COLOSSIANS 2

LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS, HE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

Although Paul has not met the people of Colossae, he deeply cares for them and wants them to be encouraged to follow Jesus. Paul states that despite not physically being with them, he is with them in spirit and rejoicing over their firmness in faith. Wanting them to avoid following false teaching, Paul urges them to deepen their understanding of Christ so that they are not led astray.

Because they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, the Colossians are able to be rooted and established in the righteousness of Jesus. Knowing the people of Colossae would be pressured to turn away from their faith, Paul teaches them not to be swayed by legalism or compromised by idolatry. Because Jesus canceled their debts and nailed sin to the cross, the old ways of the believers have died with Christ, and they have been made alive again in Jesus. Through His defeat of death, Jesus triumphed over all other rulers, authorities, and powers, putting everything else to shame.

Speaking to some of the cultural differences of the time, Paul teaches the believers not to pass judgment on others in regards to food laws or Sabbath. Although some Jewish-Christians still practiced these traditions, the non-Jewish believers never practiced these traditions. Because Christ is the only necessary means of salvation, Paul encourages them not to let anyone disqualify them from the faith based on ritual or customs. Simply put, Paul believes all of the laws and rituals were secondary to the death and resurrection of Christ.