomes, broken cisterns, that cannot hold water. We've seen it, in our life, we see it, even in ourselves. We see it, how sometimes, we have an inclination, to become religious, and no Messiah, as the object. We don't point, at others. We gotta look, and search within ourselves, and ask ourselves the question. Lord, where have I, become more religious, and less, like the Messiah? what is causing me, what is causing me, to be less, occupied with you, Lord, and more, with my, religiosity? And the Lord, will show, to each and every one of us. Paul is saying, be careful, beware, he's saying, to these believers.

Because after all, you know what? No religious occupation, no human merit, will ever satisfy your soul. But when we have the Lord, it gives satisfaction for the heart. When we see what he has done for us, when we see how much he loved us, and the price that he paid, to save a wretch, like you and I, then you realize, how precious, the person of the Lord is. See what he says? Give them in verse 9. He's telling them, for Messiah, in Messiah, there is all the fullness of the God, that dwell badly. You see, he says for, you notice the for, is in connection with verse 8.

For in Him, in Jesus, in Yeshua, in Mashiach, Christ, in Messiah, dwell all the fullness, of the Godhead body. What he's saying here? We read it already, in chapter 1, in verse 19, where he said, For it pleased the Father, that in Him, should all fullness dwell. What does he mean here? You see, in Him, in the person of Yeshua, Christ, the Son of God, as man, all the fullness, of the Godhead, dwells bodily. What does that mean? The Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Triune God, have been completely satisfied, with the man, Christ Jesus, Yeshua, the Messiah. In Him, as He walked here, you notice by the way, he used the word bodily, because you see, even at that time already, some said, Oh, you know, yeah, God the Son came, but He came in spirit, He didn't have fully body, spirit, soul, and body, like you and I, He didn't become really a man.

Here, the Apostle showed to them, that no, Yeshua, God the Son, entered into this world, He became fully man, He took a body, He became a man, human body, He walked in this world, every step He took, He completely satisfied, a holy God, as man, He completely satisfied God. And that's why He says, all in Him dwelleth all the fullness, of the Godhead, partly. You remember in this baptism, we were in Bethany, just a few, last week. Eight people got baptized in Bethany. You remember when, Matthew chapter 3, at the end of the chapter, you remember when Yeshua, the Messiah, came to Yohanan Hamadbil, to join the baptizer, and He allowed Him, to put Him under the water.

And you remember, when Yohanan Hamadbil, said to Him, you need to baptize me, I don't need to baptize you, I need to be baptized by you. Yeshua said to Him, suffered to do it, because He identified, with the confession, of the nation of Israel, who repented, those who repented, and went to the Jordan River, to confess their sins. And you remember, what happened there? When He was baptized, or Nitpal, as we say it in Hebrew, He was placed under the water, and when He came out of the water, remember, the voice came from heaven, and God, the Father said, "This is my beloved Son." And the Holy Spirit of God, descended, as in the form of a dove, and laid upon Him.

And you remember, God said, the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I found all mighty light." You see, all the persons of the Godhead, in Him dwelleth all the fullness, of the Godhead bodily. You don't need to search anywhere else. You don't need human philosophy. You don't need all kinds of tradition of men. You don't need all these rudiments of this world, in order to feel satisfied. Everything is placed in the person of the Son, in the person of Yeshua, the Messiah, and He can satisfy everyone that comes to Him. That's what He's saying here. "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." And then He says, in verse 10, "You know what?

You are complete in Him." You know, sometimes, the amount of time that I take part in the things of the Lord, a little part, many non-Jewish people come to me and don't feel, perhaps, too complete. They think they've got to be more Jewish in order to be complete in the Messiah. Let me tell you that, beloved. Thank God for those of us that have been descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a privilege to be part of those who came from this line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but it doesn't make us better. It doesn't make us more fulfilled. It doesn't make us more perfect.

