Only Jesus Brings Us to Maturity (Colossians 2:6-22)

Bible Passage: Colossians 2:6-22

Having spent the first chapter speaking about the gospel and his own ministry, Paul now starts to exhort the Colossian believers. He has already said that he has been encouraged to hear about their faith, their love, and their hope. Now he wants to make sure they are not led astray, but continue to build their lives on Jesus.

The way in is the way on (v6-7): In these verses, Paul makes the link explicit between the way the Colossian believers first responded to Jesus and the way they should continue to respond to him now. He uses the word ‘receiving’ Christ, and this highlights that receiving is a not a one time event but an ongoing heart posture for Christians – we are to be continually accepting Jesus in. He also talks about being rooted, built up and established. These are words that indicate steadfastness, and over the course of following Jesus a resilience is built up that faith will not waver when trouble comes but will stand firm. Finally, he speaks of an abundance of thanksgiving. The life of a Christian (both a new believer and a mature disciple) is one filled with gratitude and praise for everything Jesus has done.

Jesus has done it all (v8-15): In these verses, Paul sets out how complete the victory of Christ on the cross is. In verse 9, he highlights the incarnation, that Jesus is God in the flesh, and then goes on to assert his authority over all other rulers in verse 10. Paul highlights that through the cross Jesus has forgiven our sins, and in doing so has triumphed over spiritual enemies, who would use that sin as a weapon to accuse us. We have come to share in this death through baptism, and also share in the new life of the resurrection with him. Because of the cross we have full forgiveness and full victory, and this is not because we have done any good works or kept any religious observances, but all because of him.

We don’t need anything else (v16-23): In these verses, Paul elaborates on an idea that he introduced in verse 8 – we are not to be held captive. In particular, he is talking about religious observances. When we treat food laws, festivals, self-denial, mysticism or other such things as though they are necessary for salvation, we have been misled. There can be Jewish versions of these things based on Old Testament laws, and pagan versions based on folk religion, but both types are equally powerless. It is only in Christ that the substance that these things are pointing towards is found.

Potential Applications:

• You could spend time praying for any who feel shame and condemnation for sin, that they would experience a sense of the forgiveness and victory won by Jesus.
• This passage sets out how Jesus is the only way of salvation, and the only way to maturity. You could invite people to receive Christ, whether for the first time or the thousandth.
• The passage challenges any who are have allowed religious or spiritual practices to take too big a place in their Christian life and hold them captive. You could encourage people to step away from certain things that they have been wrongly seeing as essential for salvation.