Walking in Christ

IN OUR KEY VERSES, PAUL is addressing those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Redeemer. These, having made a full consecration to do the Heavenly Father’s will, have been accepted as prospective members of the body of Christ. (Col. 1:1,2) The apostle had never met the Colossian brethren, but he had learned from Epaphras, a fellow servant of the Lord, of their “faith in Christ Jesus,” their love for “all the saints,” and their “love in the Spirit.” As a result, Paul wrote an epistle to them and also prayed that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”—vss. 3-9

Additionally, the apostle prayed that the Colossian brethren “might walk worthy [Greek: appropriately] of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father.”—vss. 10-12

Paul could not be physically present with them, but he writes, “Yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” (Col. 2:5) The apostle then encourages the Colossian brethren to continue striving to “walk ye in him [Christ].” (vs. 6) Here the word “walk” refers to the manner of one’s life, and includes how we live and behave. Whenever a problem, issue, or question arises, before we make a decision we should ask ourselves the question, “How would Jesus approach this situation, and what would he do?”

One who “walks” makes progress, but it is also important that we walk in the right direction. The Apostle John writes, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”—I John 1:5-7

Elsewhere, Apostle Paul defines how we are to walk in the light, stating that we are to do so “with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” and to “walk in love.”—Eph. 4:1-3; 5:2

In our Key Verses, the apostle adds that we should be “rooted and built up” in Christ. On another occasion, he points out that being “rooted” should be based upon love, as he wrote to the brethren in Ephesus: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love [agape].” (Eph. 3:17) Paul also explains that being “built up” is to be done “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”—Eph. 2:20

Finally, Paul warns the brethren of Colosse, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, … and not according to Christ.” (Col. 2:8, English Standard Version) Let us each strive to faithfully carry out our “walk with Christ” to the end of our earthly sojourn.