It doesn't make us more close to God. What makes a person close to God is when he or she have accepted what God has done for them through the person of the Messiah. You don't need to be feeling, I'm not quite complete. I need to add something. You see, I have Jesus, I have Yeshua, but I need a little bit more of religiosity in order to make me complete. No, he's saying here. He says, "Ye are full. Ye are complete in Him." Notice this expression, "In Christ, in Mashiach, in Him." You are complete. You don't need to add anything. In fact, the only thing that you and I can only add will only mess things up.

We are complete in the Messiah. You know why? Because He came to save sinners. He has done it all. I cannot add to my salvation. I cannot add to anything. He has done it all for us. Human religions say, "What I can do for God." God says, "I have done it all for you." Human marriage says, "You gotta do this. You gotta do this in order to satisfy God." God says, "I have done it all for you. Just live in the light of what I have given to you." You see, we cannot become non-children once we've already became children. That's it. And that's why He's saying to them, "When we are born again, we have been born complete." You remember 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Them that are in Messiah are new creation." All things have passed away.

All things become new. That's it. We are complete in the Messiah. And then we find out that we need to grow spiritually, to mature spiritually while we are here. But it doesn't make us more complete. It doesn't take anything. We have already been complete. Nothing lacking when we belong to Yeshua the Messiah. That's why He says, "Ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power." When you have the Messiah, He's ahead of all principality and power. We are complete in the Messiah. None of us ever have to feel that we are lacking something when it's come to us standing before God.

And so this is important, beloved brothers and sisters. Yes, we need to walk in this world. And we are growing practically as we are here in this world. But when it's come to our positional standing before the Lord, we have been totally, completely been fooled through the person of Yeshua and the Messiah. So these are verses 8, 9, and 10. He give them the warning. And I would like to encourage you on that as well. You and I also have to be careful. We might have certain customs and things that we like to do. We might have a little religious activity that we like to do. But we be careful that it will not take us away from the simplicity which is found in the Messiah.

We have to be careful that does not supersede that which is given to us in the Word of God. All human tradition, all merits of man, become secondary to the simplicity which is in the Word of God. And so these are those three verses. He warns the Colossians, be careful, because in the Messiah all fullness is found. Don't look elsewhere. You are complete in Him. Be satisfied with what He has given unto you. And now, in verses 11 to 15, He shows the believers how their believers become complete. How do we become full and complete? Nothing is lacking. That's what He is saying in verses 11 to 15. Notice that He tells them actually five things here.

In verse 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The first thing, He tells them that the believers are spiritually circumcised. Look at this. In verse 11. In whom, notice again, in whom, in Christ, in Messiah, in Yeshua, everything is in through Him. Nothing without Him. In whom also ye are, notice, circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. In putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Mashiach. The first thing that we learn here from this verse is that every believer, the Colossians, you and I who believe in the Messiah, we are spiritually circumcised. Now, what does that mean? Let me just tell you something. I just discovered that in some of my listening that was very impressive to me.

Very helpful. You know, we don't like to talk about circumcision because of what it's involved and so on. It is male organ, Jewish male organ from the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that God have commanded our people to circumcise, to cut off the foreskin of this flesh, of this organ, of the male boy organ. Now, it is interesting. I listened to something that was really helpful to me. You see, usually, men know himself as a male, as a macho, by this particular male organ. And this is an expression of his manhood, of his humanity, of his power. But you see, at the male organ, there is a foreskin that is covered that which is underneath.

And God has given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all our descendants, the requirement to cut off that which covers the tip of that organ. In order that that organ, that male organ will be revealed and shown, the reality. And you see, it's a picture of the human race. Underneath, right covered, there is the sinful nature that you and I were born in. There is the nature of men that is sinful, that is away from God by nature. God said to his own people to cut off the skin which is uncovering or which is covering that organ, that it may be revealed. And you know, there is an interesting lesson here.

Down deep, beloved brothers and sisters and friends, the male is a representation of the human race. Down deep inside us, there is that nature that we have, that we were born, when we were entered into this world. We were born, there is the ego of man. There is the pride of man. There is the fallenness of our human race. It is underneath. We are all covered. We give the appearance externally as everything is fine. But God, who knows the inside of each human being, knows very well what exists inside him. That's why no one ever can dare to stand before God and say to God that I have no sin.

