Rooted in Christ

Pre-Intro

We’ve been looking at Colossians when I’ve had to opportunity to preach. The last time we looked at Colossians together in February, we looked at the end of chapter 1, into the beginning of Chapter 2.

We saw that Christ is Supreme in the growth of the Church - we saw the burden that Paul had for the Gospel to spread, and for the maturity of believers. We’ll see more of Paul’s burden today, and we’ll see - in keeping with the theme of the Supremacy of Christ - we’ll see the Supremacy of Christ in our Union with Him. We will look at

I invite you to turn to Colossians 2 with me - we will be reading the first 15 verses, but our focus this morning will be on Verses 6 and 7:

Col 2:1-15

Colossians 2:1–15 ESV

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 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. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

[PRAY]

Introduction

Our Desire:

What is your biggest spiritual desire?

What do you pursue spiritually?

If you are a Christian, what drives your walk with Christ? What do you pray for and labor towards?

Hopefully its something God commands us and encourages us to seek: The salvation of your kids? A Spouse? Maybe something more global like worldwide missions, or local like the growth of the church?

Or maybe something more tactile? Some new doctrine, or idea that you can debate on Facebook? Maybe the right passage of scripture that you can use to convince someone that their position is incorrect.

Some Christians seek after the supernatural - maybe you are trying to hear the voice of God outside of Scripture - or looking for a sign from God.

Maybe you wouldn’t call yourself a Christian, but would consider yourself Spiritual: maybe you just want to do enough good things, so that the guilt you feel goes away, or “connect with the energy of the universe”

MAYBE you aren’t spiritual at all - you aren’t anything - maybe you’re a “NONE” - you know under religious affiliation you might enter N-O-N-E. But even then you have a spiritual desire - a desire to be unaffiliated with anything spiritual.

My point is - we all have varying spiritual desires - and they often show up in the things that we put our efforts into and prioritize in our spiritual life.

Paul’s Desire: Maturity and Stability of Christians

If you were to ask the Apostle Paul what he wanted - what drove him to do all that he did, he’d tell you to look at Colossians 1 and 2. In Chapter 1 verses 28 and 29 he says Col 1:28-29 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

In Chapter 2, the verses we just read he says he wants their hearts to be encouraged; he wants the church to be knit together in love. He wants them to reach all the riches of full assurance, and understanding, and knowledge of Christ.

He goes on in verse 4 to say that he says all of these things - SO THAT NO ONE WOULD DELUDE THEM WITH PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENTS.

Paul is very concerned that the Christian that has heard the gospel, received it, professed it, and shared it COULD go on to be deluded by false teachers. We warns against it here in verse 4, and again in verse 8: Col 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

So again, if you were to ask the Apostle Paul what he wanted for the church in Colossae, and for the church in Hazleton, his response would be the same - spiritual maturity and stability of believers - people growing more and more into the image of Christ.

In between these two passages: Verse 4 - “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments”, and verse 8 - “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit”, we have today’s text: verses 6 and 7

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

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.

The Holy spirit, through the apostle Paul, placed this passage between these two verses as the KEYSTONE for avoiding false teachers and their teaching.

Paul knows there are false teachers out and about - he confronts them and their teaching throughout his epistles in the New Testament. But he does it with good theology - with truth. He uses theology and truth about God to strengthen and equip the saints.

If you were to diagram or outline this entire passage your have an essential argument that goes:

V4: Warning: I don’t want anyone to derail your maturity with arguments that on the surface seem plausible.

Vs 6,7: Exhortation: Therefore, since I want you to stay on track, WALK in CHRIST the SAME WAY you received him - remain ROOTED in Christ and GROW in him

V8: Warning: Be on the lookout for people that will take you off of track - and tell you that you need something besides Christ to truly grow

Vs9-15: Theological Foundation for all of the above: You are united to Christ already by God the Father - inseparably united with Christ

The exhortation we will look at today is given with the intention of keeping the Christian from the theological errors and mysticism promoted all around - and to focus our eyes on Christ, and Christ alone for our maturity.

