In chapter 3, Paul pivots from the truth of Jesus and the false teaching gaining influence around Colossae, to the implications and practicalities of how the preeminence of Jesus should pervade every area of our lives. To follow Jesus is not a part-time hobby or optional add-on, but a total-life, all-encompassing, holistic journey.

The world appears unhinged. What’s wrong? What’s the problem? Violence, corruption, racism, disease, and more… But what’s the cause? Why? The Bible has an answer. It’s an explanation that, though often resisted or scorned, when accepted makes sense of a beautiful world gone terribly wrong.

We compromise the word of God when we subtract from or add to it. The false teachers in Colossae were teaching error and insisting upon human rules and traditions, thereby destroying the purity of the Gospel message. In this passage, Paul continues his warnings against them and explains the rationale for his injunctions.

Paul has told the Colossians that preaching Jesus requires both warning and instruction (1:28). In this section he does both himself. Two warnings are given (2:4; 2:8), followed by longer teachings or explanations. Paul’s point again is to remind them, and us, of the supremacy of Jesus and thus the danger of adding other worldly, human traditions and/or teachings.

As Paul writes the believers in Colossae, he shares that he toils and struggles to help see that they grow mature in their faith in Jesus. Instead of grabbing for something else or something new, they should press in to the treasure and fullness found in Jesus alone.

Though the apostle Paul had never been to Colossae, he writes to them affectionately thankful for their faith in the Gospel of Jesus and concerned that they not veer from the purity of it - neither subtracting from it or adding to it. He opens his letter by sharing what he’s thankful for and how he’s praying for them.

We can be skeptical of death-bed conversions, but the Cross of Jesus demonstrates that they are possible. No one is saved by their record of good works, but only by the sheer mercy and grace of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ work on the Cross, no failure is ever final and no sin is ever greater than the scandalous grace of Jesus.

Jesus’ first words on the cross speak of his divinity and his mercy. They are directed to his Father, in mercy toward his murderers. It’s Jesus’ blood that makes his prayer effective. The wonder of the cross is that the Son of God would bleed for his enemies. The cross displays the horror of sin as well as God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness for sinners - even the worst of us.

Pastor Ross concludes our Who We Are (becoming) series by encouraging every member to identify and embrace a personal mission field and link up with our CC Global partners.

What is worship? Is it only what happens on Sundays? Should we be concerned only with what God thinks of our worship? In this message, Pastor Ross offers a three-fold framework for thinking about worship.