November 2, 2025 - Colossians 2-4

Paul strongly encourages the Colossians as to how they are to live:  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (2:6).  Our lives are so intimately connected with Christ that John (chapter 15) was able to describe that relationship as ourselves having been grafted into the true vine, drawing our very life from him.  And here:  “rooted and built up in him” (2:7), “filled in him” (2:10), in him circumcised (2:11), “buried with him in baptism” (2:12), “raised with him through faith” (2:12), “made alive together with him” (2:13).  Furthermore, in Jesus we have all our transgressions forgiven, the Father “canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (2:13,14).  “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (2:15).  At Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, I once heard Dr. Robert Smith declare that he could not live without Christ.  Reading over all this and understanding all that Jesus is to us and all he has done for us, as believers, we can all give that same testimony.  Without him, we would have nothing.  But we do have him, and we do have life, abundant and eternal!

Come join, ye saints, with heart and voice,

Alone in Jesus to rejoice,

And worship at his feet;

Come, take his praises on your tongues,

And raise to him your thankful songs,

“In him ye are complete!”

Still onward urge your heavenly way,

Dependent on him day by day,

His presence still entreat;

His precious name for ever bless,

Your glory, strength, and righteousness,--

“In him ye are complete!”   -- Samuel Medley (1834)