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As ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

I. THE RECEPTION OF CHRIST IS THE SUBSTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY.

1. This includes the reception of him doctrinally, as the historical Person Jesus, and the acceptance of him as Lord. The false teachers misrepresented his true character in these respects.

2. But it expressly points to a believing reception of himself as at once the sum and substance of all teaching and the foundation of all hope for man. Those who thus receive him

(1) become sons of God (John 1:11, 12);

(2) receive the promise of an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15), are co-heirs with himself (Romans 8:17);

(3) receive the very Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9);

(4) receive rest for the soul (Matthew 11:28);

(5) possess security that he will save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).

II. THE WALK MUST CORRESPOND TO THE SPIRITUAL RECEPTION. "So walk ye in him." This implies:

1. That we are carefully to guard the true doctrine of Christ's person. One apostle rejoiced to hear that his children" walked in truth" (2 John 1:4). There were men who "walked not after the traditions which they received of the apostle" (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Let us give earnest heed to what has been "received of the Lord" and. is delivered "to his apostles" (1 Corinthians 11:23). Let us not "lose what we have wrought" (2 John1:9).

2. That we are to walk in all holy obedience to Christ's commands. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).

3. But the passage essentially means that we are to walk in Christ as the sphere or element in which our life is to find development. We are to walk in him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and our life is to be the life of faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). All our strength, guidance, motives, are to be found in him. "His grace will be sufficient for us," as he "dwells in our hearts by faith."

III. THE CONDITIONS OF A HOLY WALK IN CHRIST. "Having been rooted and being built up in him, and being established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." There is here an expressive variety of metaphor.

1. The believer must be firmly rooted in Christ. This is done once for all in regeneration. It is a past act. The tree may shake in its topmost branches, but its roots are firm because they grasp the solid earth. So the firmness of believers is due to Christ (John 10:28, 29), and his sap makes them fruitful (John 15:5). The believer is to "cast forth his roots as Lebanon," and thus he will "grow up unto him in all things."

2. He must be built upon Christ as the Foundation.

(1) There is no other foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). As the foundation upholds the house, so is the believer upheld by Christ (Matthew 16:18).

(2) The building is progressive - "being built up in him" (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). The believer is to receive "the strengthening of his faith" in Christ. Thus the body of Christ "maketh increase of itself in love."

3. He must be established in faith. "Established in your faith, even as ye were taught."

(1) Faith is the great means of giving stability to life. "It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace" (Hebrews 13:9).

(2) Faith itself needs stability. The Gnostics exalted knowledge above faith, but faith holds the key of the soul's position. "Therefore be not faithless, but believing;" "Lord, increase our faith." The strong faith of Abraham gave him the stability that marked his singularly consistent and holy career.

(3) Faith must have constant reference to its grounds in the Word - "even as ye were taught." The Colossians were not to follow the false teachers, but Epaphras, their teacher.

4. There must be an abounding faith mingled with thanksgiving. "Abounding therein with thanksgiving."

(1) We cannot trust God too much. We ought, therefore, to pray continually, "Lord, increase our faith." We ought also to add to our faith every other Christian grace (2 Peter 1:5).

(2) Our faith must overflow with thanksgiving. We must be sensible of our mercies and privileges, and thus we shall get the comfort and benefit of them by "giving of thanks." - T.C.

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KJV: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

WEB: As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,