Last week, Paul reminded the believers in Colossae, “as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith” (Col. 2:6). For 36 verses in the Book of Colossians, Paul has pointed the believers in Colossae toward Jesus Christ.
I love the language Paul uses here: ‘having been firmly rooted’. We use to have a big oak tree in our front yard. It survived many hurricanes, Katrina and Gustav, to name a couple. I don’t think any storm could have knocked that tree down. We actually got it cut down with chainsaws because it was growing too big for our front yard. It was growing through the electrical lines and on top of the house messing up our roof. How could that tree be so strong, so big, and so alive? It had a great root system! The root system was so expansive underground that it was actually growing under the foundation of my house. Well, Paul is telling us that our ‘root system’ or our foundation is no other than Jesus Christ. And we can be so strong, we can be so big, and we can be so alive!
I quickly did a google search and found out there are four major functions of a root system: 1) anchoring the tree to the ground, 2) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, 3) storage of food and nutrients, and 4) vegetation reproduction (see Wikipedia). Do you need an anchor during the stresses of your life? You have one – Jesus Christ! Do you need some spiritual nourishment? You have all the spiritual nourishment you need – Jesus Christ! Do you want to reproduce (make disciples)? You can because you have Jesus Christ. I love the fact that ‘having been firmly rooted’ is a perfect passive participle. Now, what does that mean? Well, the perfect tense in Greek is something that has happened in the past but still has ramifications in the present. You see the English language has no verb form like that. You were rooted in Christ at some time in the past when you received Christ by faith as Lord, but you are still presently rooted in Christ. The passive voice means that you didn’t do it, but it was done for you. God was the one who rooted you in Christ, and God is the one who still has you rooted in Christ.
So, Paul has been telling the people at Colossae you have Christ! You have all you need! You have a strong root system, and you are presently being built up and established (or strengthened) in your faith to stand firm no matter what you are facing. Again, those two participles have the passive voice – meaning God is the one currently building you up and establishing or strengthening your faith.
But you see, some other people were coming in and saying to the people of Colossae – Christ is not enough. The false teachers were basically saying you need more. Today, we are just going to look at verse 8 of chapter 2, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Earlier Paul said in verse 4, “I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.” In chapter 1, Paul told us that we were rescued from the domain of darkness. Now, in verse 8 of chapter 2, he is COMMANDING us not to be taken captive again. And how can you be taken captive – through philosophy (human knowledge apart from God) or empty deceit (or deception). And who is pushing this philosophy and empty deception – according to the tradition of men and according to the elementary principles of the world. Paul is saying that the traditions of man and the ABC’s of the world can lead you to captivity. When you are looking for answers away or apart from Jesus Christ, you can be taken captive. Remember, in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (cf. 2:3).
I will leave you with this question: Are you being built up and strengthened in your faith or are you presently in captivity? If you are in captivity, remember the amazing truth found in Colossians 1 – Christ in you, the hope of glory! Next week, Paul will remind us again and elaborate more on what Jesus Christ has done for us. Oh, how He loves us…May we be overwhelmed with thankfulness.