Colossians 2

Rooted in Christ

1 Listen, I need you all to know how much I have been grinding and praying for you, the folks in Laodicea, and everybody who has not met me face-to-face.

2 I want your hearts to be encouraged, united in love, so you all can fully understand the riches of God’s mystery, that is Christ.

3 In Him, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

4 I am telling you all this so nobody tricks you with slick talk.

5 Even though I am not with you in person, I am there in spirit, and I am hyped to see how disciplined and strong your faith in Christ is.

6 So since you all received Christ Jesus as Lord, live your life rooted in Him.

7 Stay grounded, built up in Him, and strong in your faith, just like you were taught, and always be thankful.

Freedom from Human Rules

8 Do not let anyone take you captive with fancy philosophies or empty lies that come from human traditions or worldly systems, not Christ.

9 In Christ, the fullness of God lives in bodily form.

10 And in Him, you have been made complete. He is the head over every ruler and authority.

11 In Him, you got a spiritual circumcision, not with human hands, but by Christ cutting away your sinful nature.

12 When you got baptized, you were buried with Him, and then you were raised up with Him through faith in God’s power that brought Him back from the dead.

13 You were dead in your sins, but God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

14 He wiped out the record of charges against us and nailed it to the cross.

15 He disarmed the powers and authorities, put them to shame, and flexed His victory on the cross.

16 So do not let anyone judge you about what you eat, drink, or the festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths you keep.

17 Those things were just shadows of what is coming, the real deal is Christ.

18 Do not let anyone hustle you out of your prize with fake humility or worshiping angels. These folks brag about visions and puff themselves up for no reason.

19 They are disconnected from the Head, which is Christ. The whole body, supported and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God makes it grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the world’s rules, why are you still following them like you are part of this world,

21 Stuff like “Do not handle this, do not taste that, do not touch this.”

22 These rules are human-made and fade away when they are used up.

23 They might look wise with their self-made religion, fake humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they do not actually help you control your sinful desires.