Are we free enough? Christ makes his people free and wants us to walk in that freedom. The false teachers were aiming to rob the believers of the freedom that Christ had purchased for them. But the pure gospel sustains and frees the people of God.

Because Christ has brought about the end of the internal rule of our sin nature and the external rule of spiritual authorities of darkness in our lives, we can live fully for him and with him through this life and beyond.

The indwelling Christ is our developed and protected lens by which to know and value all things and the supreme Lord over all.

Paul reminds the Colossians that they were once enemies and aliens of the Father, but Christ has brought them home. And because of that, he is the only source we need for life and freedom.

It is the heart of the Father that each of us be brought to maturity in Christ  through teaching and shepherding so that we might do the same to many other children of God.

Brothers and sisters.. you fully belong to the Father.  You have full rights and privileges of being close to him as your Father.  And you have Christ in you right now… which is your God-given confidence of all the glory you will share with him in the future.

The Apostle Paul was an amazing minister of the gospel. His life and ministry were marked by joyful suffering and deep love for the Church, a pattern he learned from the ultimate gospel minister, Jesus Christ.

Our natural state as humans is to be enemies and aliens of God, cut off from him until Christ reconciles us back to God by his life, death, and resurrection. Paul then encourages the Colossians to endure in the faith that was taught to them by continuing to trust in Christ by faith and not moving into the performative religion of the false teachers.

Jesus is so much more than simply our King and Savior… so much more. Rejoice in Jesus for his Saving. Rejoice in Jesus for his amazing leading. Now learn to Rejoice in Jesus for his nature and glory.