Much to my dismay, someone whom I love dearly and who was very influential to me and my faith has unfortunately turned away from the faith. This person stated that he was searching for the truth. I thought to myself, You already have the truth! After being deceived into thinking that Christ was not enough, my friend started searching for even more false teaching.

Paul warns us of these false teachings in verse 8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” What a contrast these “hollow and deceptive” teachings are to his description of what we have in Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3).

Friend, as believers in Christ Jesus, we no longer have to search for truth. Christ is the fullness of truth and all we need for wisdom and knowledge! That is why Paul writes, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority” (vv. 9–10). Not only does this fullness refer to Christ, but also to us. We are no longer lacking, because we are in Him. We are made complete in Jesus!

The proof of us being complete in Him is that our sinful nature was put off or put to death by Christ (v. 11). Paul says, “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.” As a result, we were raised with Him spiritually by the working of God who raised Christ from the dead (v. 12).

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In Paul’s day, there was no social media. He did not have a Smart TV or a laptop. Paul did not know any celebrity influencers. Today, our lives are infiltrated with all of these things. Every day we are confronted with messages from a world whose beliefs are often in direct contradiction to God and His Word.

So, while Paul was not familiar with the onslaught of communication methods we face in our modern age, his words in Colossians 2:8 are on point: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” To be taken captive means that someone else has gained control of us. We are no longer acting or thinking for ourselves.

Jesus called Himself the “good shepherd” (John 10:11). As a shepherd, He cares for His sheep, leads them, and even lays down his life for them. Jesus warned His followers that others would not have their best interest at heart. These “thieves and robbers” come “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:8, 10).

Paul issues stern warnings against absorbing the world’s hollow and deceptive philosophy. The church in Greco-Roman culture was heavily influenced by this type of thinking that was independent of and opposed to God. This is why Paul points them back to the truth in verses 9–10: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” Romans 12:2 gives the same warning, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.”

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When we look back at our lives, most of us will find a trail of unfinished interests and incomplete projects. Maybe we bought an exercise bike only to see it draped with clothes in the corner of a room. We unearth a box of knitting needles and yarn with a partially created scarf still hanging on the needles. It is easy to start, but harder to continue.

In all of his letters to early believers, Paul urged them to “continue” in the faith. In Colossians chapter 2, he echoes this same message: “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” (v. 5). At each location, he had planted churches and introduced many to Jesus, now he is writing back to those same people asking, “Are you continuing in the faith?”

Paul’s advice to the Colossians is good advice for us as well. How do we finish what we start when it comes to our faith? First, we must stay “rooted and built up in him” (v. 7). Strong roots nourish a plant. Without active, growing roots, a tree will die. In the same way, believers need nourishment to continue in faith. We stay rooted by being connected to God in prayer, by reading and applying His Word, by staying engaged in a community of Christ followers.

Second, Paul says that we should be “strengthened in the faith as you were taught” (v. 7). Strength training is not a once-and-done process. Muscles that are not used will weaken. Strengthening in the faith requires constant exercise of trusting and believing in God, following His direction, obeying His call.

Finally, Paul says that we must be “overflowing with thankfulness” (v. 7). It is time for a thankfulness check! As we look at our prayer life and our speech, are they marked by thankfulness? Refocusing on God and what He has done will change our hearts from anxious to “overflowing.”

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At my church, we have a vibrant seniors ministry called The Jazzy Ladies and Gents. These men and women have a wonderful time together. But recently, leaders in that ministry have become concerned about seniors being swindled out of their hard-earned money through deceptive practices. They began offering information sessions to help them recognize the lies of deceivers.

Deceptive teachers were attempting to infiltrate the church in Colossae. Paul writes of his concern: “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” (v. 1). He states why he is fighting for them: “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments” (v. 4). This deception refers to false teachers who were attempting to influence this group of believers with persuasive speech. Certainly, the best of us can fall victim to such acts of deception.

Paul wanted them (and us) to have a clear understanding of the “mystery of God, namely, Christ” (v. 2). The good news in this passage is that we are able to stand firm through a clear understanding of this “mystery.” The Moody Bible Commentary states, “The mystery is further explained this way: Christ takes up residence in believers (in you, v. 27), even among Gentiles, those previously excluded from the people of God (Eph. 2:11–13).” Like a tree that does not bend with the wind, understanding who we are in Christ and having deep roots in God’s truth as written in His Word will prevent us from the crafty arguments of deceivers. “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” (vv. 4–5).

