Vital religion

Paul wants the Colossian church to be gathered around the standard of Christ, and the truth concerning him, living out the life that they have found by trusting him.

He makes a well-grounded assumption: that those to whom he writes have received Christ Jesus the Lord.

He issues a related command: that those who have received Christ should walk in him, their whole life ordered by their relationship to him.

He lays the foundation of that, in that those who have received the Lord are rooted in him and being built up in him, established in the faith.

He reminds them of the measure of their faith, in accordance with the apostolic teaching they have received.

Finally, he encourages them concerning the spirit in which they live: abounding thanksgiving, grounded in their faith in the Christ, by which they are kept from doubts and fears.