Colossians 2:7
by Dr. Grant C. Richison
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Colossians 2:7
"rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you
have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
Paul mixes his metaphors in this verse -- the metaphor of a tree and a building.
Both metaphors convey the idea of stability.
Three statements about how our faith strengthen us show the stability of
life in Christ.
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"rooted"
The first statement as to how faith strengthens us is we are "rooted
in him." The word "root" means to cause to take root. The
Greek indicates that it is God who causes us to take root. The first metaphor
of stability in our Christian walk is that our faith is rooted like a tree
by God.
"Rooted" is an idiom for strength with a focus upon the source
for strength. The Greek indicates that the Christian who is strong in faith
is made to strike roots deep in the ground. As a tree roots itself in the
ground God causes us to take root in Christ.
We cannot stabilize our lives in Christ until by faith we recognize that
our roots in him. A tree's roots go deep into the soil and draws its nourishment
from the ground.
The tense of the word "rooted" means that we were rooted in the
past with the result that we remain rooted in the faith. Root may refer
to our reception of Christ as Savior. This metaphor may refer to the idea
that Christ provided salvation eternally for us. Once we come to know him,
we are rooted in him forever.
PRINCIPLE: Our faith cannot strengthen until we root ourselves deep into
the person and work of Christ
APPLICATION: There is ongoing results from sound teaching about Christ.
Christ is nourishment to the growing, vital tree of Christian living. A
Christian must have deep roots in Christ if he is to produce fruit. The
mature Christ roots deep in Christ like a tree in the ground. He is the
source of our life and strength. Stability comes from Christ.
When we walk daily by the same kind of faith with which we came to know
Christ (v.6), our lives will strengthen in the faith. A walk with God establishes
a sound faith. Verse seven gives the basis for our faith.
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"and built up in Him"
The second statement about how God strengthens our faith is we are "built
up in Him." The words "built up" means to build a house
upon a specific location with an emphasis on the process. This is the second
synonym for strength. As we grow in Christ, God makes us more able ("built
up") to live the Christian life.
This is the metaphor of a building. Its foundations go far into the ground
and sit on firm footings. A mature Christian has a solid foundation. The
foundation is Jesus Christ. Well-built buildings can withstand great earthquakes.
When the Christian faces storms and earth shattering adversity, he stands
firm. Christ himself is the binding force for the building of a strong faith.
The tense of this verb is ongoing. The building process for the Christian
is ongoing. A Christian must be build block by block until God erects an
edification complex in his soul.
Jude 20 says that we build strength into our lives by what we believe, "But
you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Spirit."
In Acts 20:32 and in this verse it means to build strength into the Christian
life, "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His
grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all
those who are sanctified." The grace-oriented Word of God will build
us into God's design for us.
Acts 9.31 uses this word for churches, "Then the churches throughout
all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified." And walking
in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were
multiplied." God strengthens churches as well as individuals.
PRINCIPLE: When the process of becoming strong in Christ reaches a point
of stability, the Christian becomes mature.
APPLICATION: Not only do Christians need to grow deep but we need to grow
up as well. After a person comes to Christ there must be development and
progress. We erect buildings brick by brick. It requires an architect,
plans, materials and workers. This is the picture of a Christian who is
in the process of growing up spiritually.
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"and established in the faith"
The word "established" means to make firm or make secure, to cause
something to be known as certain -- to confirm, verify. God is the cause
of our certainty. God makes Christ known in such a way as to confirm its
truth.
This word comes to mean increase in inner strength, with the result of greater
firmness of character or attitude. It means to receive more inner strength,
to be strengthened in one's heart.
The adjective means stable, fast, firm. The New Testament uses it of confirming
a word (Mark 16:20), proving the promises reliable (Ro. 15:8), the testimony
of Christ (I Cor 1:6). Our salvation was confirmed or guaranteed to us
by the apostles (Heb. 2:3). Our hearts are confirmed by grace (Heb. 13:9).
The saints will be confirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 1:8) and by
God the Father (II Cor. 1:21).
The word in this verse means to be made firm. God confirms us in the faith.
That is, God makes us faithful disciples by strengthening us in Christ's
provisions. When we come to grasp who and what Jesus Christ is all about,
God will establish us in as faithful disciples.
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"as you have been taught"
Teaching is the foundation for stability (Col. 1:27,28; 3:16; I Tim. 2:7;
3:2; II Tim. 2:2, 23-26). Teaching produces the three characteristics in
the previous part of the verse. Their pastor was faithful in teaching them
sound doctrine so that they can have spiritual stability.
PRINCIPLE: We need a firm faith established by God in Christ. Our repose
is upon Christ; we are as unshakable as our Lord.
APPLICATION: Faith in God's provisions in Christ is the cement for the building
of our faith. That kind of faith can withstand any gale that may come.
A strong Christian can withstand the shock of an enemy assault. In this
case the assault is the false teaching of the Gnostics. When we establish
our footings in Christ, God gives us fixity. Our repose is upon Christ;
we are unshakable as our Lord. His love for us never wavers or fails.
Since it is God who strengthens our faith, we can face our problems with
a new power. Is your faith growing strong in your home, neighborhood and
work? God will strengthen our faith in these tests.
Having made three statements about how God strengthens the believer, he
makes a statement about how the believer should respond to what God has
done.
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"abounding in it with thanksgiving"
As we grow in stability, we must be careful to give God the thanks. He
is the one who made the provision.
Note the emphasis of thanksgiving in Colossians (1:12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2).
Mature and stable Christians recognize the work of God's grace in their
hearts.
Note the word "abounding." The word "abounding" means
overflow. It is one thing to give thanks; it is another to give thanks
abundantly
Gratefulness is a distinguishing mark of the mature believer. Gratefulness
comes from experiencing the three previous qualities of stability that God
gives.
PRINCIPLE: Thanksgiving is a manifestation of a mature believer who recognizes
what God has done in his or her life.
APPLICATION: The capacity of thanksgiving means that we do not grumble and
complain about our station in life. We cannot both criticize and be thankful
at the same time. We cannot have it both ways.
Someone robbed the great Bible commentator, Dr. Matthew Henry, as he walked
along a highway. Afterwards he told his friends there were four things
for which he gave thanks. First, he was grateful that he had never been
robbed before. After many years of life this was the first time he had been
robbed and for that he was grateful. Second, he said, "Though they
took all my money, I am glad they did not get very much." That was
something for which to be thankful. Third, he said, "Though they took
my money, they did not take my life, and I am grateful for that." Finally,
he suggested, "I am thankful that it was I who was robbed, and not
I who robbed." There was a man who learned how to "overflow with
thankfulness!"
Copyright © 1995, Dr. Grant Richison. All rights reserved.
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