The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 Sesson 2 How to Walk

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8

Session 2 : How To Walk

I] Walk Rooted and Built Up ( Col 2:6-7 )

Colossians 2:6–7 KJV 1900

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.

The theme passage for this series of lessons gives us some important directives for how we are to live the Christian life.

Paul exhorts (i.e., commands; the Greek verb translated “walk” is in the imperative mood) the Colossians to continue (“walk” is in the present tense) living in a manner consistent with this truth.

A. Walk as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord.

When the Colossians received Christ at the moment of their conversion (the Greek verb translated “received” indicates a past, point-in-time event), they received Him for who He really is, “Christ Jesus the Lord.”

“Christ” – the anointed one of God promised in the OT“Jesus” – the Savior from sin (“he shall save his people from their sin” Matt 1:21 )“Lord”—the supreme authority, owner, master

Matthew 1:21 KJV 1900

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Paul wants their present and continuous conduct to conform to the doctrine taught them at the beginning, the doctrine they had committed themselves to at conversion.

How does one receive Christ Jesus the Lord? By faith.

This is also how we must live the Christian life—by faith, “not by sight” ( 2 Cor 5:7 ).

2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV 1900

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Paul’s concern is that we persevere in the faith we originally received and not become enamored with the philosophies and “vain deceit” ( Col 2:8) so prevalent in the world around us.

Colossians 2:8 KJV 1900

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.

Believers are “complete” in Christ (Col 2:10 ) and need not partake of worldly foolishness.

Colossians 2:10 KJV 1900

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

A faith that does not recognize the Lordship of Christ is a dubious faith indeed.

Some today assert that accepting Christ as Lord is a secondary, optional step one should take at some point after salvation.

To be saved, one must simply trust Christ as Savior from sin without any concern about his claims as Lord, they say.

But Paul’s words here strongly assert that genuine salvation requires one to recognize that Jesus Christ is Lord at the point of salvation.

Salvation entails one receiving “Christ Jesus the Lord.” One’s “walk,” that is, his behavior or conduct, must reflect the fact that Jesus is his Master.

B. Walk “in him.”

To “walk” in Christ speaks of maintaining the Christian faith, living and acting under the teachings of Christ as taught by the Savior and his apostles.

True believers persevere in faith and in good works.Paul’s frequent assertion that believers are “in” Christ reflects the fact that Christians are united with Christ in his life, death, and resurrection (cf. Rom 6:4-6).

Romans 6:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

We are dependent on our union with Christ to maintain the Christian walk.

Note the Quote:

We were in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4); we are in Him as we were in Adam (Rom 5:12,21 ; 1 Cor 15:21 ); we are in Him as the members of the body are in the head ( Eph 1:23,16 ; 1 Cor 12:12,27 , and often); we are in Him as the branches are in the vine (John 15:1-12).

Ephesians 1:4 KJV 1900

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:21 KJV 1900

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:21 KJV 1900

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Ephesians 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 1:16 KJV 1900

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV 1900

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

John 15:1–12 KJV 1900

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 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. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

We are in Him in such a sense that his death is our death, we were crucified with Him (Gal 2:20; Rom 6:1-8 ); we are so united with Him that we rose with Him, and sit with Him in heavenly places ( Eph 2:1-6).

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:1–8 KJV 1900

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Ephesians 2:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

In virtue of this union, we are (in our measure) what He is.

We are the sons of God in Him.

And what He did, we did.

His righteousness is our righteousness.

His life is our life.

His exaltation is our exaltation.

Jesus taught that genuine believers are like branches connected to a vine (John 15).

John 15 KJV 1900

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 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. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Those who “abide” in this connection bear fruit and prove themselves to be genuine disciples.

Those who fail to abide in the vine wither, are cast off, and eventually are burned, thus proving themselves to be false brethren.

Walking “in” Christ suggests a life that is directly and permanently connected to Jesus, a life that abides in Christ and is nourished and strengthened by this connection.Walk “rooted.”

The Greek participle here could be translated “having been firmly rooted.”

The form of the word suggests an action which took place at a point-in-time in the past with ongoing effects.

The moment a believer is converted, he is, so to speak, planted in the soil of salvation (cf. Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8), remaining permanently rooted therein and growing as a result.

Psalm 1:3 KJV 1900

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.

Jeremiah 17:8 KJV 1900

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.

Our object is to remain “grounded and settled” in the faith, “not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col 1:23).

Colossians 1:23 KJV 1900

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

“Having been firmly rooted” is a good way to describe the permanency of salvation and the stability of the Christian life.

The word is in the passive voice, implying that someone else (God) has done the planting.

This reflects the fact that God is the active participant in salvation. God provides for salvation; man merely receives God’s provision.

It might sound a bit odd to “walk” while “rooted” securely in the ground, but Paul’s intent is clear.

We live the Christian life from a position of firmness and solidity.

Faith in Christ gives us secure ground for living the Christian life.

