Col 2:6 “Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live~~your lives in him,”

Once an organization starts on a certain philosophy of ministry, it is very hard to change its direction. Likewise, how a person begins the Christian life will determine how he lives it out daily.

Paul was deeply concerned about the believers at Colossae because many had not seen him in person (Col 2:1) but had heard the gospel through his disciples.

He wanted to make sure that they had “all the riches of the full assurance of understanding” (2:2) of their newfound faith and the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3). Paul wrote the command in Colossians 2:6 because there were some that would “deceive [them] with persuasive words” (2:4), distracting their focus on the “steadfastness of [their] faith in Christ” (2:5).

“Therefore” ties this verse to the previous thought. There is a continuum from how these believers received Christ to how they continued to live in Him. The presentation of the gospel is described in several passages.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians of their conversion: “When you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thes 2:13). To the Ephesians, he said, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13).

The common threads include hearing God’s word (His teachings and promises), understanding what it means, and making a conscious decision to trust His word. Thus the believer receives Christ as his new life focus, submitting to whatever His word says and allowing it, through the Spirit, to transform his life.

Paul wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9). In this way, they would be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as [they] ha[d] been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col 2:7) This is not a mystical feeling but a continual growth in the knowledge of God’s word as it explains how we are to live as followers of Christ.

We are to hear, learn, understand, and believe that God’s instructions bring an abundant life (Jn 10:10). Then we must commit ourselves to live His way and to honor Him in every detail of our lives. Are you willing to live this way?

“Dear Father, I have exercised faith by receiving Your message of salvation in Your Son Jesus. Now, to fulfill Your will, help me live each day by faith in Your word, focusing on being obedient to what You have written there.”

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