In Christ
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col.2:4-7
B7.1 Steadfastness of Faith
Paul saw the Colossians’ steadfastness. This word means: that which has been made firm. The Apostle Paul clearly saw that these believers were well established in Christ, see also Col.1:3-8. The true foundation of Christ had been laid in their lives and Paul rejoiced to see them living in the faith and going on.
John the Apostle wrote something similar in one of his epistles.
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
II Jn. vv.4-8
The Apostle John speaking to the elect lady in his second epistle, said he rejoiced in that her children were walking in the truth, which they had from the beginning. John encouraged them to continue to walk in that same path. John is very specific that we are walk in love, and that is to walk after His commandments. In it John gives an implicit warning that not to do so would mean losing those things that have been wrought in us.
God has begun a good work in us and He promises to complete it unto the day of Christ Jesus Phil.1:6. Both Paul in Colossians and John in His second letter warn of false teachers and that we are to avoid being caught up with them. It is so easy when difficulties, oppositions and other things come along that one can be tempted to veer off the path and onto a byway meadow.
The work of God in a person is perfect, the true one eternal foundation has been laid, and if we continue in that way we shall not stray.
By contrast all these false teachings from the enemy are designed to take our hearts and eyes off of Christ. The enemy intends to destroy the work of God in a soul, if he can, and replace it with something appealing to the flesh. In reality, though, it is valueless and indeed a great danger to our spiritual lives.
We need to be aware and resist. We must keep to God’s Word. When the enemy comes in as a flood the Spirit raises a standard, that is our rallying point. We are not to be the enticed by the beguiling words of the Devil and any other stuff the enemy introduces to us.
B7.2 Rooted and built
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jn.15:1-5
One of the figures for the Christian is that he is a planting of the Lord. The most famous metaphor is found in John’s gospel, and that of the vine.
We are not a separate plant, we are planted, rooted, in Christ. Our springs of life are in Him. Everything we have is in Him. He is the source of our life. Jn.5:40; 11:25-26. Unless we abide in the vine, that is in Christ, we can do nothing. He alone is our source and strength.
We see then the nonsense of other voices crying out to give us the answer to life! Enticing words, Vain Philosophy, Legalism or Mysticism. None of these can give us life, nor can they give us the day by day sustaining spiritual food. Instead, they are serious and dangerous distractions. Paul’s warning is very important, let no man beguile entice you with enticing words.
Christ’s words alone are spirit and life Jn.6:63, instead of listening to those enticing words let us with Peter say: Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life Jn.6:68.
B7.3 Stablished
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
I Pet.2:1-3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
II Pet.1:3-10
The scriptures are clear in their testimony about the Christian life. And these passages from Peter’s epistles spell it out in no uncertain terms.
God has given us all things necessary for this Christian life. By His great promises we are able to be built up in the faith and be partakers of the divine nature. However, whilst He gives us life, like a new born baby we have the responsibility to desire the food provided and add to our faith.
Peter lays out what we should be adding, and states that if we lack these things then we are blind and cannot see afar off.
In our Christian life then we need to feed and grow. The question is; what do we feed on? Is it on Christ and His provision, or is it the enticing words of the world and its system? We all have a choice, what reader is yours?