Paul’s desire is their maturity - his approach is simple. Stay the course - Live your life OUT OF your union with Christ - WALK in the same you that you received Christ.

Live the Christian life out of your union with Christ

Paul’s exhortation is straightforward: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.

At least it seems simple at first glance - The same way that you received Christ, so continue to live that way, in Him.

Whatever occured when you received Christ, whatever happened when you understood the Gospel, and came to faith, and received Christ - that’s the same way a Christian should continue. What happened then, should continue today in the Christian’s walk.

When Paul says “you received Christ” he’s saying more than just: “You received TEACHING about Christ” or “Tradition about Christ” - that’s true - they did receive teaching about Christ from Epaphras. But Paul clearly makes Christ the personal subject here: “you received the person of Christ”. Paul even makes that point in verse 27 of Chapter 1: Col 1:27 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

You received Christ by Grace through faith

You received Christ because of his death on the Cross

You received Christ because the father united you to him

The Father united us to Christ

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

At the end of our passage we read, we see the Father working redemption THROUGH the son:

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Father made us alive together with Christ. The Father nailed our record of debt to the cross along side Christ. He triumphed over the rulers and authorities IN CHRIST.

The father chose us, and orchestrated our redemption. The Son purchased our redemption with his Blood, and sealed it in his resurrection, The Spirit draws and strengthens the chosen, working faith in those that Christ has purchased.

We’ve received Christ as a GIFT - not just an example of what a good man is, or an example of what unjust suffering looks like. It’s not cosmic child abuse - Christ laid down his life for his sheep. For the Joy set before him, he endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

If you are a Christian, you are more than a Christ Follower; you are united with the Son, you have received him by faith, and he lives in you, and you live in him, and you are forever united to him.

Jumping ahead to Col 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

We’ve been raised with Christ, and when Christ, WHO IS OUR LIFE appears, then WE will appear with him in glory.

And in Eph 2:6 Paul says that God“...raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

There is a this new connection to Christ the believers have - our lives are so closely tied to his, that they’ve been purposefully inseparable.

So walk in him:

So when Paul says “so WALK IN HIM” he saying more than just: “Live a good life”, or “Be a good Christian” - he’s saying: “WALK, Live, and BEHAVE OUT OF THE UNION you have with Christ”

Notice carefully, Paul isn’t saying “Walk this way because God has done so much for you” - He has done so much, and Paul says in Titus that the Grace of God appeared, TEACHING us to renounce ungodliness.

Here Paul is saying to this Church - Walk IN the person of Christ that you received. Live out your life Col 2:7 “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Walk as people who have been united, WELDED, married to Christ - and continue in it. In Chapter 1 Paul uses very similar language:

Colossians 1:9–12 (ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Paul’s desire, and prayer for this church is that they grow spiritually, so that they can WALK in a manner worthy of the Lord: bearing fruit, increasing in knowledge, being strengthened with God’s mighty power, and giving thanks to the Father - and it’s the Father that has qualified.

The Father has united us to Christ - our strength comes from Him. We walk in Him - bearing fruit, increasing in knowledge, and being strengthened BY our union with him.

Paul uses four participles to describe what walking in Christ entails: Rooted, Built Up, Established in the faith, and Abound in thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)

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.

Rooted

When something is rooted to the ground, it grows roots within the ground. It’s stability and resilience is affected by how well it is rooted. Sometimes the roots are small and thin, like on a tumbleweed. And sometimes it is massive, and seemingly unmoveable, like a giant oak tree.

Have you seen a large tree uprooted? Its not just the root that come up - the surrounding dirt, rocks, and grass come up with it. A tree blown over takes the ground with it because it is so “rooted” or united to the ground it is in. I leaves a massive hole in the ground because it has grown into, rooted into the ground around it/

It takes all nourishment from the ground it is rooted in - Paul probably has both concepts in mind when he says “rooted in him” - Securely united, and nourished.

Sarah and I were watching a documentary about archeologists investigating a lost fort and encampment. Even though this place hasn’t been active for 150 years, they knew there was a mass grave there, and they wanted to properly bury those that had been killed. They brought Cadaver dogs to identify the location of the graves.

