Have you ever felt like you're being pulled in different directions when it comes to faith? Maybe you've heard people say that following Jesus isn’t enough—you need to follow certain rules, do extra spiritual practices, or gain some deeper knowledge to truly be a "real" Christian. This is exactly what was happening to the church in Colossae.  

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 60–62 while he was imprisoned in Rome. Colossae was a small but influential city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The Colossian church had been founded by Epaphras (Col. 1:7), a disciple of Paul.

Paul wrote this letter to address false teachings creeping into the church. These included:

• Philosophical deception – Human wisdom that contradicts Christ’s teaching (Col. 2:8).
• Legalism – The idea that following Jewish laws and traditions made one more righteous (Col. 2:16-17).
• Mysticism – Seeking spiritual experiences apart from Christ (Col. 2:18).
• Asceticism – Harsh treatment of the body to appear holy (Col. 2:20-23).

Paul wrote Colossians to remind believers that Jesus is more than enough. There’s nothing we can add to Him to make our faith more real or complete. People were being told they needed to follow strict religious rules, seek mystical experiences, or gain special knowledge beyond Jesus. Paul writes this letter to set the record straight – everything we need is found in Christ alone. 

Paul begins by expressing his deep concern for the believers in Colossae and nearby Laodicea. He wants them to be encouraged and united in love, having full confidence in the truth of Christ. His desire is that they remain strong and firm in their faith, not easily shaken by new ideas or false teachings. He describes their faith as being "rooted and built up in Him"—like a tree whose roots grow deep into the soil, keeping it strong no matter what storms come its way. Just like a tree depends on deep roots to grow and survive, our faith must be firmly planted in Christ so we won’t be easily swayed. 

Let’s talk about it:
- What do you think it means to be “rooted” in Christ? 
- What are some ways we can strengthen our roots in Him?

Paul then gives a strong warning: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8). This verse reminds us to be careful about what we believe and what influences us. The world offers many ideas that sound wise and deep, but if they contradict Christ, they are empty. Instead of chasing after human wisdom, we are called to stand firm in the truth that we are already complete in Christ. 

Let’s talk about it:
- What are some modern beliefs or philosophies that can distract people from Christ today?
- How can we recognize when a teaching or belief is leading us away from Jesus? 

Another issue Paul addresses is legalism—the belief that we need to follow certain religious rules to be right with God. In Paul’s time, some were saying that Christians needed to follow Jewish customs, such as circumcision, observing special holy days, or dietary restrictions. But Paul makes it clear that these things were only shadows pointing to Christ. Now that Jesus has come, we don’t need to follow old religious laws to be saved—He has already fulfilled them.  

Paul describes how, through Christ, we have experienced a spiritual circumcision—not a physical act, but a cutting away of our sinful nature. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are buried with Him in baptism and raised to new life. We don’t have to earn salvation or prove ourselves through religious practices. Jesus has already done the work.  

He goes on to say that Jesus has cancelled our debt by nailing it to the cross. Imagine a long list of everything you’ve ever done wrong—every sin, every mistake, every failure. Now imagine Jesus taking that list and wiping it out completely. That’s what He did on the cross. Our sins are forgiven, and we are free from guilt and condemnation. Not only that, but Jesus also defeated the powers of darkness. The enemy no longer has authority over us because Jesus has triumphed over him. 

Let’s talk about it:
- Have you ever felt pressured to follow religious "rules" to prove your faith? 
- How does knowing that Jesus cancelled our debt change the way we live? 
- How can we remind ourselves daily that we are free in Christ? 

Paul also warns against false humility and religious practices that appear spiritual but don’t actually transform the heart. Some people were pushing ideas like angel worship or extreme self-discipline as ways to grow closer to God. But Paul says these things only have an appearance of wisdom—they don’t actually help us grow in faith. True spiritual growth comes from holding fast to Christ.  

It can be easy to fall into a mindset where we think we need to "do more" to be accepted by God. We might not follow Jewish laws, but sometimes we create our own version of legalism—thinking that if we pray enough, read our Bible enough, or follow certain spiritual routines, God will love us more. But Paul reminds us that our faith is not about following rules. It’s about having a real, growing relationship with Jesus. 

Let’s talk about it:
- What are some ways people today can fall into empty religious practices? 
- How can we shift our focus from "doing things for God" to simply loving and knowing Jesus?
- What does it look like to hold fast to Christ in everyday life? 

Colossians 2 reminds us that Jesus is the foundation of our faith. We don’t need to chase after new philosophies, religious rituals, or extreme spiritual practices to be complete. We are already fully alive in Him. If we stay deeply rooted in Christ, we won’t be easily swayed by the world’s changing ideas.

Personal challenge: Take some time to reflect on your faith. Are there areas where you might be relying on something other than Jesus—whether it's human wisdom, religious effort, or personal achievements? Choose one way you can deepen your relationship with Christ this week, whether through prayer, spending time in His Word, or simply resting in His grace.