The book of Colossians is centred on Jesus Christ. It is a letter to the Christians in the city of Colossae, in what is now Turkey. A guy called Epaphras took the great news of Jesus to this city. So, the Apostle Paul, knowing this writes to the Christians to make sure they are clear on who Jesus Christ is, what it means to have him as their Lord and to protect them against some false ideas.

The key verses that capture the driving idea of this letter are

‘6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.’
Colossians 2v6-7

This is the heart of Christianity. You accept Jesus as your Lord. You enter into a saving relationship with him. You seek to live out this relationship and its implications. That’s it!

Colossians only 4 short chapters.

How to read it?

In chapters 1 & 2 after you’ve read a section ask yourself, ‘What do I learn about Jesus?’

In chapters 3 & 4 after you’ve read a section ask yourself, ‘What difference should trusting Jesus make to my life?’

You could read a chapter or half a chapter at time. Below is a short summary of each chapter.

Chapter 1: Shows the salvation that Christians have in Jesus.

Those who trusted Jesus have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and are in Jesus kingdom, under his saving rule. (Chapter 1 verse 13)

Jesus is shown to be the image of God and the ruler of all creation, both the heavens and the author. He holds all power over every ruler. They answer to him. And he is the ruler and king of the new creation because of his resurrection from the dead. (Chapter 1 verses 15-19)

Every person that trusts Jesus is no longer an enemy of God. They are now appear before God as holy and blameless. And, they are friends with God - reconciled to him. And all of this happened because of Jesus’ death on the cross for sinners. We are reconciled by his blood (Chapter 1 verse 20-23).

Chapter 2: Warns and encourages Christians to stick with Jesus.

Jesus is fully God and so every spiritual truth that we need to know is found by understanding who Jesus is and what he is done for us.

Christians are warned not to be kidnapped by other ideas that offer false spirituality or false solutions to the good life. These things will lead people away from Christ and their relationship with God.

Instead Christians are to continue with Jesus as their Lord

“ So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.” Colossians 2 verse 6-7, as above.

Chapter 3: Jesus as your Lord means a changed life

A person isn’t saved by living differently. No. Rather, when a person trusts Jesus they are united to him and his death and resurrection.

All that Jesus has done is now theirs. This is where salvation comes from.

It is this salvation that means Christians now want to live a changed life. Not because it saves them but because they have been saved already! So, they will want to:

• Put sin to death (3v6-8)

• Throw off the old way of treating people (3v9-11)

• Put on kindness, compassion, mercy and gentleness. Learn to deeply love their Christian brothers and the sisters in the church. (3v12-17)

• Have every relationship changed by Christ (3v18-4v1)

Chapter 4: Christians are called to mission because Jesus is Lord

• Praying for themselves.

• Praying for the great news of Jesus to go out.

• Sharing Jesus with others.

• Partnering with other Christians to grow people in Jesus.