But the dogs kept alerting on trees. These old trees had absorbed the bodies buried around them, and the elements from people long dead, were still present in the material of tree itself. The roots of the tree absorbed what they were rooted in.

When a Christian is rooted in Christ, they are secure, and grow from what they are planted in.

Paul uses this phrase in Eph 3:14-19

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Christ used a similar analogy in John 15:1-5 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

The Christian life starts in Christ - is it rooted in him. We ABIDE in HIM. In doing so, we grow FROM the vine - we walk, live, and behave out of the union we have with Christ.

Built Up

The tenses for Rooted and Built up are different. The NASB captures it well: having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him

You’ve been planted, rooted, and united to Christ, and now the growth is happening. NOW you are BEING BUILT up.

Paul switches from an agriculture metaphor to an architectural one: He says to walk in Christ…being rooted and BUILT up in Him.

The metaphor and the tense has changed, but the means and method have not: Both the “Rooting” and the Building” happen “In Christ” - we are rooted in him, and then built up in him.

Paul has used the same concept in Ephesians 2:19-22

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Those in Christ are built up together with Christ as the cornerstone - being built into a dwelling place FOR GOD by the SPIRIT.

Established in the faith just as you were taught

As you received Christ, so walk in him … established in the faith just as you were taught

If we are to walk in Christ in the same way we received him, it is critical that the faith proclaimed, taught, and believed is accurate.

The Apostles and prophets were the foundation, and Christ is the cornerstone - but holding fast to the faith is part of walking in Christ the same way that we received him. That’s why confessions are creeds are so critical to church life and a Christian's life. They aren’t old stuffy documents that are irrelevant today - they encapsulate the faith taught - faith entrusted to faithful men to faithful men for generations. They are the guardrails against heresy and theological error.

Paul, throughout the epistle to the Galatians warns against theological error, misapplied scripture, incorrect traditions - even false teaching that HE might preach. If it went against the original faith they were taught, the teacher should be cursed. We can see Paul’s passion for correct teaching, AND correct WALKING with a quick run through a few verses in Galatians:

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

He continues in Chapter three to call out those in the church that would desert what was taught and pursue a works based salvation:

Galatians 3:1–3 ESV

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

He aches for their return to true, biblical truth, even to the point of wishing harm on those who are teaching the Christians must be circumcised to be united to Christ:

Galatians 5:7–12 ESV

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

Paul isn’t throwing theology around to impress people, or convince them he is who he says he is - he uses theology - teaching about God, and US, and what God has done for us in Christ to strengthen and equip the saint. That’s why this book of Colossians is so full of passages describing Christ, and His Supremacy, and his work on the cross. Paul knows that teaching people about Christ and his work is a CRITICAL part of them WALKING their life in union with Christ.

If we are going to be people established in the faith, then we we to KNOW the faith - we need to KNOW who this man Christ Jesus is, what he did, and the Father did THROUGH him on the cross. And the way we know it is is hear, reading his word. The Creeds and Confessions are not inspired, but they flow out of scripture - they are shaped by scripture. The Christian that Walks in Christ as he first received him treasures the word of God, and the truth about God it conveys.

Being built up in Christ is something happening TO us, by the Spirit - in out growth and sanctification the Spirit works with us to conform us to the image of Christ. He uses our hearing and ready of His word to do that. Having the Spirit apply the word of God that WE are reading and hearing is fundamental to being established or strengthened in the faith.

Abounding in Thankfulness

Paul’s final element here is Abounding in Thankfulness. This is the only “present active” participle - it is something WE are to BE DOING NOW, and REMAIN doing.

Paul has said we are to walk in Christ, Rooted in BEING BUILT UP in Him - established in the faith. He now moves to thankfulness, or thanksgiving.

It’s probably easy to see how being rooted and built up in Christ could help in fending out false teaching. And its a logic next step to see how being established in faith makes it easier to identify and deter those who preach a false gospel. But Thanksgiving? Why Walk in Christ with Abounding Thanksgiving.

