David's Deliberations . . .
Responsive Reception
"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude" (Colossians 2:6, 7).
In this passage, the apostle Paul urges the Christians at Colossae to walk with Christ as they had received Him. The Greek word here for "received" (paralambano) means "to receive something transmitted, to take to, to join to one's self" (Thayer). Paul's emphasis here is that they had been instructed about the Lord, and were to live (walk) accordingly. One can receive Christ only as he receives the doctrine about Christ and of Christ (see John 15:7; Colossians 3:16).
These Christians, just as we do today, had good reason to have "received Christ Jesus the Lord": His nature. "Christ" means "Anointed One." He was the Messiah foretold by the prophets. Isaiah predicted his birth, life, and death (Isa. 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:21-23). Daniel foretold of His coronation (Dan. 7:13, 14). "Jesus" means "Savior" from sin. Sin alienates people from God ( Col. 1:21). Christ reconciles us to God (Col. 1:22-23). We are slaves to sin (Romans 6:17-18), but Christ redeems us (buys us back; Col. 1:14) by His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). "The Lord" means that he is Master and Christians must respect His authority as such. He has been given all authority on earth (Matthew 28:18-20), and is Head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Therefore, the life and worship of the Christian must be directed by Christ as our Lord and Master (Colossians 3:17).
In order to receive Christ, one must be taught. Christianity is a taught religion (John 6:44-45; Matthew 28:18-20, therefore, one cannot and will not receive the Lord in ignorance (Acts 17:30-31; Matthew 13:15). Personal faith in Christ depends on the acceptance of God's word, "the faith," that is, the "revealed faith" (Colossians 1:23; See Jude 3). The Colossians' faith (belief and trust) was a result of the teaching or preaching of God's word (Col. 1:4-5; as is ours today). Faith in Christ is essential to "receiving the Lord."
Today, we obtain faith from God's written word (Romans 10:17; John 20:30-31; Acts 4:4; 18:8). We must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24), and recognize the Lordship of Christ (Philippians 2:8-11). The faith that recognizes the Lordship of Christ is an obedient faith (Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21-28), leading us to repentance (Acts 3:19) and baptism to receive remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Christ saves those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9) and those who do not obey the gospel will be spending eternity away from God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Once we have received Christ in obedient faith, we must be willing to walk with Him (see 2 Cor. 5:7). As we walk, we are to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-16), doing our best to be obedient in worship (Col. 3:16), in the home (Col. 3:18-22), and in business matters (Col. 3:22-4:1), as we constantly give thanks (Col. 2:7) for the blessings God has provided (Ephesians 1:3ff; Col. 1:12-14; 3:1-3).
—David Carl Swanson
