Colossians 2

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love …, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself” (v2).  Just like us, early believers were being tempted to replace “Christ Himself” with all kinds of other “persuasive arguments” (v4).  They were being urged to put their trust in human traditions and philosophy (such as observing holy days and abstaining from certain foods, v20-23), rather than in the death and resurrection of God’s Son. 

Paul wrote to encourage our hearts: our baptism signifies that we have been buried and raised again with Jesus, and therefore we have “been made complete” (v9-12).