Paul wrote the letter to the Colossian church from prison. Most believe this was during his first imprisonment in Rome. He had not himself been to Colossae; however, he was actively involved and informed through Epaphras. There had arisen in Colossae heretical sects were a blend of mysticism, spiritualists, Jewish, and Christian doctrines. Mostly, these sects did not deny Christ, but did dethrone Him. They believed in “secret knowledge,” angelic visions, and looked very much like the spiritualists and new age believers today. Giving a form of righteousness but denying the one and only true power. This letter of Paul’s reiterates that all your ever need for life, peace, and joy is Jesus. He is all. Only He can provide you with salvation and it is not Jesus plus anything. It is Jesus and only Jesus. There are no mystical revelations that can get you to heaven.
Therefore, the book of Colossians is a timeless argument for the supremacy of Jesus Christ overall. He is our only hope of life, peace, and joy as we navigate this journey through a broken world. Do not lose focus.
Imagine a young bride to be walking along with her betrothed. There is a covenanted marriage to be. Contracts are even signed for that with His name. You are His and only His. Now as you walk down the lane there is a storm that arrives. You cling tightly to his hand to guide you. Winds are blowing, lightning draws near as he picks you up to carry you safely home. Your arms wrapped tightly around His shoulders and neck—head pressed against His chest. ‘Wrapped tightly in His raincoat, protected from the storm. That is a picture of us as we traverse this world. Jesus is all we need.
All You Ever Need is Jesus-the Gospel Planted and Taught
3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. 5 Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 7 You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf— 8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1 (NET)
“Epaphras may have been Paul’s convert. As Paul’s representative he had evangelized Colossae (Col 1:7 RSV) and the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis (4:12, 13) during Paul’s Ephesian ministry (Acts 19:10). His visit to Paul in Rome and his report concerning conditions in the churches of the Lycus Valley caused Paul to write Colossians (Col 1:7-9).
Paul’s high esteem for Epaphras is seen in the terms he applies to him, “our beloved fellow servant,” “a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf” (Col 1:7), “a servant of Christ Jesus” (4:12), and “my fellow prisoner” (Philem 23). Because the last term is applied to Aristarchus (Col 4:10), the probable meaning is that Epaphras and Aristarchus alternated in voluntarily sharing Paul’s imprisonment.
The unique distinction of Epaphras is Paul’s praise of him for his fervent intercession for the churches in the Lycus Valley (Col 4:12, 13).”1
Epaphras – Encyclopedia of The Bible – Bible Gateway
Paul begins by fully supporting his fellow minister and thus confirming his true teachings that Jesus is all without any of the added heretical teachings going around in that city. A Prayer for Knowledge
Note the prayer of Paul for the church in Colossae.
Consider this prayer when praying for yourself and for others.
For this reason, we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 So that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1 (NET)
All we ever need for life is in Jesus. In Him is our redemption, our justification, our adoptions, our sanctification, our righteousness, and the security of our ultimate glorification. There is no other way of salvation. No angels, no mystical spiritual beings, nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away our sins. There are no new revelations but those He already gave to us.
All You Ever Need is Jesus—No New Revelations
Much of the New Age, taught by Oprah Winfrey and Wayne Dyer takes the truth even quoting scripture and twists it, saying we are “God” and that we all lived in heaven before we chose to come here where we search to return to that place through spiritual revelations, meditations, and visions. Unfortunately, that same ideology has crept into our modern churches. We are to accept all ways to God as true. And we are to seek a “spiritual vision and revelation from God” through many means. Without which, some say you are not saved unless you have these out of body experiences. Then they try to teach these new visions as being new prophecy that replaces the old.
Also, this has infiltrated the churches in lesser, more subtle forms which we must be ever aware of and skeptical of. There are no new revelations needed apart from what God has given us.
Concerning the final prophecy of the Jews, God told Daniel through Gabriel to write:
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12 (NKJV)
And at the end of Revelation, God gives this warning.
This is for all the world.
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18 (NET)
Examples of Ideologies leading away from the Truth All You Need is Jesus
Beware when anyone tells you that they have had a vision, seen supernatural visions, or were given a new revelation. If what they say they saw goes against anything in scripture run as fast as you can. There are no new prophecies. That is part of the error with the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Seventh Day Adventists. Of the three, I have known some very well versed Seventh Day Adventists. However, their founder predicted the return of Christ to be on October 22, 1844. When that day came and went, they then reassessed and now believe that the return was only in heaven. We will all have to prove our right to be saved.
There are many similar ideas that have crept in more recently, such as the prosperity gospel, homosexual pastors, and even parts of the mainstream churches are allowing in false doctrines to grow their mega-churches. They will say, it is ok if we are bringing people to hear of Jesus. But if what they hear is false, what benefit is there? You also have those who trust in palm readers, astrology, worship nature, or even worship angels. But the Angel in Revelation told John not to bow before him.
All You Ever Need is Jesus for Wisdom
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not [a]personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth [b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2 (NASB)
The Book of Proverbs presents the Same Gospel—
albeit looking forward to Christ’s coming and we look back.
My son if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
Incline your heart to understanding.
3 For if you cry out for insight,
And raise your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2 (NASB)
King Solomon urged his son to seek wisdom, for there is where he could find God—the true source of wisdom. Yet we know of Christ,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14 (NKJV)
All You Ever Need is Jesus by Faith-Beware of False Philosophies
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2: 6-8 (NKJV)
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Colossians 2 (NKJV)
These things do not make people righteous. We cannot do it by our own works
All You Ever Need is Jesus for Righteousness
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2 (NKJV)
He bore all my sin that I might be made righteous in Him. Not my own righteousness but clothed in His. Furthermore, the cross spelled the ultimate doom of Satan and his fallen angels. They failed in preventing the birth of Jesus and in thwarting the cross. We even read in I Peter 3:18 that Jesus Christ while His body was dead descended to where one group of demons are imprisoned to announce to Him His triumph over them.
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
All You Ever Need is Jesus to Cast off all Carnality
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Colossians 3 (NKJV)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
CREDITS
1 Epaphras – Encyclopedia of The Bible – Bible Gateway; with quotes from Commentaries on Colossians in loc. H. S. Seekings, The Men of the Pauline Circle (1914), 147-153; H. C. Lees, St. Paul’s Friends (1918), 146-159; D. E. Hiebert, Working By Prayer (1953), 67-82; H. Lockyer, All the Men of the Bible (1958), 110, 111.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.