Colossians 2:6–10
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Receiving Christ and Walking in Him
The Christian life does not begin with Christ and then continue by some other power. Paul makes this clear: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” We received Christ by faith, by grace, and by submission to His lordship. In the same way, we are commanded to walk daily in dependence upon Him.
To “walk” in Christ means more than belief; it speaks of conduct, direction, and obedience. Salvation is not only an event but a way of life. The same Christ who saves us is the Christ who sustains us. Any attempt to live the Christian life apart from Him is a denial of the gospel itself.
Rooted, Built Up, and Established in the Faith
Paul uses strong imagery to describe spiritual maturity. To be rooted speaks of depth. A shallow faith is easily shaken, but a believer rooted in Christ draws life, strength, and nourishment from Him alone. To be built up speaks of growth. The Christian life is meant to progress, not stagnate.
To be stablished in the faith means to be firm and settled in truth, grounded in what has been taught according to the apostles and the Scriptures. This is not faith shaped by culture or emotion, but faith anchored in revealed truth. From this stability flows thanksgiving. Gratitude is evidence of a heart that knows its source and trusts its Lord.
A Warning Against Deception and Worldly Wisdom
Paul issues a clear and urgent warning: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit.” The word “spoil” carries the idea of being taken captive. False teaching does not always come openly opposed to Christ; often it comes dressed in wisdom, tradition, and human reasoning.
The danger lies in teachings that claim to add to Christ or improve upon Him. Traditions of men and the rudiments of the world appeal to human pride, intellect, and control. But anything that is “not after Christ” leads away from truth. In the last days, deception increases, and discernment becomes essential. The church must test every message by Christ Himself.
The Fullness of God in Christ Alone
Paul grounds his warning in one of the strongest declarations of Christ’s deity in Scripture: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Jesus Christ is not partially divine, nor is He a created being. The fullness of God—Father, Son, and Spirit—dwells in Him.
This truth destroys every false system that claims Christ is insufficient. If all the fullness of God is in Him, there is nothing lacking. No philosophy, ritual, or spiritual experience can add to who Christ is. He is the complete and final revelation of God.
Complete in Him, Under His Authority
Because Christ is fully God, believers are declared “complete in him.” This completeness is not based on human effort but on union with Christ. In Him, we lack nothing necessary for salvation, righteousness, and spiritual life.
Christ is also “the head of all principality and power.” Every authority, earthly or spiritual, is under His rule. This truth gives confidence to the believer and exposes the emptiness of fear-driven religion. We do not strive for victory; we stand in Christ’s victory. In an age of spiritual confusion and rising deception, this authority reminds the church where its allegiance lies.
Conclusion
Colossians 2:6–10 calls believers to remain firmly anchored in Christ alone. We are saved in Him, sustained by Him, protected through Him, and completed in Him. The church is not called to chase new wisdom but to walk faithfully in the truth already revealed. As the world exalts human philosophy and tradition, the people of God must hold fast to Christ, in whom all fullness dwells. To abandon Christ for anything else is not progress—it is loss.