Paul’s Letter to the Colossians – 5
Thursday, September 17, 2009
So Walk Ye in Him
(Colossians 2:1-7)
Paul had never met the good Christian folks at Colossae (1). He was aware, however, of dangerous winds of doctrine prevailing over all of the fledgling churches. A fairly new teaching, Gnosticism, was taking root in society; and it was beginning to influence Christianity. In short, Gnosticism taught that a few select individuals were privy to “secret” and “deeper” truths—ideas not revealed to the ignorant masses. Gnosticism proposed a false dualism between the physical and the spiritual, declaring the physical intrinsically evil. The Gnostics taught a confusing labyrinth of requirements for spiritual growth, thereby denying the simplicity of the Gospel of grace.
How should Christians “walk” so as to mature in Christ? Paul answers the question in verse 6: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” Since you received Christ “by faith,” the Christian walk should also be “by faith” (7). In other words, maturing Christians take God at His word and act upon His commandments by faith.
Christian maturity, then, is not found in a super-secret formula known only by the elite—far from it! Christian growth and genuine spiritual maturity is a result of believing God for living just as you believed Him for saving! In other words, if I can believe God for my eternal salvation, I can believe Him in every circumstance of life. I can walk believing: believing He will strengthen me; believing He will provide; believing He will direct my steps; believing He will bless obedience. The secret, then, really is no secret at all; only believe!
