✉️ CHRIST IN PHILIPPIANS AND COLOSSIANS

⛪ Lesson 10 : Complete in Christ

📘 10.2 Rooted and Growing in Christ

✨ Rooted in Life – Genuine, Not Artificial

🟦 Introduction

Paul sums up the entire Christian life in a single sentence:

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col. 2:6)

This is not merely encouragement—it is a spiritual rule for life.

Being a Christian does not begin with a theory, but with receiving a Person. Yet this receiving is not a one-time emotional moment. It means:

• death of the old self

• surrender of one’s own will

• being rooted in the Word of God

• growth through the Spirit of God

A tree lives only if it has roots. A Christian lives only if he or she is rooted in Christ.

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📖 Bible Study

Colossians 2:6–7 – The foundation of Christian life

Verse 6 – “As you have received … so walk in Him”

Three decisive thoughts:

1. Receiving a Person

We are not saved by rules.
Not by rituals.
Not by morality.

But by receiving Jesus as Lord.

The Greek word for “received” (paralambanō) means:

• to receive consciously

• to accept actively

• to make something one’s own

To receive Christ means:

• to accept Him as Savior

• to acknowledge Him as Lord

• to leave Him in control

2. Continuity

“So walk in Him.”

How did we receive Him?

• in faith

• in humility

• in trust

• with an awareness of our need

That is how we must continue to live.

The same faith that saves is the faith that sustains.

3. Unity of the living and written Word

Jesus (the living Word) cannot be separated from the written Word (the Bible).

Whoever says:
“I love Jesus, but I don’t need the Bible”
separates what God has joined together.

Ephesians 2:20 shows:
The church is founded on:

• apostles

• prophets

• Christ as the cornerstone

Christ reveals Himself through His Word.

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Verse 7 – Rooted, built up, established

Three powerful images:

1. Rooted (plant imagery)

A tree:

• grows slowly

• invisibly downward

• visibly upward

Roots provide:

• support

• nourishment

• stability in the storm

2. Built up (architectural imagery)

A building needs:

• foundation

• structure

• load-bearing strength

Christ is the foundation.

3. Established in the faith

The word points to stabilization.
Not wavering.
Not emotionally dependent.
But grounded.

🌿 Plant imagery in the Old and New Testament

Isaiah 61:3 – “Planting of the LORD”

Believers are:

• planted by God

• appointed for His glory

• an expression of His righteousness

A tree does not plant itself.
God is the One who acts.

Matthew 3:10 – The axe at the root

John the Baptist warns:
A tree without fruit is cut down.

Being rooted without fruit is self-deception.

Luke 8:11–15 – The parable of the sower

Four soils:

1. the path – no understanding

2. rocky ground – no depth

3. thorns – choked by worries

4. good soil – fruit with perseverance

Often the problem is not the seed,
but the depth of the roots.

1 Corinthians 3:6

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Spiritual growth:

• is cooperation

• but ultimately God’s work

The two alternatives

Paul sets two paths side by side:

1. The Lord’s planting

• rooted in Christ

• grounded in the Word

• growing in faith

• free in grace

2. The artificial plant

• looks real

• has a religious form

• but no life

If we accept:

• human philosophies

• tradition over Scripture

• human authority over God’s Word

we will be “taken captive” (Col. 2:8).

That is spiritual captivity.

Galatians 5:1 warns:
“Do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

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🗣️ Answers to the Questions

❓ Question 1: How do the verses explain the plant metaphor?

Detailed Answer

The Bible uses plant imagery to communicate key truths:

1. Dependence

A tree does not live by itself.
It needs:

• soil

• water

• light

A Christian does not live by personal strength.
He or she needs:

• Christ

• the Word of God

• the Holy Spirit

2. Growth is organic

Growth is:

• slow

• continuous

• sometimes invisible

You don’t see change every day.
But over time it becomes clear.

3. Fruit is the goal

Not size.
Not outward form.
But fruit.

Fruit means:

• character transformation

• love

• patience

• faithfulness

• willingness to serve

4. Warning against superficiality

Without depth:

• faith withers

• worries choke it

• no fruit appears

Being rooted requires time and devotion.

❓ Question 2: How have you experienced what it means to die to self in order to receive Christ? Why is it an ongoing process?

Detailed Answer

To die to self means:

• letting go of personal pride

• surrendering control

• submitting one’s plans to God

• giving up self-righteousness

It is painful because the ego wants to survive.

Typical areas of the “self”:

• my will

• my opinion

• my rights

• my recognition

• my security

To receive Christ means:
“Not I, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

Why is it ongoing?

Because:

• our old nature does not disappear overnight

• temptations arise daily

• pride keeps returning

• self-confidence easily replaces trust in God

Spiritual dying happens:

• in daily decisions

• in dealing with conflicts

• in forgiveness

• in self-denial

• in obedience even without feelings

It is not a one-time act, but daily surrender.

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💎 Spiritual Principles

1. Receiving Christ is the beginning and foundation of faith.

2. Jesus and His Word are inseparable.

3. Being rooted is more important than enthusiasm.

4. Growth takes time and discipline.

5. Human philosophy can destroy spiritual freedom.

6. Dying to self is a prerequisite for spiritual life.

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🛠️ Application in Daily Life

Practical steps:

• Schedule fixed times for Bible study.

• Check your sources: Is it Scripture or human opinion?

• Ask daily: “Lord, what do You want from me today?”

• Practice self-denial in small things.

• Allow God to shape your character.

• Watch for fruit, not just activity.

Ask yourself:
Am I deeply rooted—or only religiously decorated?

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✅ Conclusion

A tree without roots falls.
A Christian without Christ withers.

Rootedness does not happen automatically.
It is intentional surrender.

Christ is enough—
but only if we truly remain in Him.

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💭 Thought of the Day

Deep roots grow in hidden places—
but they decide whether we stand firm in the storm.

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✍️ Illustration – Under the Surface

The story of invisible growth

Chapter 1 – The Perfect Profile

Munich, 2025.

Jonas was an influencer.
Christian content.
Inspiring quotes.
Perfect photos with Bible and coffee.

Thousands of followers.
Applause.
Invitations.

But inside, he was empty.

His faith was visible—
but his roots were shallow.

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Chapter 2 – The Storm

A scandal.
Misunderstandings.
Public criticism.

Within weeks he lost:

• sponsors

• followers

• reputation

He realized:
His faith depended on affirmation.

Like seed on rocky ground.

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Chapter 3 – The Silence

He withdrew.
No posts.
No stage.

For the first time he began to read—
not for others,
but for himself.

He discovered Colossians 2:7:
“Rooted and built up in Him.”

He asked himself:
Am I rooted—or only visible?

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Chapter 4 – The Dying

He let go of his dream of fame.

Not abruptly.
But inwardly.

He prayed:
“Take everything that is not from You.”

It was a process.
Painful.
Honest.

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Chapter 5 – The Invisible Growth

Months passed.

No big stage.
No attention.

But:

• his prayer life grew deep

• his Bible study became systematic

• his character became calmer

• his heart became humbler

He grew.
Under the surface.

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Chapter 6 – The New Fruit

A year later he began speaking again.
Smaller setting.
Youth group.

No performance.
No show.

Only truth.
Only Christ.

And this time his message was not loud—
but real.

He had learned:
Roots matter more than reach.

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📌 Final thoughts on the story

In the 21st century, visibility is often mistaken for significance.

But God does not measure followers—
He measures depth.

Not volume—
but rootedness.

Not outward success—
but fruit.

Whoever dies to self
becomes alive in Christ.

Whoever is rooted
remains.