As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving
(Colossians 2:6-7)

How do you become a Christian?
Once you are a Christian, how do you continue to live as a Christian?

Our text nestles in the midst of problems (Colossians 2:4). Paul is concerned some might be deceived. The antidote? Believers can’t miss the wonders of what the Lord has done and the perfect teaching of Christ (verses 9-15). You need no other mediator or philosopher – you need Him. If you put your trust in Him He has wiped all away, all the sin debts you have accrued.

There are three parts to the focus verses (6-7):
1. Being receptive to Christ
2. Being rooted in Christ
3. Being rich in Christ.

1. Being receptive to Christ:
   Paul’s main emphasis is to knit them together in love. Our main subject is Christ Jesus. If you are a person who is seeking what life is all about, Jesus is the substance. You can only be complete if you’re in Him. Decide in your mind you’re a sinner, turn from sin and trust in Him. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13). The work of faith is amazing! Someone who has turned from sin is now under God’s rule. If you’re a person who doesn’t know Christ, this world is darkness. But if you’re a believer you’ve been given such privileges (John 3). You are regenerated, born-again.

In Colossians 2:6-7 what does it mean to receive? To accept, acquire, apprehend, appropriate and assimilate. Christ has taken your sin, paid the price. What you not cling to Him, say, ‘I want you Lord’?

To receive is to associate with someone. We see this in Jesus’ life. People wanted to flock to Him, like Zacchaeus. Would you not be a Zacchaeus today? Being in Jesus leads to immense privileges; if you receive Jesus you become part of the family of God (John 1:12-13). We can receive Christ when we receive God’s words. It’s an awesome thing when Christ says, ‘Come.’ So walk in Him. Continually receive in Christ. Are we receiving Christ day by day? Run to Christ. Receiving Christ is now walking with Him: agreeing with Him, having union with Him, being clothed with Him (Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27, Isaiah 61:3). Put on love, mercy, all the righteous gifts God has given to you.

2. Being rooted in Christ:
   Where are your roots? Sometimes our roots are firmly in this world – career, finances etc. Does your root seek out the water of life or something else? Are you built up in Him? Where do you go when you have difficulties? What does it mean to be rooted in Christ? We are grounded in Him, rooted in the faith. The Scriptures talk about faith. What does this mean? A body of connective truths – ultimately it’s about Him. It belongs as a gift to God’s elect. The faith is something we must be obedient to. We ought to test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. To experience the presence of God is something we can’t teach but something we can ask for. The apostle Paul wants us to be grounded in Him, therefore, being grounded in the faith. That’s why it’s so important to study. If you love a person you want to hang on their every word. The Word is the love letter from Jesus Christ. If you love Jesus you’ll hang on every word.
3. Being rich in Christ:
   You should be abounding in Him – overflowing in wanting to know about receiving Christ, wanting to know more about Jesus, what faith is about. Knowing about God does not necessarily mean you have faith. Knowing His name, being able to prophesy and do miracles in not having faith. If your life is not changed, your character is not altered, you do not have faith. God is more interested in your walk of faith. It’s essential to know the doctrines, the teaching of Christ. It’s impossible to be a true believer without wanting to know more and more. Our life is a question of receiving continually from Christ.

If we developed a life of thanksgiving, what a change that would be. If the Christian is thinking about Christ, wanting to know more, thanks will come. What have you got to be thankful for? Forgiveness of sins, the peace of God, my sin problem has been dealt with, a mansion in heaven has been reserved for me, fellowship with God, when you’re praying, knowing you are praying to the creator of the universe, knowledge and understanding, abundant life, new life.

Have you received Christ Jesus as Lord? If so, keep on. Is your source of delight God and Jesus Christ? Do you pay attention to your teachers, the family of God? Do you value what they bring to you? What treasures do you have?