In uncertain times

I believe that the Gospel alone is the only Truth.
Jesus said that His words are Spirit and Life!

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63 ESV)

Why did Jesus say that?

I want to answer this by looking at Colossians 2:6-10.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:6–10 ESV)

I want to say three things about this:

1. Being Rotted
   “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6–7 ESV)

There are three essential words in John 6,

• The “Word is Rhema”, which is usually associated with the prophetic words of God.”
• We have the Word Spirit, Neuma, which means wind or spirit” –
• We have the Word Life which is Zoe

Interestingly, these same words are found at the very beginning of creation.

These words are all in Genesis, chapter one and two.

• The Spirit was moving upon the earth
• The Lord said
• The Word created life “Let it be light, let it be every living creature”. The Lord made humankind in his image!
• The Lord said let us make man
• The Lord created man out of the dust of the earth. Gen.2:6
• The Lord said: Let us make humanity Gen. 1:26
• The Breath of God is his Spirit, and the Spirit created life!

So when Jesus said that His Words are Life and Spirit, he was saying that He is the same substance as the God.

What does this have to do with being rooted?
It is essential, we need to know to whom we are rooted!

The Bible says “The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.” (Proverbs 12:12 NIV11)

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1–3 NIV11)

Jer. 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

It is so fascinating to see the connection between the soil and the roots! Paul says we are rooted in Christ, why? Because Christ is God.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:15–18 ESV)

Christ supremacy over all things is not questionable; it is a fact. Because we are rooted in him through faith, we then have no reason to be uprooted.

2. We are not in Captivity

Paul makes it very clear that we are not in captivity!

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 ESV)

What does he mean?
Paul is urging his readers to watch it that no one takes you into captivity. He gives the reason why and he numbers them!

1. Philosophy which means love of wisdom, but Paul says this can lead us to believe us into empty deceit. Meaning lies!
2. Human traditions.
3. Elemental spirits of the world.

“All this means nothing, and they have no value when they are compared to Christ.” I would argue all philosophies and all men traditions have a spiritual element in their foundations. In many cases they are by nature, are anti-Christ.

3. We live in the Fullness.
   “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9–10 NIV11)

Jesus says that his Words are Spirit and Life, why is Paul saying that we need to be careful not to follow the old and latest ideas, but discern according to the Gospel the elemental spiritual truths of the world.
What if we start by believing this amazing statement that Paul has issued: “For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
If the first declaration is essential, the second is equally as important:
“In Christ you have been brought to the fullness of God.”
Now, the last declaration is of Supreme importance: “He, Christ, is the head over every power and authority. Christ has the supremacy of all and in all!

We have everything to discern the times and truths and every ideology.
We are alive because of His Word and Spirit; we are watchful that we will not be up-rooted. Jesus Christ who is Lord of All.