Made Alive With Christ

Paul opens the chapter by sharing how greatly he struggles in prayer for the Colossians and for believers at Laodicea. He wants their hearts comforted and knit together in love, so they may understand God's mystery, which is Christ himself, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. Then he explains: Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

Paul gives them a clear command. As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. He warns them to be careful so no one carries them off through empty philosophy and human tradition that is not after Christ. For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, and believers lack nothing in Him. Paul says believers were buried with Christ in baptism and raised with him through faith in the working of God.

Paul describes the forgiveness God gives. Though they were dead through their trespasses, God made them alive together with Christ and forgave all their trespasses. He wiped out the written record that stood against them and took it away, nailing it to the cross. Christ triumphed over every power. Therefore no one should judge them about food, drink, feasts, or Sabbaths. These were a shadow of the things to come, but the body is Christ's. Paul says that harsh human rules may look wise, but they have no power to stop sinful desires.