Introduction to Colossians

Why keep reaching for more when the table is already full? Christ is enough.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a call to remain rooted in the sufficiency of Christ. Written from Roman house arrest, possibly chained to a guard while awaiting trial before Nero, Paul’s heart overflowed not with fear but with concern for the flourishing of the body of Christ. Even under pressure, his thoughts were with the believers in Colossae—people he had never met but loved deeply in Christ.

The Colossian believers were at risk. A subtle yet dangerous philosophy was seeping into their fellowship—one that taught that Jesus alone was not enough. This philosophy mixed Jewish ceremonialism and mystical experiences with the gospel, promising a "fuller" spiritual life. Paul responded not by attacking the symptoms, but by unveiling the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. His response was Christ-centered, not crisis-centered.

At its core, Colossians is an invitation to rest in the complete provision found in Christ. The believers didn’t need more rules, rituals, or ecstatic spiritual experiences. They needed to know—and live in light of—the fact that they already had everything in Christ. Paul reminds them that Jesus is not merely a part of the answer. He is the whole answer. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, and in Him all the fullness of God dwells bodily. And since Christ dwells in believers, there is no additional measure they must strive for. They are already complete in Him.

The church at Colossae had a high view of Jesus, but their daily choices did not always reflect that belief. Paul aimed to bridge that disconnect by calling them back to a daily walk rooted in their confession: “Jesus is Lord.” This wasn’t just doctrinal affirmation—it was a radical reorientation of life. If Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh, then life with Him is not lived through striving to attain more, but by yielding to what is already true: that in Christ, they were full.

Personalized Journal Entry — In the Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture

You who have received Christ Jesus as Lord, walk in Me as you began—in trust, not striving. I have rooted you in Him, built you up in Him, and established you in the faith just as you were taught. Abide in thanksgiving, not in anxiety over what you think is missing.

Do not let empty deceit carry you away, for I am in you to remind you that the fullness of deity dwells in Christ—and you have been filled in Him. There is no second tier of spirituality. You were circumcised not with human hands, but in the removal of your old self in Christ’s death. You were buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God.

I have made you alive with Christ, forgiven all your trespasses. I canceled the record that stood against you and nailed it to the cross. I disarmed the powers that try to accuse you and paraded them in defeat. Why then submit to human commands and rituals as if you still lived in the shadows?

I urge you, set your mind on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ—who is your life—appears, you also will appear with Him in glory. Walk in Me, and I will express the life of Jesus through you, moment by moment. (Colossians 2:6–3:4, adapted in sequence)

Real-Life Analogy — Christ Is Enough

You’ve probably gone to a restaurant, ordered your meal, and halfway through eating it, a server comes by and asks if you’d like to see the dessert menu. Maybe you’re already full, but something about the presentation or suggestion makes you doubt your satisfaction. You start to wonder, Maybe I’m missing out on something better. So you indulge—and afterward, feel worse off than before.

That’s the subtle danger Paul addresses in Colossians. The Colossians had already received the fullness of Christ. But someone came by with a dessert cart of religious extras—rituals, mystical experiences, laws—and made them question whether Jesus was enough. Paul’s message? You are already full in Christ. Don’t nibble at the world’s empty delicacies when the Bread of Life dwells in you.

Prayer of Confident Trust

Lord Jesus, I rest tonight in the certainty that You are more than enough. You are not a steppingstone to something greater—You are the fullness of God in bodily form, and in You I lack nothing. Thank You that I do not need to supplement Your work with my own striving, nor search for fulfillment in rituals or emotional highs. You have filled me with Your life. I choose to walk in the confidence of what is already mine, joyfully receiving You moment by moment. You are not only the source of my salvation—you are my life. And I trust You to live Your life through me, even now.

Devotional Insight Source: Grace and Truth Study Bible
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