One day we are all going to have to stand before God and God is going to reveal to each and every man, Jew and Gentile Eli. The sinfulness that exists in our fallen nature, in this body, in this flesh. And to his own people, Israel. The Hebrews, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all our descendants. God gave the instruction to cut the foreskin, which is a representation of self-judgment. Exposing the reality that existed before a holy God. And that's why he's saying here, in our chapter, in verse 11, he says, you know what? You are circumcised with a circumcision that is not made with human hands. That does not avail.

That does not make it. That's reality showing the reality, the condition, the flesh, the fallen nature, the ego, the self, the pride that exists in you. You have been circumcised with the circumcision of the Messiah. That's what he's saying. Your fallen nature has been revealed and I know it. And when the Messiah died, you have been at the judgment that you deserve because of your fallen nature. He took upon himself and you have been spiritually circumcised. You remember what God said to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy? He said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy, he said to them, you know what? Circumcise the foreskin of your heart.

Why he said that? Because they have been circumcised with the foreskin of their flesh. But what happened? To be circumcised in the flesh and to deny the word of God, what does that affect? That's why he's saying to them, circumcise the foreskin, Deuteronomy 10:16. Circumcise the foreskin of your heart. You have to realize the true condition of your heart. Judge it! Judge it! That's what he's saying. Here he's saying to the believers at Colossae, he says, you know, you have been circumcised with the circumcision which was not made with hands. Because that is only revealing the condition that you really find yourself in. The foreskin is covering this organ that is really revealing what is underneath.

And that is really the reality about ourselves. What is underneath? There is sin. There is fallen nature. There is an ego. There is pride. That only through the Messiah can be dealt with and forgiven. You know, you have been spiritually circumcised. Circumcision was a sign to our nation Israel of the covenant that God made with his own people. And it is a sign of self-judgment, of revealing the reality of what exists within. When you have the Messiah, you have been spiritually circumcised. Secondly, in verse 12, not only that believers are spiritually circumcised, but believers are also spiritually made alive. Resurrected. New life! You see, he says here in verse 12, Buried with him in baptism, but ye are also risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who has raised him from the dead.

You see, the Colossians actually were still alive there. They were still in their flesh. They were living in Colossae. But what he is telling them, spiritually speaking, that they have been made alive. And he is speaking here not necessarily about water baptism, but the baptism which has happened when a person is born again. The baptism of the Holy Spirit of God. When a person becomes a newborn child of God. The water baptism is only external expression of what really happened. You see, when we take a person, we put a person under the water, and we bring him or her out of the water, it's an expression.

Something, I died with the Messiah, I was made alive. It's only an external symbol. But you know, if you will take the same person and you will put him under the water for five minutes, that person will be really dead. But the expression is when he or she comes out of the water, they are made alive. It's an expression of spiritual new life that they have received in the power of the Holy Spirit of God. That's what happened to you and I. That's what happened to you and I. You know that we are new in the view. We have a new nature. The old nature is a sinful nature, new nature, that which we receive from the Lord by the power of the Spirit of God.

We have been made alive. We were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians chapter 2. But we have become alive through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. Number 3 is in verse 13. Believers have full forgiveness of sins. You see, in verse 13 he says, "Being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." He's forgiven everything. You know, even now when we are already believers for years and we sin, all our sins have been already forgiven. Can you imagine that? What we have through the person of the Messiah. You know, sometime when you dwell, you know, when you just sit in your own time, and you're alone at home, and think about what the Lord has done for you.

Think about all the sins that you and I have committed in our day-by-day routine. And think about that. And think all those sins. Jesus took them all upon himself. Not only the sins I've committed before I became a believer, but the sins that I'm committing right now. My thoughts, the things I look at, the words I speak, the places we go, the things we do with our hands and our feet. He gave everything. I mean, this is something. Why would we want to have religious, human merits, human opinion, tradition of men, rudiments of this world? He says, you complete in Him. Everything you have, you found in the person of the Messiah.

