Living Before Outsiders: How Christ’s Supremacy Shapes Our Witness

Imagine being spotted drinking heavily at a tavern on Saturday night, then leading worship on Sunday morning. Picture failing to repay a loan to your uncle, then attempting to tell him about God’s generosity. Consider gossiping about colleagues, then inviting them to church.

Would anyone in these scenarios take our words about Jesus seriously? The answer is obvious. What we believe matters precisely because how we live matters. Our daily conduct as Christians creates the path that allows others to genuinely hear and consider our words about Christ.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul builds his argument like the mighty Zambezi River, flowing from the headwaters of Christ’s supremacy down to the practical shores of everyday life. This journey culminates in how believers should live before those outside the faith.

The letter begins with a magnificent portrait of Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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” (1:15–16). Christ is supreme as the creator of all things, head of the church, and the one in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (1:19).

Through Christ’s reconciling work, believers have been transferred “from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (1:13). This profound theological truth serves as the foundation for everything that follows.

In chapter 2, Paul warns against empty philosophies, human traditions, or religious rules claiming to offer spiritual fulfilment. None can compare to Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3) and in whom believers “have been filled” (2:10). Through union with Christ in his death and resurrection, Christians have been raised to new life.

Chapter 3 demonstrates how this new life transforms everything: our thinking, values, and treatment of others. Paul addresses personal character (3:5–17), family relationships (3:18–21), and work life (3:22–4:1). Our union with Christ means we “have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (3:9–10).

This theological river finally reaches its destination in 4:5–6 (ESV): “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

These verses aren’t merely an afterthought about evangelism. They show that, when Christ truly reigns supreme in our lives, it affects how we live before nonbelievers and share truth with them. Our conduct and conversations should flow naturally from our identity in Christ.

Paul provides three essential principles for living before outsiders. We will unpack these individually in upcoming articles, but let me summarise them here.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders” reflects the biblical concept of walking as a metaphor for one’s manner of life and conduct. This echoes Paul’s earlier exhortation: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (2:6).

Walking in wisdom means living with spiritual discernment, understanding what pleases God and what effectively represents Christ to those watching. It means avoiding hypocrisy that undermines our witness. As Jesus warned, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).

Wisdom recognises that our lives are constantly communicating something about our faith. As Peter writes, believers should “keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).

Paul instructs believers to make “the best use of the time.” Literally, this can be rendered “redeeming the time.”. This conveys urgency and intentionality in how we use opportunities God provides.

Time is a precious, non-renewable resource. As Ephesians 5:15–16 states: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Each interaction with nonbelievers presents an opportunity that may never come again.

Redeeming time means recognising divine appointments—moments when God has specifically prepared someone to hear truth. Jesus exemplified this in his conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4), demonstrating awareness of God’s timing in evangelistic opportunities.

Our speech should “always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” Our words matter tremendously in representing Christ to others. Speech that is “gracious” reflects God’s grace toward us in Christ, showing kindness, patience, and respect even amid disagreement.

Being “seasoned with salt” suggests that our speech should be both preservative (preventing corruption) and flavourful (making truth attractive). After all, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13).

The purpose of this gracious, salty speech is “that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Every evangelistic encounter requires a unique approach based on the person’s background, questions, and concerns. As Peter writes, believers should “always [be] prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

The supremacy of Christ doesn’t just change our theological understanding—it transforms our everyday interactions with those outside the faith. When Christ truly reigns in our hearts, our lives and words become powerful testimonies to his grace and truth.

Our witness flows naturally from who we are in Christ, not merely what we say about him. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2–3).

Living before outsiders with wisdom, intentionality, and gracious speech isn’t just a strategy for effective evangelism—it’s the natural culmination of Christ’s lordship in every aspect of our lives.