So Walk in Him (Colossians 2:6-7)
Text:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col 2:6-7)
As Baptists, we’re well-versed in how people are to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord. We might refer to the ABCs of salvation, or to the Roman’s Road. The simple truth is that we must trust Christ, rather than ourselves, to save us.
The encouragement given here is that now that we trust in Christ, we are to follow Christ. Just as unbelievers need evangelism to know Christ, believers need discipleship to know Christ more. After a person comes to Christ, a new journey begins. Churches often drop the ball in this area. They spend thousands of dollars to see people come to Christ, but pennies to disciple them. We might say this is justified. After all, the greatest need any of us has is salvation. The greatest way we’re ever going to reach more people is that we ourselves would know Christ more deeply, more closely, more intimately, and that comes through discipleship.
Discipleship is not primarily about learning facts. It’s primarily about walking with Jesus. I think this is where a lot of Christians get hung up on discipleship. But walking with Jesus is not something to boast about. Discipleship is not about us working for Christ, it’s about Christ working in us (v. 6). It’s a continuation of the work of Christ in us which began in us at our salvation.
How does discipleship happen? It doesn’t happen automatically. Discipleship is Christ working in us, but we still have a role to play. Christ will not work in us unless we cooperate with Him. The first step, then, is to receive Christ. We might consider this a prerequisite to discipleship. But the text is says plainly that living in Christ is a continuation of receiving Christ.
Secondly, we must be rooted and built up in Christ (v. 7a). Third, we must be strengthened in the faith that we were taught (v. 7b). This comes by practicing the faith that we have learned. Just as our muscles are strengthened and grow when we use them, our faith is strengthened and grows when live it out day by day.
Finally, we must be overflowing with thanksgiving (v. 7c). We might consider this to be a result of walking with Christ, and we’d be right. But the way the text is written, overflowing with thanksgiving is how we walk with Christ. We must set our minds to being full of joy in Christ.
Pastor Chris Huff has been with us since July 2009. He and his wife, Abby, have four children. Chris is originally from St. Louis, MO and even though he was raised as a city boy, he has a small town heart. Chris is all over the internet, so you can find him on Facebook, Twitter,… (read more)
