Read New Testament in Three Months - December 6 - Colossians 1 - 4

Read New Testament in Three Months

December 6 - Colossians 1 - 4

Paul wrote this book to the church in Colosse between 60 and 61 A.D. Though not having visited the church there, while he was establishing the church in Ephesus, Colosse becomes a burden on his heart, knowing that there is a lot of false teachings infiltrating the church there. This letter, too, is written while Paul is in prison. In this letter Paul stresses the importance of not following after other gods, not to worship angels and to recognize that Jesus alone is all we need to live a life righteous before our God. 

In the first chapter of Colossians Paul focuses on Christ Jesus, our Messiah, who redeemed us from our evil self into a right relationship before our Heavenly Father through Jesus' finished work upon the cross. He shares how He is the likeness of God upon the earth and that through Him all things were made and exist because of Him. Our Lord, Jesus, is the Head of the body, the church, and all He did qualifies Him as being the One God has given the chief place with Him and that through Jesus we can come to our Heavenly Father.

In Colossians 2 we read the concern that Paul has for the church, that they would turn away from the freedom they have found in Christ to be enticed by other words to do works of the flesh that would profit nothing spiritually. He doesn't want them beguiled by false teachers, leading them astray from the true Word and will of God and says such to them.

Paul goes on in Colossians 3 to remind them that now being a new creature in Christ, being raised Him, so should they follow after Him, walking in the Spirit and not by the ways of the flesh. The wages of sin is still death after we are saved, but now we can look to Him for forgiveness and guidance to turn from our wrong ways and being strengthened by Christ in us, can walk in a way that is pleasing to God. To think God is pleased with sin in our lives after we've been born again is definitely a wrong teaching. Though salvation and cleansing has come through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must continue to work our the salvation of our souls through the equipping of the Holy Spirit given to us through Christ Jesus! Brothers and sisters, do not be deceived to think we can do anything we want and that God will turn a blind eye to it.  Paul goes on to write about the Christians family; father, mothers, children, slaves - pointing out how we will be judged by what we do.

Paul shares in the last chapter those he is sending or has sent to help them along with their walk since he is not able to at this time, of their merit and capability. He concludes with seeking God's grace to be with them. Amen. So let it be with all those reading this, Holy One, in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.