Absent in Body, Present in Spirit
(Revelation 3:14–22)

1For I wish you to know how great a conflict I am having for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh; 2that their hearts may he comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, even Christ, 3in Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away. 4This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasive speech; 5for even if I am 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.

Alive with Christ
(Ephesians 2:1–10)

6As, therefore, ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him; 7having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith as ye were taught, abounding with thanksgiving.

8Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ; 9because in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; 10and ye have been made complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power; 11in Whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12having been buried with Him in your immersion, in which ye were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead; 13and you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, did He make alive with Him: having freely forgiven us all our trespasses; 14having blotted out the hand-writing in decrees against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross; 15having despoiled the principalities and the powers, He made an example of them, celebrating a triumph over them in it.

16Let no one, therefore, judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or a new moon, or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is Christ's. 18Let no one rob you of your prize, wishing to do it in humility and in a worshipping of angels, speculating about the things which he has seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, 19and not holding fast the Head from Whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increases with the increase of God.

20If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as if living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to decrees, 21"Handle not, taste not, touch not," 22(which are all for destruction in the using), according to the commandments and teachings of men? 23Which things, having, indeed, a show of wisdom, in will-worship, humility, and severe treatment of the body, are not of any value, against the indulgence of the flesh.