Daily Bible Reading 2nd June 2025 // Colossians 1:12-23
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Paul, in his wisdom, knows that it is positive doctrinal instruction, once it has really and truly sunk in, once the implications have been grasped in terms of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. It is this kind of positive instruction which will be the Colossians' best protection against any kind of error. It is just as true for us today. This is the practical usefulness of sound doctrine. The fact that many Church leaders discount the need for sound teaching/preaching doctrine and the fact that many in the pews regard 'doctrine' as theoretical and impractical, not to say dull and boring, shows just how much they do not understand. What Paul focuses on immediately after his opening prayer is the 'doctrine of Christ'. This is the very heart and soul of the Christian faith and it is magnificent and thrilling. It should draw praise and wonder and adoration from our hearts and lives and should establish us firm and sure in the face of all attack and error. It is, you see, the intelligent appreciation of the doctrine of Christ (the biblical teaching of who Jesus is and what he has done) which is the Christian's best safeguard against heresy and all the fiery darts of the evil one.