“Be Rooted And Built Up In Christ Jesus!”

“Be Rooted And Built Up In Christ Jesus!”(Col.2:3-10).
Justin Martyr was a Greek philosopher who converted to Christianity when he was introduced to Jesus Christ and the prophets who had prophesied about Jesus Christ. Justin saw in Jesus Christ the “Summum bonum” (the supreme good from which all others are derived) which he was questing for in Greek philosophy. He later became a Christian apologetics and died for the faith.
Justin like Paul discerned “full and complete understanding” being able to “know the mystery of God, namely, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
If a philosopher came to the understanding that Christ was the epicentre of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be derailed from the faith by fine-sounding arguments.
Rather, we should “see to it that no one makes us captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human principles of the world rather than on Christ.”
Christ is the substance while hollow and deceptive philosophy is the shadow. We should not abandon the substance to run after its shadow!
A staunch Christian is quoted to have said, “My faith has been strengthened by being a Rosicrucian.” That is not true. This is the type of heresy which Paul was counteracting at Colossae. This heresy taught that in other to have salvation in Christ one needed to combine faith in Christ with secret knowledge, etc.
On the contrary,“In Christ the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form, and we have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
It is either we are with Christ alone or we are not with him; it is not Christ plus anything else! Any trinket that serves as a charm, any teaching that seeks to adorn Christ with human wisdom and esoteric fraternities that claim they can help you know Christ better are hollow and deceptive. They hold you captive, meanwhile Christ has come to free you.
So therefore, “just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit Keep me rooted in Chist Jesus. Lead me away from hollow and deceptive philosophy. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev. Babila Fochang.