Jesus Paid it All

Scripture Reading: Psalm 97; Isaiah 65-66; Colossians 2

Paul wrote to the believers in Colossea because there was an ongoing attempt to lead them away from the gospel and Christ. This attempt was more subtle than an open denial of Jesus. There were people who were deceptively using philosophical reasoning and religious traditions to get them to adopt ways of life that were antithetical to the gospel.

These false and deceptive teachings had at their core the idea that Jesus is important but He is not enough. They needed to add to the work of Christ to be fully forgiven and united to Christ. Whenever someone adds to or takes away from Christ and His redemptive work, it is at best an error and at worst heresy.

This is why Paul emphasizes the completeness of our salvation and forgiveness in Christ in 2:13-14 -

Jesus has forgiven you all trespasses, 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.

And because of that, we are to not let anyone judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths...Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels...not holding fast to the Head…

There is no need to add anything to the finished work of Christ. Jesus paid it all. In Christ, if your faith is in Him, you are fully and completely forgiven of all sin. It has been taken out of the way, it has been nailed to the cross with Christ.

To try to add to the finished work of Jesus is like grabbing a hammer and swinging wildly at Michelangelo’s David in hopes to make it a little better.

Rejoice and trust in Jesus saving work. Don’t try to complete what is already finished.