As a kid, I loved watching westerns. I grew up watching “Young Guns” and “Tombstone.” In almost every single western movie that I can recall, there were tumbleweeds. When the tumbleweed went rolling by the gunslingers through the town you knew that the shootout was about to happen. I thought tumbleweeds were the coolest thing as a kid, but now, understanding what they are, has changed my mind about them. Tumbleweeds are plants that are dried out or died out having been detached from the shallow roots now being carried away by the wind and other outside forces. There is a big difference between a tumbleweed and an oak tree. Spiritually speaking, many professing Christians have become tumbleweeds. Yet Ps. 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Jer. 17:7-8 goes on to say, “7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Christians must grow down to grow up and out. Rootless trees become fruitless trees. They become tumbleweeds long before they had a chance to be a mighty oak amongst a forest of other strongly rooted trees.
In our study of Colossians, we have seen the emphasis of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ throughout the opening passages. Paul has just established that believers are to be steadfast and now he goes on to discuss the believer’s walk of life. How can believers walk in steadfastness while facing the threats of legalism and liberalism? How can Christians live out what they believe without being deceived or defeated? The answer is seen here in today’s passage which is Col. 2:6-7 where Paul says, “6 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.” Here in these verses, we see the summation of the Christian life. All practical Christian living is just the continuation of what began at our conversion until the coming day of consummation. The above “therefore” serves as transitional statement as Paul now begins to follow his typical pattern as will be seen throughout the remainder of Colossians (and seen in all of his other letters) of giving an indicative statement before giving an imperative command. The indicative serves to give truth while the imperative gives command to obey the truth or to live in light of the stated truth. This is Paul’s pattern throughout his writings, and it is how we are to live the Christian life. Practical Christian living isn’t just knowing and obeying imperatives. It is found in the motivation and strength of the indicative statement first and foremost. Both the indicatives of the Christian life and the imperatives are summarized in the word “walk.” The word “walk” is “peripateo” which means to walk around or used metaphorically of the way of life. It deals with ordinary, average, and everyday living. Paul uses this word frequently throughout his letters but also uses it in Col. 1:10; 3:7; 4:5. In all cases, it deals with the inner and outer man; or to put it this way, our attitude and actions or belief and behavior. When Paul uses the word here, it is in the present tense, and it is an imperative. What this means is that we are to continually consistently conduct ourselves according to our converted condition. Simply, believers must continue in what began at conversion. We must practice our position in Christ. Notice too that we are to “walk ye in Him.” Christ who is supreme and sufficient is the sphere, source, and strength of life physically and spiritually. Therefore, to walk in Him is to walk with Him, to Him, like Him by His enabling presence and provision of grace through faith (Col. 1:9-10,27-28). Today, as we see the walk of life of the believer, we will see that we must have a grounded walk, a growing walk, and a grateful walk.
First, we must have a grounded walk. Col. 2:6 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” The believer’s life is grounded and founded on receiving Christ as Lord. The words “have received” is the word “paralambano” which means to receive what is imparted and here has the idea of receiving spiritual instruction. Seeing is not believing, but believing is receiving and receiving is believing. Faith believes and receives Christ Jesus the Lord. Grace reveals Christ Jesus the Lord and faith receives Christ Jesus the Lord. This same word and usage are seen in John 1:11-12 which says, “11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Essentially, a grounded walk is grounded on the faith in Christ. It is grounded upon the conversion of the believer. To receive Christ by faith is to take possession of one’s position and privileges in Christ. This is how we have been saved; it is how we are sanctified, and it is how we are sustained throughout the whole of the Christian experience. Eph. 2:8-10 says, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Here is the classic example of how we receive Christ which grounds us in Him, but then as well shows us that it is the grounds for the whole life of service to Christ. It is not good works that save, but we are indeed saved for good works. It is Christ’s good work that is the grounds of our walk of good works all motivated by His grace as we receive Him by faith. Furthermore, Paul writes about this need and act of receiving Christ by faith through the gospel in Rom. 10:9-17 which says, “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” There is a key to having a grounded walk. The key to a grounded walk is not the size of your faith, but the object of your faith. When we see the phrase “Christ Jesus the Lord” we are seeing an expression of His person and work, His humanity and deity, His supremacy and sufficiency. He is supreme and sufficient to be the Christ, the Sovereign Savior of all who believe. It is His supremacy and sufficiency that act as the foundation for all Christian doctrine and practice. Therefore, a grounded walk is having your life built on receiving Christ as Lord. True Christian living is grounded on submission to his supremacy and being satisfied by His sufficiency as Christ Jesus the Lord.
