Complete in Christ
Have you ever felt that simply believing in Jesus is not enough for your salvation? Or perhaps you've been urged to add something more to your Christian faith? This is exactly what transpired in the church of Colossae. False teachers came to the believers, demanding, "Do more." Today, we encounter similar challenges—claims that Christ alone isn't sufficient, that we must supplement our faith with human effort to secure salvation.
This is a lie. Paul makes it clear that as Christians, we are complete in Christ. He urges the Colossians to reject the instruction of these false teachers, because Christ has given believers everything they need. In Christ, we have been delivered from the bondage of sin (v. 11). In Christ we have been freed from the burden of guilt and forgiven (v. 13–14). In Christ, we have victory over Satan (v. 15).
John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” But despite our freedom in Christ, Satan desperately tries to shackle us to him. Paul sees this happening in the church, and he warns them against three dangers.
The first is legalism – Jesus plus human works. It is the temptation to live as though salvation is based on faith in Christ and our obedience. It says, not only are you saved by faith, but you’re made holy by your efforts and by your good deeds. This perspective overlooks the truth that our salvation rests solely on God's grace through Christ. Human works have no part in salvation or justification (Eph. 2:8-9), it is through grace alone, in Christ alone.
The second threat is mysticism – Jesus plus spiritual encounters. Seeking spirituality through experiences is not wrong, but danger occurs when we decide experiences are more important than God’s word. Scripture alone rules over everything, because only scripture is God’s inspired, infallible, sufficient word (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
The third danger is asceticism – Jesus plus our sacrificial self-denial. This practice promotes rejecting material comfort as a way to spirituality. It declares, “My body is evil, so, I’m going to starve it. I’m going to punish it. I’m going to afflict it.” Yet, we must realize that the physical body is not evil, it is God’s creation – sanctified by Him. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and punishing it does not make you more holy.
Paul’s message to the Colossians is a warning to us. We should not be swayed by false human philosophy – be it legalism, mysticism, asceticism, or some other misguided idea. These are but “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Remember that more important than how we worship, is who we worship. Rules, regulations, and man-made ordinances will all fade away, but the word of God will endure forever. Cling to the scripture and let us hold fast to Christ, in whom we “have been made complete” (Col. 2:10).