Paul begins his letter to the church at Colosse commending them for their faithfulness (Colossians 1). They were under attack from false teachers who wanted to bind them again in legalism and cheapen the identity of Christ. So Paul points out that Christ is the only one to please by being fruitful in every good work and increasing in knowledge of God (V10).
Christ is creator and head of the church through whom we are reconciled to God. In Christ we are rooted and built up and established (Colossians 2). Though we were once dead in trespasses Christ made us alive with Him forgiving our trespasses (V13) and nailed the penalty of the law to the cross so we should no longer be judged by the things of the law which are shadows of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (V17).
In Christ we died to the things of the flesh (Colossians 3) no longer giving ourselves over to fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness in which we once walked (V5-7). Instead we walk as the elect of God, holy and beloved, putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with, and forgiving, one another letting the word of Christ dwell in us. These attributes are to be practiced in the family, at work, and in the world (V18-25).
In closing Paul calls his readers to the ministry of prayer and grace (Colossians 4) before acknowledging those who have been of particular help and comfort to him.
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