C. Walk “built up”

Paul switches from an agricultural metaphor (a plant) to an architectural one (a building).

Just as a plant grows higher and stronger, and as a building grows as it is being built, so the believer should be growing and developing in his faith.

A growing Christian life (sanctification) is built upon a proper relationship with Christ (salvation).

Jesus is the foundation (1 Cor 3:11) and chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:6) upon which believers build their lives.

1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1 Peter 2:6 KJV 1900

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Again, the Greek participle is in the passive voice, suggesting the fact that God is the one who is ultimately doing the building.

This is a present tense verb, describing ongoing action—”being built up.”

This should be the common experience of all Christians.

Further, we should note that the process of being built up—what the NT called “edification”—is most commonly related to participation in the local church.

Building up occurs in the context of church life.The building/edification process is reciprocal—we “edify one another” in the context of the church (1 Thes 5:11).

1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

How does this occur?

Love one another (1 Cor 8:1).Admonish, encourage, warn, and support each other (1 Cor 14:3 and 1 Thes 5:14).

1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV 1900

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV 1900

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV 1900

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Follow spiritual leaders as they follow Christ (2 Cor 10:8; Eph 4:12)Use the resources God supplies—the Bible, prayer, the church, etc. (Acts 20:32).Walk “established in the faith”

2 Corinthians 10:8 KJV 1900

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

Ephesians 4:12 KJV 1900

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Acts 20:32 KJV 1900

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

The word “established” means, “made firm, confirmed, strengthened.”

As the believer grows in the faith, his roots go down deeper and become stronger and more stable (cf. Ps 1:2-3 and Jas 1;21). 

Psalm 1:2–3 KJV 1900

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.

James 1 KJV 1900

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Again, the participle is in the passive voice, suggesting that God is the one who establishes the believer in the faith—”being established” is the idea.

Paul wanted the Colossians to be well-anchored, lest the winds of heresy uproot them and blow them around like waves of the sea (cf. Eph 4:14).

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

These three ideas—being rooted, built up and established—strongly imply that believers should be firmly grounded and secure in the faith.

The whole book of Colossians is an exhortation for believers to persevere in the faith and in good works, even when confronted by false teaching and worldly philosophy (cf. Col 2:8).

Colossians 2:8 KJV 1900

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.

These passive verbs (showing that God is doing the action) do not imply that the believer is careless in his approach to sanctification (e.g., “let go and let God.”).

But they do teach that God ultimately initiates and motivates the process.

God is the one who works in us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). 

Philippians 2:13 KJV 1900

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Believers are still responsible to “labor and strive” (1 Tim 4:10), to make their best efforts (2 Tim 2:15), and to work out their salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).

1 Timothy 4:10 KJV 1900

10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Philippians 2:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We must cooperate in the sanctification process.

D. Walk “as you have been taught.”

We must strive to hold fast the traditions the apostles taught (Acts 2:42; 2 Thes 3:6).

Acts 2:42 KJV 1900

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV 1900

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Churches face the constant temptation to adopt the latest fads and innovation in doctrine or practice in an effort to stay “relevant.”

We must staunchly retain our commitment to the fundamentals of the faith without modification.

Christianity is a received faith, not one subject to haphazard change.

Any significant movement away from the fundamentals is likely a corruption, not an improvement.

Teaching must be a significant element of a church’s ministry.

Christ himself commissioned the church to teach (Mt 28:20), and Paul urged Timothy to teach those who could in turn teach others (2 Tim 2:2).

Matthew 28:20 KJV 1900

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:2 KJV 1900

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Every believer should be committed to learning and spiritual growth.

Teachers are an important part of the growth and stability process.

Teachers both convey the content of the faith and provide an example for the congregation to follow (cf. 1 Cor 11:1; Phil 4:9).

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV 1900

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philippians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Thus, congregations must insure that their leaders fulfill the biblical qualifications given for them (1 Tim 3; Titus 1).

1 Timothy 3 KJV 1900

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Titus 1 KJV 1900

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Too often, churches focus on a preacher’s communication or personal skills and neglect evaluating his moral character.

Those working hard in teaching the Word deserve the respect that accompanies the position (1 Tim 5:17).

1 Timothy 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

E. Walk “abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

The Greek word translated “thanksgiving” is eucharistia, the root of which is charis, which means, “grace.” 

Any recipient of grace should be grateful because he has received something good he does not deserve.

Gratitude is an attitude Paul commends several times in Col 1:12, 3:15, 16, 17; 4:2).

Colossians 1:12 KJV 1900

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Colossians 3:15 KJV 1900

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

In light of God’s work of rooting, building and establishing us, gratitude to God should be abundant in our souls to the point of overflowing.

And the present tense of this verb indicates that this attitude of thanks should be a continuing experience in every believer’s life.

Those lacking such gratitude may be susceptible to doubt and spiritual delusion (of which Paul warns us in Col 2:8).

Colossians 2:8 KJV 1900

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.