Good morning,
When Saul, the hater of believers in Christ, received Christ, his life was completely changed, including his name to Paul. Everywhere he went he was telling them about Jesus Christ.
In the letter to the Colossians Paul encourages them to follow Christ. Paul prays for them, gives them seven portraits of the person of Christ, tells them how Christ reconciled them to Himself, how Christ dwells in them, and that they need to walk in Christ.
We will look at each of these areas during this week’s devotions.
Walk in Christ (2:6-8)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The Colossians, like all other saved believers, received Christ by faith (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8–9). Paul’s implication is that those who accepted Christ in faith ought to “walk”—to live and think—by faith, as well (Colossians 2:7). The false teachings confronting Colossae emphasized works and personal sacrifice as the means to pleasing God. It is true that works are a vital aspect of the Christian’s life (1 John 3:17–18), but these are the results of saving faith, not the source of it. Our walk with God must be rooted in faith—and therefore rooted in Him, not us—just as salvation is. Otherwise, our spirituality is based on human performance and is destined to fail.
A person who has received Christ as Lord will live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). This kind of faith will lead to many good works, but our salvation remains constant despite our actions because it is based on Christ and what He has done.
Paul provides three images that show the importance of walking in faith (Colossians 2:6). First, we are “rooted” in Christ. The idea is that of a tree or plant whose roots form the strength and basis for life. The believer’s roots are Christ, not another source, as false teachers would suggest. Second, the believer is “built up” in Christ. This building or architectural metaphor speaks of a building that is constructed by the power of Christ. Just as only Christ can save a person, only Christ can build up or mature a person. Third, to be “established” in the faith is a legal metaphor referring to maturity or something firmly decided.
The second half of the verse refers again to Epaphras, the man who brought Christianity to the Colossians. His outreach to these people included the true gospel, in contrast with the false teachings Paul is about to address. The result of the true gospel of Jesus is thanksgiving (Colossians 1:3; Colossians 4:2).
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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