Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Col.1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1:2 to the saints and faithful brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the criteria for the unadulterated truth of God? Here in the introduction of his letter to Colossae the apostle Paul under the power of God’s Holy Spirit, that is, “in the body of Christ” writes from the will of Christ in him, and not from his own will.

Subsequently, we have unlocked one of the keys to truth, not the truth of a human in their flesh, but the power of Christ life in Paul to express only the truth found in God and himself. We must remember prior to the out pouring of Holy Spirit that no son of God was found on earth to express the will of their Father in heaven.

John.1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

No there wasn’t! Yes, there were prophets, kings, and judges of God that expressed God will towards his people, but not son’s of God, so why is this important?

Those kings, prophets, and judges expressed what? The rule of law, but none of them expressed the love of God, which is, Christ Jesus too us, who is God’s grace, and/or unmerited kindness to the human race, no not one!

John.1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son,{NU reads "God"} who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Thus, we have come upon the apostle Paul’s second key to the unadulterated truth of God, did you catch it? Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

These words run together real nice, but that is not why they are from God and his power, God’s power is now for us, and in heaven, Christ Jesus, for there is no other name given among men by which to be saved.

Heb. 1:1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

It is a truth that cannot be denied that those in Christ, now lets say that one more time because to most of us it just a saying with little real life meaning; it is those “ in Christ” that have what? They have peace, and where does God’s peace to mankind come from, it comes from his grace too us.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition.

Now please pay attention the Holy Spirit in Paul coming from the life of Christ in him did not say it came from keeping the law, now did it? This was not Paul’s will that spoke these words, it was the will of the Father who Christ always speaks for us in Paul!

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;

Yes, peace did not come through the law, the law did not make peace with us. Now lets qualify that statement in truth. The law was only given to a certain people, not everyone, so lets be very specific here; if we were not a Jews, born into the heritage of the Jewish blood line the law would not have benefit us.

Romans 2:14 (for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves.

Romans 2:17 Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God.

Without being of the Jews we could not have used the law, so there would have never been peace with God, or could we be his people. God made peace with only one small group of people on this earth the descendants of Abraham - a Jew.

How did God make peace, now note the wording very carefully that we said “how did God make peace”? Yes, another key to truth that will never change; it is God that makes peace, but how many Christians today even know how God made peace with the Jews, or even right now in our day with us, very few!

Did God make peace by the law, a religion, by a person birth, their nation, how did God make peace first with the Jews, and than us? By blood! What? Yes, by the out pouring of innocent life to remove sins against God’s law, first! That is, the Jews, than outside of that law he made peace with mankind that wanted freedom from judgment of their sin in Christ!

Hebrews 9:19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people.

Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

But the apostle Paul speaking for the will of God, having Christ in him did not speak at all of the law, why? Because Christ is the end of that law for all those who believe; he finished their judgment by faith in him, and that is why there is no other name given under the heavens by which to be save in.

Romans 3:25 whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice{or, a propitiation}, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;

But few have that faith, most put faith in the law, or some law of their religion to be saved by in practicing its precepts. They believe hard work bring with it salvation from God that God has a scored card counting the good deeds and bad deeds adding and subtracting the numbers to come up with a report card passed or failed.

Romans 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Now we go back to a key, do these people have peace with God? Well no, because working to gain merit is not peace with God, working is a labor of what? The flesh! Yes, it true, work is a labor of the flesh that we are born into, but those of God’s son are born into what?

Romans 4:5 But to him who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

They are born into Christ the Spirit, the temple of God, To have peace with God the flesh cannot exist, the works of the flesh cannot exist because they are against God who is the Spirit. The works of the flesh are not the works of God. If you believe your bible then we have to know that the flesh is of no value at all, and that it is dead to God.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

The flesh is dead in Christ giving us the peace of God. The work the Spirit does is something far different than the works of the flesh. Few of us actually do the work of the Spirit because we are not resting in the drive, and desires of our flesh.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Subsequently, we are not at peace with God, because he cannot give his Holy Spirit to corruptible flesh alienated from his present. So what is peace, another key? Well, it won’t come until we rest in faith. Peace is a part of the fruit of God, that is, his Holy Spirit, it is given not from works of our flesh, which are from below. No! Peace comes too us from above, not below. Now note the wording down from above, thus, making it something we can’t get our hands on by our works found in our bodies.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness}

James.3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

No! We cannot ascend into heaven to bring it down by our wonderful efforts of being a really good Christian’s bragged upon by other Christian’s. Once again please note the wording very carefully, we get is by grace. Yes, faith in God’s love, proven by his giving us the life blood of Christ as a gift that cannot be earned.

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'{Deuteronomy 30:12} (that is, to bring Christ down);

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

The peace we have is beyond this world, it not of this world so it surpasses all human understanding. Now let again noted the wording very carefully. It surpasses all human understanding. It is true, the flesh cannot know God, so how could it have the peace of God?

Well, it can’t no flesh stand before God, it can’t because if your bible is correct the flesh is judged as dead to God, that is, nonexistence. Peace of God comes too us, with our judgment completed in Christ, thus, meaning our flesh is buried in Christ death so we receive a Spirit not of this world, but of God, and the understanding that it has freed us from the corruption and fears of our flesh.

Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

That is how the peace of God excels all human reasoning and fear. God is not comforting our flesh, he is comforting and giving power to our spirit that is hidden in Christ as part of his body membership.

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Completed: May 20, 2020

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus