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Grace News Issue #1 2016 - The Importance of Being Rooted in Christ

Pastor Arnold Wong emphasises the importance of sinking our roots deep in Christ in the first issue of Grace News for 2016.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

The above verses are part of the theme passages for 2016. They will serve as a lamp unto our path as we travel together throughout the coming New Year. In this edition of Grace News, we want to discover together what Paul meant when he used the word “rooted”. In subsequent issues we will explore other words and phrases in these verses.

For the one who accepts Christ as their personal Saviour, life becomes a pilgrimage in which the believer learns what it is to “walk in him”. Their new life in Christ starts with faith and continues in faith in Christ’s precepts, principles and promises, which leads to a transformed life. The believer’s life is “rooted” in Christ. Instead of spiritual nourishment, strength and stability for their new life in Christ coming from the false teachings and vain philosophies of man, they come from Christ.

Well “rooted” believers are taught to “no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people…” (Eph 4:14, NIV)

Rooted in Christ image

Similarly, by being “rooted” in Christ, believers should mature in their walk with Christ. The expectation for every believer is that they progress from “…the elementary teachings about Christ” and go on “to maturity” (Heb 6:1, NIV). Hence, from the point of accepting Christ as Saviour, the believer grows both in knowledge and experience in Christ – hence becoming more like Christ each day.

This was an important truth for the believers in Colossae. Just like today, there were teachers of false doctrines who sought to distract and divert believers away from Christ. Paul’s exhortation to them was to start and stay with Christ – being firmly “rooted” in Him.In whom or what are you “rooted” – in Christ or in the thinking of the world?

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Read past year's issues of Grace News:

Issue #1 2015 - The Importance of Persisting in Prayers

Issue #2 2015 - Sacrifice: Give Up, Take Up, Set Apart

Issue #3 2015 - Unity in the Body of Christ

Issue #4 2015 - Commitment: In for the Long Haul