So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians2:6-7
Paul is moving into the section of the letter where he deals with the false teachings that threaten the congregation. Before he gets into the threats, he lays the foundation: Get the basics right.
Going back to basics is always one of the best things we can do when things are going wrong. Bill Hybels talks about a team they had put together for a sailing regatta: all were very talented sailors, but somehow things weren't working. Eventually he suggested that they have a back-to-basics session where their quietest but most experienced sailor took them step by step through the basic sailing manoeuvres. After this their team, the only amateur team in the regatta, came second overall!
Paul wants the Colossians back-to-basics as they face their threats. We'll look at these verses today and tomorrow. For today we are going to look at two words Paul uses: "Received" and "Continue"
The word Paul uses for "received" (or "took") is a very relational word. It is the same word used when Joseph "took" Mary as his wife, when Joseph "took" Jesus to Egypt, when Jesus "took" His disciples with Him to Jerusalem. In the Gospels the word is almost always implies "with" - Joseph took Mary "with" him, Jesus took the disciples "with" him. Paul uses this same word almost exclusively to denote receiving the Gospel and it seems that he is implying "being with" Jesus. One could translate it: "Just as you started being-with Jesus..."
The word for "continue" is actually "walk." It implies the process of putting one foot in front of the other. Step by step.
So, when false teaching threatens, we should go back to basics:
"Walk WITH Jesus, step by step..." The basic building block is that faith is a relationship - a journey - with Jesus.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
