Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-15
When Christians encounter heretical teaching, we are to remain in the faith that was delivered fully and finally to God’s people by Jesus and His Apostles. This can be a hard concept to understand because passages like Jude 3 tell us to contend (fight) for the faith. So, some learn all about a false teaching or teacher in order to offer a refutation. This method, though, does not give us the basis for the hope that is within us in order to give an account of our faith when challenged to do so as 1 Peter 3:14-16 tells. The Christian is always to be solidly grounded in the orthodoxy we have received, for only then will we have a foundation to stand upon as we combat heresy and error, much like the USA Secret Service agent who looks for counterfeit money. The agent knows the real money so well that a forgery stands out like a sore thumb. And, this is precisely Paul’s point in today’s passage as he exhorts the Colossian Christians, and all believers, to walk in Christ Jesus as they received Him. The Greek verb translated “received” here is paralambanō and is the same word used elsewhere in Scripture to speak of the reception of the apostolic traditions about the life, work, and significance of Jesus. Such traditions are not secret verbalized truths passed down by bishops or another group of elites through the centuries. They contained in the teachings of the apostles, which are now known to us as the New Testament. So, Paul is urging believers to hold fast to the Christ spoken of by the prophets and apostles. Walking in Christ Jesus is nothing less than submission to His lordship. Our Savior calls us to obedience, not that we might earn our salvation but that we may display our gratitude for His grace. If we love Christ, we will keep His commandments, which are not burdensome. We will be one with Christ, growing in our knowledge and application of the gospel as we bow to Him as Lord. A 17th century theologian writes, “If we live in Him, we shall be rooted in Him; and the more firmly we are rooted in Him, the more intimately we shall live in Him.” Following Jesus as Lord is not demonstrated in checking off a list of rules, though our Savior has given us rules to follow. Instead, obedience to Jesus is a humble embracing of His way as we reflect on and proclaim our gratitude for His salvation. The true Christian life is a life of thanksgiving. Discontent and envy of the blessings of others threaten to plunge us back into the darkness of sin. Ingratitude is very frequently the reason why we are deprived of the light of the gospel, as well as of other divine favors. Walking in thankfulness for salvation keeps us in the light of the gospel, which reminds us always how grateful to God we should be.
Source: S C Ball February 25, 2024
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