Now, continuing with our analysis of our key text (below):

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

“As Ye Have Been Taught”:

God’s will is to have all people saved and that all saved people will be taught, and “come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). God wants us to learn His Word!

The Bible says that God gave “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers” to the Church, “the body of Christ” “for the perfecting (completing maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).

The spiritual gifts of 1^st Corinthians (tongues/interpretation, word of knowledge) have ceased and are no longer operating in this age of the pure grace of God. (cf. 1Cor. 13:8-9). This is because we now have the completed written “word of God” and the indwelling Holy Spirit…  taking the place of those ‘knowledge gifts’ that were in part or partial in their content.

With Paul’s final 7 epistles (Ephesians through Philemon) we have the complete revelation Paul received directly from Jesus. A bishop (elder, older mature one) should be “apt [able] to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). Christian leaders are called of God to teach His word, the Holy Bible, pure and simple, in order for Jesus Christ’s people to be spiritually strengthened, being “edified (built-up).” Richard Jordan says, “The Christian life will not operate on the basis of ignorance!”

Yet, look around at Christendom today. Now, nearly 2,000 years after God’s written word was completed; sadly, the professing church has no more idea about what God wants it to do than men did before the Bible was written! Most “Bible-believing” churches are just not teaching the pure Holy Bible. Again, they are preaching and teaching false Bible versions and denominational systems and Satanic lies that are contrary to the truth! They still promote Israel’s program and lay aside the exclusive unique words for us that we have from Paul as “THE Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13).

It is no wonder most professing Christians lack genuine spiritual understanding about the truth of the Bible. They’re learning little to nothing in the so-called church organizations of men. They lack spiritual growth, so they become more and more misled with false doctrine (Eph. 4:14), just as a physical body suffering malnutrition is subject to weakness and sickness. The “body of Christ” is afflicted with many doctrinal diseases because they have not used God’s Word God’s way. They have not “rightly divided the word of Truth” and caused great damage in the souls of many, lost and saved alike (2 Tim. 2:15-18). Most all of them likely have confused themselves with Israel and taken Israel’s verses, which don’t work because they don’t apply to… us today.

God gave us His written Word, the Holy Bible, in order to teach us about Himself, His purpose, and His ultimate plan for creation. Remember, Satan has his own purpose and plan for creation, so Satan has his false teachers, using their false, corrupted, Bible versions — beware!

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16).

“And the things that thou hast heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

“[Christ in you, the hope of glory] we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus:” (Col. 1:28).

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ²⁹For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30)

Understanding and placing our faith in that written “word of God” will then make us “perfect,” (Gk., artios, mature) able to be used of God to the fullest extent possible:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷(So)That the man of God may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This is why Bible study is so important, especially personal Bible study. Note: “Perfect” in Ephesians 4 11-12 does not mean sinless; it means “throughly furnished unto all good works,” spiritually ‘mature,’ renewed to be able to do anything and everything that God wants done.

It’s also important to remember that the Bible versions issue is significant. If we do not have the right Bible, then we have no hope of knowing God’s pure “word of truth.” Thus, I emphasize the use of the King James Bible, God’s preserved Word for us as English-speaking people. This can’t be stressed enough. The Modern English Bible translations (e.g., NIV, NASB, ESV, etc.) are all corrupted and are not safe!

Now consider 1 Cor. 2:13:

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

The Holy Spirit teaches us His Holy Word as we read and consider it. We are then expected to believe what we read.

Let’s look at some more words that Paul wrote for us;

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my [Paul’s] knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Eph. 3:4).

“Consider what I (Paul) say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Tim. 2:7).

“Till I (Paul) come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13).

“Abounding Therein with Thanksgiving”:

When we realize the full impact of what our Heavenly Father has done for us in and through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, we can’t help but have an attitude of gratitude toward Him. God’s Word will fill our hearts (souls) and it will just burst forth in thanksgiving and song!

Imagine, such a holy, powerful God would want to have anything to do with a sinful, weakly human race! Yet, as we grow more and more in God’s Word, studying especially Paul’s epistles (Romans through Philemon), you will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ more and more. You will then appreciate Him and what He has done for you more and more. You will enjoy Him and His will more and more. Knowing Him becomes such a delight and joy for us! The misery of our religious past will just fade away!

- Psalm 30:12: “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

Psalm 70:30: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

Psalm 75:1: “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.”

Psalm 106:1: “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 116:17: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” Psalm 118:29: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

- 1 Cor. 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

- 2 Corinthians 2:14: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

- 2 Corinthians 4:15: “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

- 2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

- Ephesians 5:4b: “but rather giving of thanks”

- Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

- Colossians 1:12: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

- Colossians 3:16-17: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

- Colossians 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

- 1 Thes. 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

- Hebrews 13:15: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”