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Can suffering bring joy? The apostle Paul was under house arrest while writing to the Colossians. Rather than complaining about his imprisonment in Rome, Paul said he welcomed it. Why? Because he had been given this opportunity to forward the gospel and build the church.

Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church” (v. 24). By saying “lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,” Paul was not saying that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough. Rather, he was expressing his desire to extend through service what Christ had done. Paul considered it a privilege to serve Christ, even if it meant suffering. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings” (Phil. 3:10).

Being obedient to Christ in service to the church, gave Paul joy. He said, “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness” (v. 25). Paul counted it a privilege to reveal to the Gentiles what was once a mystery: “Christ is now in you, the hope of glory” (vv. 26–27).

Paul was strongly committed to this task (vv. 28–29). As he proclaimed, admonished, and taught everyone with godly wisdom, it was his deepest desire to present everyone fully mature in Christ. He wrote, “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (v. 29). With the word “contend,” Paul was alluding to the intense efforts of an athlete. We too have the privilege to suffer for Christ, serving both Him and the church.

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Eggs can be delicious on their own, but they are also used as an important binding ingredient in recipes. Eggs act as an emulsifier, bringing together two “difficult to mix” ingredients. For example, eggs are combined with oil and water to create mayonnaise.

Sometimes people can be “difficult to mix.” No matter how spiritually mature we might be, we find ourselves in conflict with friends, family members, and even fellow believers. When conflicts go unresolved, they create a hostile environment. In Colossians 1, Paul describes the hostility that previously existed between us and God. He says in verse 21, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” Paul explains that at one time we were spiritually estranged from God and lived opposed to Him in thought and deed. The question is how did God reconcile us to Himself?

In verse 22, Paul explains, “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.” Christ, as our reconciler, was able to bring people, once hostile toward one another, together as one. God initiated this reconciliation, and it happened at a cost. Jesus paid the price of death. Because of His death and resurrection, we can be free of accusation, and reconciliation with God was made possible (Rom. 3:21–26). True reconciliation cannot happen unless there is a removal of the charge.

As followers of Jesus and beneficiaries of His sacrificial act of reconciliation and love, we must extend this love and forgiveness to others. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

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There is friendly debate between my wife and I: whom our son resembles the most. I believe our son resembles me, and she believes he resembles her. In Colossians 1:15, the apostle Paul comments on the relationship between God the Father and God the Son: “The Son is the image of the invisible God.” We might wonder how Jesus who is visible can be the image of the invisible God?

Paul is not saying that Jesus merely resembles God. Rather, Jesus is the perfect representation or manifestation of God because He is God. Verse 19 says, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus].” The Bible clearly describes this relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” In John 14:9, Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Paul says that Jesus is sovereign as “firstborn,” and His power far exceeds any other power in all creation and beyond (vv. 15, 18). Jesus holds the highest rank. In Him dwells all the fullness of God (v. 19). Paul leaves no stone unturned as he clearly details Christ’s deity and supremacy.

The reason Paul is making very clear who Christ is to the church in Colossae is that heresy was spreading among the believers. Due to false teachers who had infiltrated the church, Paul was reminding believers of the foundational truths of our faith. Epaphras understood the severity of this problem. That’s why Paul mentions Epaphras’s prayers on their behalf at the close of the letter: “He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (4:12).

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Many people may not realize that Jesus was present at Creation. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul describes Christ as the “firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15). This title doesn’t mean that Jesus was the first to be created, but it emphasizes His authority over all that has been created. Jesus was the creator of all things, seen and unseen: “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” (Col. 1:16).

Our understanding of how the world came to be is taken directly from Scripture. God created everything in the universe and beyond out of nothing. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Heb. 11:3). In Genesis 1 God says, “Let there be…” And it came to be.

Paul makes two things very clear in verse 16. First, he tells us Who created all things. And second, he tells us why it was done—the purpose of Creation, that “all things have been created through him and for him” (v. 16). We must not overlook those last two words: “for him.” In Psalm 24:1 David says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” As our Creator, God reserves the right and authority to have supremacy in our lives. He will not allow us to live any way we want, without accountability.

Since Jesus is our Creator, Paul says in verse 17, “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.” We do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

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