The Believer’s Walk in Christ – Colossians 2:6-8

Thirteenth lesson in a verse by verse series through Colossians. This lesson explores Paul’s exhortation to the Colossian believers concerning the Christian walk.Sermon Outline: 1. A Faith Walk (Vs. 6) 2. A Stable Walk (Vs. 7) 3. A Watchful Walk (Vs. 8)

1. This chapter: Paul confronts the heresy head on and dismantles it piece by piece. There is a definite tone of warning in chapter 2. Refer Vs. 4,8 & 18.
2. Key phrase: “so walk ye in him” (Vs. 6)
3. This lesson: Paul’s exhortation to the Colossian believers to walk in Christ and to beware of the false teachings that threaten that walk.
4. The Christian life if very often described as a walk (a pilgrimage) in Scripture: walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4); walk honestly (Rom. 13:13); walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16); walk worthy (Eph. 4:1); walk in love (Eph. 5:2); walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8); walk circumspectly (Eph. 5:15); walk in wisdom (Col. 4:5); walk in the light (I. John 1:7); walk after his commandments (2 John1:6); walk in truth (3 John 1:4).

There are 3 key parts to this walk in our text…

A Faith Walk (Vs. 6)

1. Their Salvation (6a)
   1. ‘as’ = in like manner
   2. ‘therefore’ = upon the basis of the previous faith mentioned in verse 5.
   3. ‘received’ = John 1:12 “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:”
   4. Question: How did the Colossian Christian’s receive Christ? Answer: Through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”
2. Their Continuation (6b)
   1. “as…so” = parallel between how someone gets saved and how they then live the Christian life.
   2. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
   3. Faith = complete dependence upon God. Has the idea of “clinging to and relying upon.”
   4. Faith = “The gaze of the soul upon a saving God” A.W. Tozer
   5. Illustration: Christ’s salvation sermon to Nicodemus. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15 (C.f. Numbers 21:8-9)
   6. Illustration: Peter’s walk on the water

A Stable Walk (Vs. 7)

1. ‘Rooted’ = Planted/thoroughly grounded (foundation)
   1. Agricultural metaphor (Phillips)
   2. Perfect passive = “having been rooted”
   3. Perfect tense = action completed in the past with continuing results in the present.
   4. Lesson: Christ is the life source for the believer’s walk. Refer John 15 (vine & branches). Refer Romans 11:17 (graffed into the olive tree)
2. “Built up” = to build up upon (structure)
   1. Architectural metaphor
   2. Present passive
   3. Jude 1:20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”
3. ‘Established’ = to make firm & stable (cohesion)
   1. Present passive
   2. “the faith” = doctrines of the N.T. Picture: N.T. truth is like the cement that holds the building together
   3. ‘abounding’ = overflowing (present active) This is what Paul was praying for in 1:9, that they might be ‘filled’ with godly knowledge.
   4. ‘thanksgiving’ = our response to God’s working in us
      1. Thankfulness is a grand theme of this Epistle and of Paul’s writings in general (See 1:12; 3:15-17; I. Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:15).
      2. Heb. 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

A Watchful Walk (Vs. 8)

1. The malignant intention of false teachers.
   1. ‘beware’ = to look, see, behold, take heed. “Look out!”
   2. ‘spoil’ = to carry off as booty or captive, to kidnap. False teachers preach a powerless message that does not produce the results of the Gospel. Hence, they prey on believers who have been won by another’s labors.
2. The means of false teachers
   1. ‘Philosophy’ = love of wisdom. Note Vs. 3. Human wisdom apart from Christ.
      1. The philosophy of the Colossian heretics (Refer 2:18)
      2. “Man cannot begin with himself and arrive at ultimate reality.” Francis Schaeffer
   2. “Vain Deceit”
      1. ‘vain’ = empty
      2. ‘deceit’ = falsehood
      3. Note: Error has an enchanting effect on people.
3. The marks of false philosophy
   1. Man-made tradition
      1. Mark 7:5-8 “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”
      2. Mark 7:13 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
      3. Note: False teachers always tend to make an appeal to antiquity.
      4. This tradition stands in contrast to Apostolic tradition (II. Thess. 3:6)
4. Worldly elements
   1. Examples: ceremonial observances, material things etc…
   2. Gal 4:9 “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
5. Christ less character
   1. Christ is absent from such teaching
   2. Note: Any system of belief that removes Christ from His central position is false.

Conclusion

1. Are you living the Christian life in your own strength or by faith?
2. Are you stable and firm in the faith?
3. Are you being watchful and alert to spiritual dangers in the area of doctrine?

Sermon 13 of 28 in Colossians Series

Sermon Audio Id: 910162150467