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.

1) What does “therefore” refer to?
I’m glad you asked! Always have your radar up for “therefore” and go back to what was previously written for understanding. Prior to verse 8, Paul has spent a good deal of space praising God for their salvation, he shares the gospel again, and teaches deeply about the theology of Jesus being fully God and how we share in that incredibly rich inheritance! Everything he’s getting ready to say now is rooted deeply in the person of Jesus and all that we have because of Him.

2) How do we “walk in him”?
Walking in Christ (who is the “him”), is impossible without first receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Next in these verses, we see “rooted”, which means our foundation of belief. “Built up in him” refers to our growth as Christians. “Established” is all about regularly preaching the gospel to yourself. Take a look at Hebrews 13:9, which says it’s “good for the heart to be strengthened by grace”. “Abounding in thanksgiving” refers to the overflow of our lives as a result of all the other action steps before this one. Not just thankfulness to God, but sharing the gospel with others because you’re so grateful for what He has done in you. Additionally, nearly every time “thankfulness” is mentioned in the New Testament, it’s also coupled with “prayer”.

3) What is “philosophy and empty deceit”?
In contrast with the importance of everything Paul just taught about “walking in Him”, Paul warns that anything that doesn’t line up with the rich truth found in Jesus Christ, expounded through the Word of God, is empty deceit. Unlike a poured concrete foundation, ideas and philosophies that don’t reflect the truth of the Scriptures, is like a false front with no depth. It’s like walking in an attic with fiberglass insulation for flooring; it simply cannot support life.

4) What implications come with being “filled in him”?
“Fullness” here refers again to the absolute whole inheritance found in Christ. The very fullness of God dwells in the body of Jesus Christ and is made available to us everyday as Christ-followers through the living, breathing Holy Spirit! Again in contrast, Paul asks why would you trade fullness, stability, and deep assurance for empty deceit and worldly philosophies?

1) How does “therefore” affect me today?
Girl, you have been given more than you can dream possible as a co-heir with Christ Jesus! Go back and read Colossians 1-2:7 as if Paul had come to speak to your church, your small group, your family, you! Sink your teeth into the very real eternal hope that is yours because of your faith in Christ. Be reminded that what you are doing now for His kingdom, (yes, that includes dishes and meals and taking time to listen to your friends’ needs), will bear fruit as the Spirit spreads the gospel through you! God the Father is your strength, your endurance, your patience, your joy, your everything! Whatever you need for today, in this moment, and all the moments ahead of you, God has it for you. And that’s only a small piece of your inheritance!

2) How do we “walk in him”?
This is how we flesh out walking in Christ:
Receiving: You can’t live the Jesus life without Him because you don’t have the Holy Spirit to give you the power you need to grow.
Rooted: Do you know the full gospel? Are you confident in what the Scripture teaches about salvation and God and Jesus and the Spirit because you’ve read it for yourself? Does what you think you know about God, reflected in the Bible? Jump up and down on your foundation, checking what you believe for weak spots as you line it up with God’s Word.
Built Up: In what ways are we consistently seeking to grow deeper? Regular prayer and Bible time, corporate worship and teaching at church, walking in community with other believers in small group, having an accountability partner, reading books about theology, or having a prayer journal. What are you doing to grow deep and be built up?
Established: The more you are established, which is vital for every believer no matter the stage they are in, the easier you will be able to distinguish between false doctrine and true. Learn to listen and watch out for false teachings by being well established in truth!
Abounding: Summing up, “abounding” is about lifestyle faith that exhibits praise, prayer, and sharing the gospel just as Paul did in 1:3-14. Check your life against these three as a gauge for how healthy your walk with Christ is!

3) What is “philosophy and empty deceit”?
Paul strongly warns against shallow, shaky foundation, which comes through being taken captive by “empty deceit” and worldly “philosophy”. Challenge yourself to truly think about what you believe and where those beliefs come from. What do you read on Facebook or magazines or other sources that isn’t biblical truth, but you unwittingly accept it as such? Where are your shaky foundations?

4) What implications come with being “filled in him”?
If you have given your life to Jesus, His full inheritance is available to you every moment of every day. You are not held captive by empty living! Where do you need God’s fullness to wash over your life? Choose to surrender every area of your life to the fullness of Christ and lean in to God’s whole inheritance for your everyday!

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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