ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN JESUS CHRIST

Rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ

In this particular passage Paul starts out warning his readers that he did not desire anybody to beguile them with enticing words. At this point in my Christian journey I have way to many checks and balances to allow someone to do this to me but I am speaking to a large enough audience where Christians are at different points in their walk with Jesus Christ. It does not hurt if we pray to God that this trap does not happen to us because this will steal our fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Paul explained that he could not be with them in his flesh but was with them in spirit. When I know a person is with me in spirit I receive much comfort. Paul did this with joy but what he really wanted was for them to be steadfast in the Person of Jesus Christ.

He reminds them that since they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord being serious Christians these believers in the Son of God were supposed to walk in Him. We were rooted and grounded in the Lamb of God who died for our sins but we are also built up in Him because we are established in the faith. This is how we were taught so hopefully if we were under sound biblical guidance we really should be thankful. Most people were not taught properly and that is difficult because even if we were blessed with good teaching it is still going to be hard to continue and abide in Jesus Christ. There is also another point I would like to make --- a person has to have the will to do this in their spirit.

Once again the Apostle Paul warns them that no person spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit so if you see a theologian mixing philosophy with the Bible that should be a red flag. Do not get concerned with the traditions of men and do not get caught up with the rudiments of the world but be driven to stay in the yoke of Jesus Christ. Remember in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Hopefully we are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.

Paul also encourages his readers to throw away the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. To do this requires determination and courage but that is what God wants from us so we should desire to be obedient to Him.

The last verse I will be going over is verse twelve which in the most basic terms says as Christians we were buried with Jesus Christ but we also were risen with Him only because the Son of God rose from the dead on the third day after He was crucified on a cross for our sins. Let me just quote the original text so you can read this passage for yourself and perhaps make reference to it if need be in this particular biblical study.

(4) "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. (5) 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. (6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: (7) Rooted and built 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. (9) For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:4 - 12. 

Once again another Apostle cautions a group of Christians against deceivers. Paul uses words such as beguile and entice because if this happens Satan spoils souls that are on the recipient end of the deception. The devil can not really ruin us unless he cheats us but we have to agree to the deception. Satan knows a good fight is never fair. Be careful of enticing words mixed with flattery because the minions of Satan are waiting to put a stamp on false theology, sin or just plain being in a situation that we respond in the most ridicules way and end up having to apologize for our behavior. 

There is an antidote against seducers which is to be strongly rooted in Jesus Christ. Christians need to realize that they ( past tense) accepted Him into their hearts but we need to consent to our Lord and listen to Him in every relation and capacity. It has to be obvious that we as believers in Jesus Christ are to walk in Him daily and incorporate our communion with the Lamb of God that died for our sins. If we walk close to Jesus Christ the more firmly we will be rooted in Him and then we will walk "In Him." If we are rooted in Jesus Christ we will be built up in His peace and power but it would have to be overwhelmingly obvious that we are to do this with the spirit of thanksgiving. Remember who we were and the emptiness that was in our hearts.

Paul was extremely concerned that these Christians would be spoiled through philosophy, vain deceit, the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world as opposed to following Jesus Christ. All these satanic things that Paul mentioned are vain and deceitful. Do not mix philosophy with Christian principles because your mind will become alienated from Jesus Christ. If my faith is about what another person believes then we have turned away from following Jesus Christ. 

Paul talks about the ceremonial law but the shadows of this are found in the substance of Jesus Christ. They were searching for the Shekinah glory and the presence of God but now we have that in the Person of Jesus Christ. Verse nine says, "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ literally not figuratively. Circumcision was the seal of the covenant but we are in Christ and are circumcised in the Son of God. This was made without hands. This did not happen by the power of a person but by the power of the Spirit of God. Maybe this is why Paul spent some time writing about all these different types of deceptions. He was saying they are just people with false theology.

The Jews had this false impression that they were complete in the ceremonial law but we as Christians are complete in Jesus Christ. The ceremonial law had defects in it but all those imperfections are made up in the gospel of Jesus Christ who is the head of all principality and power. The Son of God has no defects or imperfections. It should give us tremendous comfort that Jesus Christ is Lord and the head of all powers in heaven and earth. 

Verse twelve talks about us as true Christians being buried with Him in baptism but we were also risen with Him. Both are signified by our baptism. This is the circumcision made without hands because it is through the faith of the operation of God through His Son Jesus Christ. In this baptism Jesus Christ desires to be our God and we should want to be His disciple. We should also be so touched by this wonderful grace that we want to die to sin and live a righteous life before God.

If you feel that the Apostle Paul deliberates a good case and want to come and be right with God then now may be the time to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting Him into your life. By doing this your name will be written in the Lamb's book of life. This is an eternal decision but all the more reason we are to take our walk with the Son of God who is Jesus Christ down here on earth very serious.

God bless you,
 

Bob D.