Colosse

Colosse like Ephesus is in modern day Turkey. Having been to Turkey, it is a secular country with the majority being Islamic but Christians and Jewish are present as well. But make no mistake, Turkey is majority Muslim (Islam). Colosse is SW Turkey, I was in the South-Central city of Adana near Syria.

Paul is writing to fellow believers at Colosse acknowledging their faith in Jesus Christ. He reminds them in verse 10 to walk worthy, be fruitful and gain knowledge of God aka Jesus Christ. As Paul continues, that Jesus delivered us from the powers of darkness. All things good and evil were created by God and for God including the visible and invisible things. God created everything before anything existed and breathed life into man. God rules over everything (Preeminence).

God made peace with the earth who was in the law by sending Jesus Christ (Lord God) into the earth to be crucified on the cross and resurrected. God did this because all people were doing wicked things so he could reconcile mankind back to Himself.

Turning to Chapter two, Paul writes that through Jesus Christ may our hearts be comforted being knit together in love and unto all understanding and acknowledgment he is our God in who is all wisdom, knowledge and understanding. When we walk on earth or live out each day, walk in Jesus Christ and not after any philosophy or vain deceit but in thanksgiving.

As a gentile and not a Jew, my access to God was not available if I lived in that timeframe until God had Jesus nailed to the Cross. We are all alive in Christ who believe. Not one person can judge us how we live our life what we eat, drink, or how we live each day. Nor can we trust people who ask us to worship angels or anything that is the vanity of their mind. Two times Paul uses the word knit together in this chapter as if we are all knit of the same cloth of Jesus Christ in his body aka the Church.

Paul continues in Chapter Three, set your feelings and your life on Heaven and not on earth. We should be embarrassed or ashamed if we commit fornication, unnatural desires (same sex or other sexual conquests), doing or saying evil things (anger, wrath, bear a false witness, swearing), & covet things which Paul calls the same as idolatry. Every person regardless of believers of religion or non-religious belief can be free in Christ.

Paul reminds each one of us towards each other to give mercy, be kind, be humble, meek and longsuffering, to not judge (forbear) but to forgive if anyone has anything against you. We do this in love (charity).

Like other letters, Paul reminds us to the following:

1. Wives submit yourself to your husband
2. Husbands love your wife and be not bitter (interesting)
3. Children obey your parents
4. Fathers provoke not your children to anger (not to mothers)
5. Servants (workers) work for the Lord not for the owner
6. Owners/leaders give your servants (workers) that which is right in pay and performance.

As individuals:

1. Always continue in prayer and thanksgiving.
2. Walk in wisdom toward others that do not know Jesus Christ
3. Speak in grace with a season of salt as you should be able to answer those who do not know Jesus and those that do. I call this being a cheerleader and giving examples of grace and truth.

All four of Paul’s letters from Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and here in Colossians are a reminder of how to live for Christ. They are essential to live as a Christian here on earth until we are called to Heaven.