Sometime parents will hear a child complain, and complain, and complain. And parents know that a discontent heart looks for things to content itself, and so that will ask the child: “What are some good things that happened today?” “What can you be THANKFUL for?” “How has God blessed you, even while you were discontent?”

Paul, like a wise parent, knows that thankfulness, abundant thankfulness, is a quick antidote to discontentment, and the temptation to find some other novel, new way to deal with things.

Application

Commands - really only two commands (Walk in Christ, Abound in Thankfulness) - often reformed people can look at commands and wince, because it looks like Law - and we aren’t saved by keeping the Law - But we are still commanded to keep God’s commands - Christ when telling the disciples that he is the vine and they are the branches, and that we should abide in him, he says: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” - We obey Christ’s commands, and the commands in scripture out of love, and out of an understanding that God’s law is Good and shows us how to live - it is OUR fallen flesh that bucks against commands and laws - but his commands are not burdensome!

Walk in Christ

Not Get into Christ, but walk in him.

You are already united - the Christian life is one of LIVING OUT OF your identity, of who you are in Christ.

We will get into the following verses next time - But verses 9-15 really show HOW the Father has united us to Christ - He has buried our sins and flesh with Christ, and raised us up with him. Christ took our sins on the Cross - the father nailed them to the tree. Christ took out sinful fallen flesh, and buried it in the grave, and rose again, and we too were raised with him. All that separated us from God was handled and carried by the Son - allowing us to Walk the Christian walk - not earning it - but rejoicing in what has already been earned, and given to us.

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord - Bear fruit, increase in knowledge - As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in him

Abound in Thankfulness

Find ways to remind yourself of the work Christ has done. Remind yourself of the Gospel - what you deserve, and What God through Christ has done for you.

If God just sent Christ to pay for our sins so that we would not face his wrath - just dying for our sins, and then that’s it - we’d still have reason to be thankful. But God has done so much more than just forgiving our sins in Christ - he has united us to him, he has rooted us in Christ - he has raised us with Christ - to the extent that with Christ WE TOO are seated in the heavenlies. We too will reign with Him - WE too receive his promised inheritance.

Implied: Don’t fall for foolish teaching

There are plenty of false teaching out there

Some Christian

Prosperity Gospel - Law of Attraction/Visualization

Legalistic Fundamentalism

Extra knowledge or Steps that are needed to make you closer to God.

Books like Jesus Calling

Some not at all Christian

Worldliness/success

Money/Sex/Drugs can make you happy

Seek to be established in faith

Discipleship

Attending teaching/preaching

Reading God’s Word

Conclusion

Call to Repentance

At the start of the sermon I asked you

What is your biggest spiritual desire?

What are you seeking?

If you are seeking things that Paul would call plausible arguments, or philosophy and empty deceit - things like supernatural experiences, health, wealth, and prosperity, Legalism and works based righteousness - if you are seeking things that are of human tradition and not of Christ - return to your first Love - abide in and pursue Christ because apart from Him, you can do nothing.

John 15:5–6 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

If you had no spiritual desire - if you have no desire to pursue Christ, or to be united to him, OR even if you hate God, and want nothing to do with him, no desire to walk in him, to be rooted in him, listen to Paul’s from Ephesians 2 - He shows the path the people opposed to God are on, and also the MERCY of God in saving his enemies:

Ephesians 2:1–7 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We were all children of Wrath - every single people in this room IS or WAS a child of wrath - the ONLY difference is “But God” - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.

Christian aren’t Christians because they are better than everyone else. They don’t get to heaven because they walked the right way. They are Christians, and Go to heaven because the Father sent the Son to die for sinners, to make Children of Wrath HIS Family - to unite those that were dead in their sins to Christ.

Christians aren’t people who have figured out some secret to the universe - We are people who have received Christ - and we are people who WALK IN CHRIST - and live out of the vine, living out of our union with Christ.

Don’t let your burden of sin, or shame keep you from this merciful Saviour - receive him - trust him - believe in Him - and then you can walk in Him

[Pray]

Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV)

(May Christ) dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.