Pearl:Holding the head
Intro
CHAP. II.
1 Hee still exhorteth them to bee constant in Christ, 8 To beware of Philosophie, and vaine traditions, 18 worshipping of Angels, 20 and Legall Ceremonies, which are ended in Christ.
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I haue for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as haue not seene my face in the flesh:
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in loue, and vnto all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding, to the acknowledgement of the mysterie of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome, and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with entising words.
5 For though I bee absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, ioying and beholding your order, and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ.
6 As yee haue therefore receiued Christ Iesus the Lord, so walke yee in him:
7 Rooted and built vp in him, and stablished in the faith, as yee haue bene taught, abounding therein with thankesgiuing.
8 Beware lest any man spoile you through Philosophie and vaine deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalitie, & power.
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without handes, in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh, by the Circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in Baptisme, wherein also you 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 sinnes, and the vncircumcision of your flesh, hath hee quickened together with him, hauing forgiuen you all trespasses,
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, that was against vs, which was contrary to vs, and tooke it out of the way, nayling it to his Crosse:
15 And hauing spoyled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing ouer them in it.
16 Let no man therefore iudge you in meat, or in drinke, or in respect of an Holy day, or of the New moone, or of the Sabbath dayes:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humilitie, and worshipping of Angels, intruding into those things which hee hath not seene, vainely puft vp by his fleshly minde:
19 And not holding the head, from which all the body by ioynts and bands hauing nourishment ministred, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ frō the rudiments of the world: why, as though liuing in the world, are ye subiect to ordinances?
21 (Touch not, taste not, handle not:
22 Which all are to perish with the vsing) after the commandements and doctrines of men:
23 Which things haue in deed a shew of wisedome in will-worship and humilitie, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Holding the head. What is the head. The head is Jesus Christ.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
So the head is Jesus Christ and because of that we men should be holding that head. In the old testament you can see that the demands on men are higher than the demands on women regarding singular vows. Similarly also you will see in 1cor5 that they are talking about a fornicator that is called a brother not a sister who is called a fornicator.
So demands are higher on men because they are supposed to be holding the head and the head being Jesus Christ.
Holding the head also means doing judgement and loving mercy. Holding the head also means being in the faith. Holding the head if you have a wife means to do the right thing to your wife.
Doing judgement with mercy.
Amos 5:15
15 Hate the euill, and loue the good, and establish iudgement in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hostes will bee gracious vnto the remnant of Ioseph.15
Micah 6:8
8 Hee hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do iustly, and to loue mercy, and to walke humbly with thy God?
Holding the head means loving the light and staying in the light, abiding in Christ all the time. It means not letting fear turn us into coward but remain calm and do what is right at every instance. Not what is right according to society necessarily but what is right according to God.