“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” Colossians 2:9
Sunday we looked at how the church in Colossae was using a mash-up of Christianity, bad Judaism, and paganism in their church. They believed in what Jesus did for salvation, but added to it rules (Judaism) and strange rituals (paganism) to “help” God love them more. Paul says that these things, “… philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition and not according to Christ,” (Colossians 2:8) are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh (Colossians 2:23). It is only in the work of Jesus that we find salvation.
In many of our modern churches, we see the same things happening. Jesus is taught but then we add more hoops that you must jump through if you want God to love you more. It is in Jesus and in Him alone that we are reconciled to God, who already loves us so much that He provided the way for us to have salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son. (John 3:16)
So, Stay in the Gospel – the story of Jesus. Rest in Him and not your work or efforts. Oh, what Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me.