Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote his letter to the church at Colossae in southern Asia Minor. He had never been there himself, but his friend Epaphras visited Paul and told him about the church. Though it was a relatively young church, false teachers who denied the deity of Christ already threatened their stability.

Paul used his apostolic authority to answer these threats and encourage the Colossians to stay faithful. The Colossians would have paid attention to what Paul said because the people of Asia Minor had great respect for him as an apostle and missionary. It was a privilege to receive a letter written specifically to them.

Paul’s Love for the Colossians

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all God’s people.” Colossians 1:3-4

Paul had only heard about the church at Colossae, but he knew Epaphras and others had taught them the true gospel. After he heard about the Colossians, Paul never stopped praying for them. He asked God to give them wisdom and understanding from the Spirit so false teachers would not lead them away from Christ.

“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that . . . they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:1-3

Christ is Supreme

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29

The gospel was based on the deity of Jesus Christ. If Jesus was not God, the gospel had no meaning, so Paul drew upon his standing as a teacher of the Law, the Prophets and the Gospel to convince the Colossians that Jesus was God.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God.” Colossians 1:15

Anyone who met Jesus met God. Jesus was God with flesh. He was the visible and undistorted expression of who God is.

“The Son is the . . . firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17

When Paul said Jesus was the firstborn over creation, he didn’t mean that God created Jesus. He meant that Jesus is in first place, preeminent, and sovereign over creation. Everything was created through Jesus and he holds it all together by his power. Jesus is Creator God.

Christ is the Head of the Church

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18

The Colossian believers were part of the worldwide body of Christ, over whom Jesus was the head. Everyone who received eternal life received it from Jesus because he conquered death. Jesus was God who built the church and sustained its life.

It was only in Jesus that the Colossians could hope for eternal life. He was the firstborn from among the dead and everyone who looked forward to resurrection followed in the footsteps of Jesus.

Christ has Reconciled All Things to God

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace by his blood shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20

Creation lost its loving connection with God when sin entered the world. People became estranged from the Lord and they caused suffering, pain and death on the earth. They forgot who the Lord was and they were completely lost from him.

So God put all of his fullness into the person of Christ and came to earth to walk among us and win us back. Jesus reconciled people to God by paying the penalty for their sins on the cross and opening the way for their return to their Creator.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:21-23

The gospel the Colossians believed depended entirely upon the deity of Jesus Christ.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness . . . When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.” Colossians 2:9, 13

Don’t Be Taken Captive

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

The Colossian church had been invaded by teachers who gave the believers rules for eating and drinking, and observing Jewish festivals. Paul didn’t deny that these things were found in the Scriptures, but Jesus had set people free from following them.

“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. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17

People who promoted these rules had lost connection with Jesus, the One by whom the church body was held together. They bypassed Christ and offered a made-up way of salvation. Their rules often backfired, however, and people were tempted to sin.

“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.” Colossians 2:23

Set Your Mind on 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. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

Receiving new life from Christ is a one-time event, but living in the new life is a series of daily decisions. Through the Holy Spirit people can recognize where their earthly nature still controls them and ask the Lord to help them get rid of its sins.

But how do we get rid something we were born with, that’s so much a part of ourselves? We get rid of our old, sinful nature by gradually clothing ourselves with the new, divine nature of Christ.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

We cultivate our new nature by letting the message of Christ fill us up. We talk about it, teach it to each other, sing about it and practice it in everyday life.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Serving Christ in Relationships

In Colossians 3:18 – 4:1, Paul applies a heavenly mindset to earthly relationships. He asks wives to think of pleasing the Lord in the way they partner with their husbands and he asks husbands to be gentle and loving toward their wives. He instructs children to be obedient to their parents and tells fathers to be kind and not do anything to discourage their children.

Paul also speaks to slaves and their masters. He asks slaves to do their work with integrity and faithfulness and he instructs masters to provide their slaves with what is just and fair. Both slaves and masters are to remember that it’s the Lord they both serve.

In fact, as people set their hearts on pleasing Christ all of these relationships will have eternal meaning.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ that you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

Pray

Paul closes his letter with an admonition to pray. He asks for prayer for his work in the gospel, but he also suggests that they pray for themselves. They have opportunities to serve the gospel, too, and they should make the most of them.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6

Paul never stopped praying for the Colossian believers and thanks to his letter we know how he prayed for them. This letter is an excellent resource for us to use as we “devote [ourselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2