Our Story In Christ

The Christians in Colossae were confused and under stress.  In addition to the pressure from the Roman authorities to renounce their faith and worship Caesar, they were receiving different teachings--often contradictory teachings--about how they had to live as disciples of Jesus.  Paul, for his part, was concerned for their spiritual welfare, but he couldn't be with them, since the Romans had imprisoned him for preaching the Gospel.  In his letter, he reminded the Colossians that they belonged to Jesus Christ, and he warned them against teachings that tried to undercut or add conditions to that truth.

For both the Colossians and for Paul, life was much tougher and messier than they wanted it to be.  Life is often like that for us, too.  Under trying circumstances, we too can be vulnerable to teachings that undercut our true identity as children of God, or that add conditions to that identity.  Paul's warning against such teachings are for us, as well as for the Colossians.

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