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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
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In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
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When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
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having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
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And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
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Freedom From Human Rules
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
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These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
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Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
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They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
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Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
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Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
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Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
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Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
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Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
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But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
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Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
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and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
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Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
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Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
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Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
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Instructions for Christian Households
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
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Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
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since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
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Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