He has forgiven all our sins when He died for us on the cross. I mean, this is amazing. This is something to dwell upon. And it's very good for us to realize that when you, sometimes alone and you're not busy with other people looking at you, or you looking at other people, you and the Lord, you and your Messiah, you and the Savior, just think about His love and what He has done for us when He died for us on the cross. He forgave us all our sins. He knows everything we do. He knows everything. And He forgave us. He is not happy with what we do.

But He forgave all, as it says here. Notice He doesn't say in verse 13, some of your trespasses. But He says, having forgiven you all trespasses. When God look at the believer, He look at him or her as perfect in His sight because of the Messiah and what the Messiah Yeshua and Jesus have done for us. Fourthly, in verse 14, He's saying now that the believers are protected from the curse of the law. In other words, He said, blotting out the handwritings of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. Now you know, we know that the law is holy.

The law is perfect. There is no false in the law. The law is perfect. But the law demanded from us, specifically from Israel as a nation, because the law was given to the people of Israel. The law demanded perfection. You know what it says in verse 26 of Deuteronomy chapter 27, "Cursed be He that confirmeth not all the words of this law." To do them! And all the people shall say, "Amen." You know what He's saying to them? You know, "Cursed is He that confirmeth not all the words of this law." To do them! Not only to hear about them, not only to think about them, not only to agree with them, but to do them.

And you see, He calls them in Colossians 2:14 "Handwritings and ordinances that was against us." You see, beloved brothers and sisters, the law were not given for us as if we could fulfill all the law in this human nature. The law was given to us to drive us to say, "God, you are holy and I am a sinful man." I can't do that! I need you! I need a sacrifice to forgive my sins and to help me by the Spirit of God to walk in a life that is pleasing to thee. The law! You read Galatians 3. Why was the law given? It was given to drive men to the Messiah.

That at the end of the story, men will say, "Lord God, I cannot do it on my own! I am a sinful man! You are a holy God! I need you to forgive my sins on the basis of the sacrifice." And you see, He called them here. Handwritings, ordinances which were against us, which were contrary to us. He nailed them to the cross. What does that mean? That when the Messiah died on the tree, He Himself fulfilled the law totally on behalf of His people. That's what happened. And how precious to get a hold of these beloved brothers and sisters. Just finally, I want to read verse 15.

The fifth thing that the believers have complete because of the Messiah. Notice verse 15. Believers are victorious over Satan and his forces. Because of the Messiah. In verse 15, He says, "Having spoiled the principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." You see, when Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of God, as men, died for us on the tree. He completely, He spoiled principalities. He spoiled satanic power. You know, when Satan thought, when he, on the cross, Satan thought, "Oh, I finish with him." You know, at the cross, at the tree, where Yeshua the Messiah died for our sin and sins.

He defeated the foe completely. Satan had been spoiled. Satan's power had been completely annulled. God had been satisfied with the work of the Messiah. And He said, "Having spoiled," in verse 15, "Or disarmed principalities and powers, and He made a show of them openly." That's what happened. And you know, you and I also, Satan cannot do anything to us anymore. He can seek to cause havoc among the people of God as an angel of light. Seek to harm the people of God as a lion, as a roaring lion. But he can never take away what God has given to the believer. We are complete in the Messiah.

Satan has no power against the believer. He is a defeated foe. And so here, we learn in Colossians 2, verses 8 to 15. Warning. Beware. Be careful. From a human philosophy. Empty deceit. Traditions of man. Not according to the Word of God, but according to world basis. Not after the Messiah. Be careful. Beware. Because you are completed. You don't need to run after anything else. All the fullness of the God that dwells in Christ, in the Messiah, died. And so, a believer is spiritually circumcised. A believer is spiritually made alive. The believer is forgiven. The believer is protected from the curse of the law. And the believer is victorious over Satan and his forces.

Can we say amen to that? Thank God for what Yeshua and the Messiah have done for us. May the Lord help us to see that. And to appreciate that. And to seek to live for the Lord in the power of the Spirit of God.