Rooted in Christ Jesus: Where do you stand?

Posted On December 25, 2021

I want to start this study by sharing a story of what happened to me a while ago. We went to visit a friend the other day on a very, very cold day (-24 degrees Celsius), who invited us for lunch the very first time. He lives in our compound, so it’s too close to grab a taxi but at the same time, it’s super cold for a walk. Suffice to say, we decided to walk since we knew it couldn’t be too far, but we didn’t know the exact location. A few minutes in our walk I started jumping, lunging, hopping – whatever I can to help and keep some heat in my legs! But my mind went crazy with the question of how far can it still be! I was running in circles all the way there just to do something to combat the cold, all because I wasn’t entirely sure where his apartment was and how far I have yet to walk.

In contrast, on my way back home after lunch, I was much calmer. It’s still freezing cold – even more so since the sun sets very early here in the North and with it, it’s heat. But at least then I knew where my destination was – home. So, without any jumps or hops I’ve made it home with a mind much more at ease. It made me think of our life’s journey here on earth, of our life in Christ, or in contradiction – without Christ.

To make the connection of my story to this study you’ll need to open your Bible in the book of Colossians chapter 1. And with that, I want you think of what it means to be rooted in Christ, hence the title. When I thought of being rooted in Jesus, I realised there’s three factors to consider: Jesus, myself and the state of being rooted itself.

Rooted can be explained as standing immovable or being established deeply and firmly.

Now, how can we be rooted in Christ without knowing who Jesus Christ is and acknowledging the authority and superiority He holds? Also, how can we be rooted without knowing who we are in Jesus Christ?

Let’s begin!

1. Firstly, realise and accept that we ought to acknowledge and have faith in Jesus Christ!

2. Alongside that, accept and follow the commands given to us throughout His Word, as it is. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Thereby, saying you’ve accepted, in faith, Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, repented and turned away from your previous life and sins, been baptised in the name of the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and continue to live a life as a new creation in Jesus, pressing on in walking worthy as portrayed by the Holy Word of God, strengthened by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1-6)

3. We ought to acknowledge and stand in the truth that Jesus is the Son of the One and only living God!

4. Accept and acknowledge that through Jesus did God create all things – through Him and for Him! And that God and Jesus is ONE, along with His Spirit.

Now, to answer the above-mentioned questions we can look to Colossians chapter 1. Starting with further reaffirming the authority of Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ, our Lord God, holds ALL authority. He is the first and He is before all! All things consist in Jesus and without Him nothing can exist! Jesus is above anything and everything and He is the One who sustains all. That includes you and me. ( Acts 17:28; Philippians 2:5-11)

Jesus Christ holds all preeminence; surpassing all others and holding all superiority.

If you don’t stand in this truth through faith, you need to examine the state of your heart and determine if whether you’ve truly accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life? If you don’t stand, you’ll live your whole life wandering aimlessly, unsettled and purposelessly. More importantly, Jesus is returning for His elect (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 5:1-11, Matthew 24:30-31 etc.) and we therefore ought to continue in a life of holiness and righteousness through His Holy Spirit, walking worthy in faith as instructed throughout His Word, having our eyes fixed on Jesus and the promised eternal life found only in Him, and Him alone!

Otherwise, professing Christians will find themselves in the metaphoric situation I found myself in on my way to our friend. Restless, shaken by the cold and unsettled by the unknown, which you’ll inevitably be confronted with in life through everything the world and satan intends to throw at you, creating hindrances and distractions leading you away from a life established and rooted in Christ! Leading you unto a way of darkness and death.

This is the single most important decision of your life…

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead. – William Law

Secondly, we ought to be confronted with the fact who we were; who we are without Christ and the new creation we are in Christ Jesus.

