… rooted and built up in him …
Summary: As Paul continues his thought about living our lives in Christ, he leans on metaphors that have a rich history in the Bible.
Paul is writing about the Christian life. He begins by saying, “just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him…” And then he adds, “rooted and built up in him.”
Essentially, Paul is mixing metaphors here. To be “rooted” is a reference to a metaphor used to describe life in Christ as being part of a plant (John 15:1-8). All plants have roots. It is the root that anchors the plant in the soil while at the same time pulling life-giving water and nutrients from the soil.
Paul’s other metaphor is to be “built up.” Being “built up” is an allusion to the construction of a building. It assumes that a foundation exists and describes the process of construction from there. As you know, buildings are not built from the top down, they have to be “built up.” A good foundation is essential for a good building.
Both concepts are well understood and can be applied to people. A person’s character can be “torn down” by others or “built up.” We can also tear down our own reputations or build them up by how we choose to act.
To receive Jesus as Lord is to be bound to him for our sustenance (rooted) and, at the same time, “built up” by Jesus as he shapes us into a reflection of himself.
So how do we tell if we are “rooted and built up in him?” Jesus used the metaphor of trees in his teaching as did John the Baptist. John warned the Pharisees and Sadducees that “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10).
Jesus taught that the difference between good and bad prophets is their fruit. He says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18).
In both situations, the “trees” appear to be normal. Even to the point of both having produced “fruit.” The ultimate test is in the fruit itself.
What do we look for?
Paul explains this in his letter to the Galatians. He writes, “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5: 22-23). To be “built up” in Christ is to be built up in good fruit!
Application: Build wisely, grow deep roots.
Food for Thought: How do we “build up” in Jesus?
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The foundation is Jesus and His teachings (His word).
Matthew 7: 24 – 27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
We build up in Jesus from the foundation, which is a relationship with Christ based on His word, prayer, worship, etc. The goal is to know Him (Philippians 3: 7 – 14) and we do that through operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and obeying His word.
Thank you, Rich!
You point us to three powerful concepts (which are really the same thing):
(1) Operating in the power of the Holy Spirit to (2) obey God’s Word and (3) put the Lord’s words “into practice.”
A living faith is an active faith.
Good meditation. I reckon a slightly different image comes to my mind when I think of being “rooted and built up.”
I have a plant that I bought a couple of years ago. It was only supposed to last a year, but it is still going. At one point it appeared to be dying. The leaves looked horrible and the flowers were hanging low and appeared wilted. The plant was practically falling out of the pot because the roots were weak. I re-potted it with healthy soil, and now move it to the window seal regularly, water it regularly, and once a week squirt some liquid nutrient into the center of the plant. Now the leaves look green and the flowers stand straight up. You can tug on the stems and the plant won’t let go of the soil, it has healthy roots.
Healthy soil, water, sunlight, and sustenance, and the plant is “rooted and built up.”
How do we “build up” in Jesus?
Healthy soil:
Matthew 13:23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
Water:
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.
Sunlight
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Sustenance
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless
P.S. I call the plant Rob (Robert Plant)
Chris,
It sounds like your plant “Rob” was struggling with “Good Times Bad Times.” Then you stepped up and asked the question, “Hey, Hey What Can I Do?” You heard Rob whisper, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” but you gave Rob a “Whole Lotta Love.” While Rob as “Dazed and Confused” you repotted him and put him back on the path to the “Stairway to Heaven.” It would have been a “Heartbreaker” if he had died! I’m so glad it wasn’t his “Time of Dying.”
I supposed I’ve said enough. I don’t want to “Ramble On” and cause a “Communication Breakdown.”
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
That made laugh! Thanks for that.
How do we “build up” in Jesus?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Jesus Christ confined Himself to flesh, ministered to all mankind for 33 years, allowed himself to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind, and today continues to minister to all mankind in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the written Word of God.
All believers are people who have become new beings, born again as eternal spiritual beings confined in physical bodies, remaining in this physical world to serve Gods purposes. To be effective, we must begin the process of dying to self and living for Christ. Submit to the calling of the Holy Spirit, daily devote time to studying the Word of God, and attend weekly gatherings of other believers.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23
Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Please God as we become the person Jesus will make us as we perform the ministry ordained for us.
Amen, Ron!
Thank you! 🙂