Absent in Body, Present in Spirit (Revelation 3:14–22)
1 AKJV For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; BSB BSB: For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
2 AKJV That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; BSB BSB: that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
3 AKJV In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. BSB BSB: in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 AKJV And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. BSB BSB: I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.
5 AKJV For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. BSB BSB: For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1–10)
6 AKJV As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him: BSB BSB: Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,
7 AKJV Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. BSB BSB: rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
9 AKJV For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. BSB BSB: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
10 AKJV And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: BSB BSB: And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 AKJV In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: BSB BSB: In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
12 AKJV Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. BSB BSB: And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 AKJV And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; BSB BSB: When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
14 AKJV Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; BSB BSB: having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
17 AKJV Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. BSB BSB: These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
18 AKJV Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, BSB BSB: Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
19 AKJV And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. BSB BSB: He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 AKJV Why if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, BSB BSB: If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
21 AKJV (Touch not; taste not; handle not; BSB BSB: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?
22 AKJV Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? BSB BSB: These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
23 AKJV Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. BSB BSB: Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.