Be Rooted and Built Up in Christ

Colossians 2:6-8

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Let's look at this encouragement from Paul and apply it to ourselves today.

This is how we need to apply the scriptures to ourselves.

This is God talking to us, we need to put ourselves in the position of original readers.

Here Paul encourages us to "walk" in Christ just as we received Christ.

How did we receive Christ?

We heard the word of the gospel.

God's word was told to us, how Jesus came and lived and died for us.

When we heard this word, we believed and took action based on that faith.

We were baptized into Christ, into His death and resurrection.

So, we became Christians, following the Lord Jesus.

Just like we heard the word and took action in faith to be baptized into Christ, Paul encourages us to "walk" in Christ and to stay "rooted and built up in" Christ.

So, how do we walk and stay rooted?

Read the word, study the scriptures, then take action on what we learn.

For us today, studying the Bible is how we are taught.

And when we learn something, put that into practice in our lives.

Practice being like Jesus.

Follow what He has done and what He has taught.

"Abounding" in the word of God.

This means to excel in it, to have overflowing in your life.

Living and speaking the teachings of Christ.

And do this thankfully, praising the Lord for His teachings, His guidance.

Only the God and His Spirit direct us to the best things in life.

They start in His word, then gradually change our lives for the better.

Then lastly, we are warned to beware of people trying to persuade us with human philosophy.

Our philosophy must be based out of God's word to have validity, to have truth.

Human philosophy tends to put our self in the place of God, making our self an idol.

Watch out for "empty deceit".

The word for deceit means delusions, things are not true or possible.

These things come from Satan, to deceive the followers of Christ if possible.

If we compare these deceits to what we are told in God's word, we will easily be able to defend against them.

But this requires study and being grounded in the Bible, in Jesus.

Be alert for traditions of men being used to supplant or override the scriptures.

Just as we see with the religious leader of Jesus' time.

Finally, avoid the flawed thinking and teaching of the world, of society.

Man's society tells us that evil is good and good is evil.

It tells us that we are what is important, "find yourself", "love yourself".

But Jesus tells us to seek Him and His kingdom first.

To love God and our neighbor first.

This leads to true joy and contentment and peace in this life.