I tried to put myself in Paul’s situation, holding on to that kind of urge and concern for the Colosse and Laodicea. It is like you wanted to see so much of the truth to be upholded, but apart from praying, there is a sense of helplessness. The burden for God’s people and His church.

In this chapter, Paul was counteracting the Colossian heresy, which, in part, taught that for salvation one needed to combine faith in Christ with secret knowledge and with human regulations concerning such physical and external practices as circumcision, eating and drinking, and observance of religious festivals (v8). We can see how Paul tries to preach the truth where in v9 he says that “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” We can see the declaration that the very essence of deity was present in TOTALITY in Jesus’ human body, which was a direct refutation of the Gnostic teaching. Christian is made complete in Christ, rather than being deficient and this completeness includes the putting off of the sinful nature, resurrection from spiritual death, forgiveness and deliverance from legalistic requirements and from evil spirit beings.

I am not going further on every single verse in this chapter, but as an overview, I believe the cornerstone of this chapter and what Paul tries to convey is the truth of our Faith itself. The issue back then in Colosse is similar to what some “churches” are facing in our vicinity, where the Truth is not preached according to the Bible. The issue can always be when man tries to outsmart God, preaching to their own knowledge. I believe God is not concerned about how many denominations existed in this world, but how may denominations actually uphold the Truth and His word. In short, Biblical churches. It is so true to see those shaky churches that fail to preach the fundamental truth are either closed down, turned into pubs, abandoned, or not experiencing growth but downfall. We need to build our churches on the solid Rock that can withstand all sorts of harsh weather, not on soft spoil. Christ is the centre and head of the church. In verse 19, it says that “He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” The central error of the Colossian heresy is a defective view of Christ, in which he is believed to be less than deity. Promoting self-imposed worship, false teachers attempted to parade their humility, it was a system created by the false teachers themselves and had created the regulations of their heretical system. They were not from God.

Therefore, as Christ follower, this passage teaches us the importance of searching and being part of a healthy bible-based church. The type of church will determine what kind of people being produced. The issue of faith and believing in what we believe is always a great challenge for many ones.

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)

It is not so much about the law nor our own knowledge thinking of who God is, but the relationship with God and knowing God personally. It is doing our life with Christ, in Christ and for Christ!