He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1: 13-14

This evening I sat around a table with a group of believing men from the church we attend when we’re in Phoenix. Tonight, one of the guys mentioned his struggles from his childhood church that emphasizes doing things, following a type of legalism in addition to the Grace provided by Christ.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, he was dealing directly with the same kind of thoughts in principle. In the local church, there were false teachers who tried to impose strict rules about eating and drinking and religious festivals as part of the Christian walk and Paul intended to correct the error.

He begins the correction in the verses above, establishing the superiority of Christ before all things, above all things and the glue holding all things together

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1: 15-17

It is important to be reminded of where our faith should be placed – not in the hand of any man, but only in the One who redeemed us.