Our Exhortation to Continue Dwelling in the All-Sufficient Christ

 (Colossians 2:1-7)

Paul has been commissioned by God to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the church to fulfill the word of God. Here he addressed the church of Colosse, wanting them to know how great was his suffering for them and for those believers at Laodicea, and for all the saints of Rome who had never seen him face to face. False teachers had entered the church, and Paul did not want the church to be deceived with enticing but thoroughly deceptive words (v.4). His desire was that their hearts be encouraged as they are knit together in love, and that they have all the riches that come from the complete assurance of understanding the joy of God’s plan of salvation, to acknowledging the mystery of God, that is, Christ (v.2; Romans 11:33), in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge regarding the word and purposes of God (v.3).

Even though Paul wasn’t with them in the flesh, he declared that he was with them in the spirit, rejoicing to see their good order and steadfastness of their faith in Christ (v.5).  It’s a blessing when those who have taught you the gospel truth can be confident that you may be separated but still receive reports of your faithfulness, your fruitfulness you received from the word of God, and your love for all the saints. Paul exhorted the saints at Colosse to continue in the all-sufficient Christ: “⁶Therefore as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: ⁷ Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

As children of God, we are commanded to let our daily living reflect who we are in the Lord. We can be assured that somebody is watching and listening. “ Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind – permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16, AMP).