The world will try and sell you something different – encouraging you to continue a life without Jesus, a life which sits comfortable living in sin. The world is under the rule of satan, searching who it can lead astray from God’s saving grace, God’s love, righteousness and holiness. Do not be deceived and misled, the world’s way leads to confusion, destruction and a life in bondage to sin and death. (1 John 5:18-19) But, through Jesus we are made alive and can turn away from a life which appears to be a moment of false pleasure, a life dictated by the passions of the flesh, of lust and a life that’s lived in rebellion against God – a life that’s in actuality no life at all, but which leads to death. (Ephesians 2) ALL mankind have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, none of us are deserving of God’s grace and mercy. None of us can meet God’s standard. And yet, because God is holy, because He is righteous and just; God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take our deserved place instead to pay our debt, the price for our sins committed so that by the atoning blood of Jesus we may partake in the inheritance of everlasting life! (Romans 3:23-26) An everlasting life which serves as our eternal hope in Jesus! (Ephesians 1:13-14) Thereby, the chains of sin and death over our lives are broken! (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Another lie which we are repeatedly confronted with is the idea that you should pave your own way through life – work to become qualified and gain experience, create a name for yourself, it’s all up to you. Stand on your own reasoning, build an empire here on earth, create a life full of earthly riches – you don’t need God. You should leave a legacy… All leading to which end? Yes, we need to live, but we need to live in such a way that our heart, mind and life is firstly and primarily oriented to searching first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) Because in the presence of God, at Jesus’ return nothing else will matter and all will be consumed in judgement. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Now, in contrast to the lie, look at God’s amazing and undeserving love:

Colossians 1:12-14

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Words fall short! I was overwhelmed when reading this!

Like mentioned before, we utterly fall short – there is NO good to be found in us in comparison to God. We cannot even be placed alongside God to be compared! And yet God, in His richness of love and righteousness, has taken us and made us to meet the standard through Jesus Christ, so we may qualify to be partakers of an eternal inheritance. Not only that, we come from a place where darkness had a hold over us, which we were and are absolutely powerless to combat without Jesus and His promised Holy Spirit! That’s not all! Not only were we qualified by God the Father, Himself, and not only were we saved from a life condemned to eternal darkness, we’re conveyed from a life of darkness to a Kingdom of light, a Kingdom belonging to His Son, Jesus Christ – the One who holds preeminence over ALL, who knew NO sin, but has taken sin upon Himself so you and I may obtain forgiveness and LIFE in Jesus!

Metaphorically speaking as told in my story, I was able to walk back, combat the cold with a different mindset knowing with confidence the known destination of my journey – home. Our life’s journey is very much the same; we are nothing without Jesus! Deserving of nothing. But God qualifies us, delivers us and gives us the gift of redemption through Jesus Christ so we may have an inheritance of life eternal – our end destination, salvation! We can face life with a different and confident assurance, with joy – that our citizenship is not of this world, but one that cannot be compared to any earthly treasure and surpasses all our humanly expectations! A citizenship of eternal value that cannot and will not pass away. We need not live a life in bondage to sin or death. We have the assurance of a hope only to be found in Jesus Christ, so we can press on, walking in righteousness towards the finish line to lay hold of that which Christ Jesus also has laid hold of us! (Philippians 3:12) We can and should live in confidence of God’s work and trust that the good work which He has started in you, He will continue until Jesus’ return. (Philippians 1:6)

Therefore, you ought to decide where you stand and recognise what your decision inevitably will lead to – life or destruction. There is no other option! If you don’t accept the preeminence of Christ Jesus as THE truth and allow this truth to govern your life by abiding in Jesus, your whole Christian walk and life will be a struggle and falsely founded, easily thrown and uprooted! (John 14:6 & 15:1-8) It will only lead to and continue to be halfhearted worship of a Saviour deserving of ALL our praise and ALL our worship! (Revelations 3:15-16)

We can only be rooted in Jesus Christ through acknowledging who Jesus, our Lord God is, who we are in Jesus Christ and by following His Word in obedient submission to His calling.

I pray, therefore, that Christ will be enthroned as King above all in our hearts, thoughts and every facet of our lives. May our conduct be a reflection of this one and only truth. I pray that through the Holy Spirit and God’s Word we will know the richness of the hope we have in God’s calling. May we be strengthened and built up in the most holy faith and be blessed with an increase in knowledge of God and His perfect will. May we press on in thankfulness, doing all in honour of Christ and in submission of God and His Word. Knowing that through Him only and for Him only do we live! May we stand rooted and established in Christ Jesus until His promised return! Amen. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)