Second, we must have a growing walk. Our passage says, “6 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.” Once more, notice the word “walk.” It is a present imperative. It means that there should be progression. There should be a continual walking or living that is consistent with our condition in Christ. Our character and conduct should be a continuation of what happened to us at conversion. In verse 7, Paul is going to use three different metaphors to describe a growing walk. Each one is a reminder that there is no growth without grounding. There is no spiritual formation without a solid spiritual foundation. We must grow down in order to grow upward and outward. Growing Christians are just growing on what they are grounded in. What is that? Once again, we are grounded and growing by the same thing which is receiving Christ Jesus the Lord. Our whole life is built on and by our belonging to Christ by grace through faith. Each of the metaphorical participles will be displaying that the believers are to always be growing in Christ. It is little, but it is progressive.
One, there is the agriculture metaphor. Paul says that we are “rooted” in Christ. The word “rooted” is the word “rhozoo” which means to be stable, grounded, or firmly fixed. Paul uses the same word in Eph. 3:17 which says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” The word is intentionally given in the present voice and perfect tense to show us that this rooting took place previously but has continually assured results. We are in Christ. Since we received Christ, He has received us. We are in Him and He is in us. The idea is that of a plant, tree, or branch to a vine where we are constantly attached to Christ where we draw all sustenance for spiritual life from Him. Once more, there is no growing to be fruitful apart from growing to be rooted first.
Two, there is the architecture metaphor. Paul goes on to say that we are “built up in Him.” The phrase “built up” is the word “epoikodomeo” which means to add or build upon a foundation of a home or building. It is in the present tense showing us that there is continual construction until completion. The completion of the building project of the Christian continues each day until the day of completion at the consummation of all things in Christ. Paul already stated this was the goal for believers in Col. 1:28 and as well in Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13. We are a construction site of grace constantly being built up on the foundation of receiving Christ Jesus the Lord who is supreme and sufficient for all of life.
Three, there is the legal assurance metaphor. The word “stablished” is the word “bebaioo” which means to be fixed, firm, guaranteed legal validity. The word was used in Paul’s day in the secular world of something that had a legal guarantee or assurance like a deed. Here we see that we have a growing walk as we grow in the assurance of our position and possessions in Christ Jesus the Lord which Paul had discussed previously in Col. 2:1-3. This too is in the passive voice and present tense which tells us that the assurance comes from our previous grounding in receiving Christ which continues to then establish us in the faith which is the body of doctrine and truth in Christ. Rom. 16:25 says, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,” The same gospel that grounds us grows us. Believers should have a growing walk as we grow in maturity and obedience by grace through faith as we daily submit to His supremacy and find satisfaction in His sufficiency for all of life.
Third, we must have a grateful walk. The last phrase of our passage says that we are to be “abounding therein with thanksgiving.” The word “abounding” is the word “perissoo” which means abounding or overflowing. It is in the present tense meaning we should be always overflowing with gratitude. Sadly, that doesn’t sound like me or most Christians I know. Whatever we are filled with is going to come out. We often aren’t overflowing with gratitude because we are filled with grumbling or complaints. Grumbling is the symptom of an unsubmitted and unsatisfied heart. Gratitude should be the most natural response to those of us who have experienced the immense grace of God through the gospel of Christ. When we consider Christ as the supreme and sufficient revelator, redeemer, and reconciler we should be overflowing with gratitude. Paul talks about the nature and necessity of thanksgiving and gratitude throughout his letters, but we see it later on in Col. 4:2 and also in Phil. 4:6. Gratitude is the attitude and action of being submitted to Christ’s supremacy or His Lordship. Gratitude is also the attitude and action of being satisfied by Christ’s sufficiency; or His love and life that He has purchased for us. Our gratitude is the measuring stick of our growth. When we are grounded on the gospel then we will grow in maturity and gratitude. When we realize the magnitude of Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency we can’t help but give Him praise, thanks, and gratitude for who He is and what He has done for us. Thanksgiving itself is a defensive weapon against being deceived and defeated by the spiritual threats that attack us.
As we bring this to a close, we have seen what it means to have the walk of life in Christ in these summarizing verses of Paul’s argument based on Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency for all of life. We must ask though, have you first of all received Christ? Have you believed on Him alone for salvation? He alone is a supreme and sufficient savior! For those who do know Christ, are you grounded? Are you growing? Are you grateful? Have you moved passed the gospel? Gal. 3:3 says, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Don’t think dear Christian that now you need a supplement or substitute to grow in your Christian walk! You need the same gospel and grace of Jesus that saved you to begin with. Don’t look to your strength, but His. Don’t look to your faith, but His faithfulness. Submit to His supremacy and be satisfied by His sufficiency. Walk and live in Him, not yourself.
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