Introduction:   Our lives are to marked, measured and manifested as committed and consecrated.  In order to explain this type of devotion, our minds are drawn to two things.  Our devotion is to be marked by:

I.          A PAST DECISION (V.6)

Paul makes the assumption that a decision to trust Christ has already been made.

            A.        Its Importance

·         It is the moment that we trusted Christ in the free pardon of sin, and accepted Him as our Savior and Lord.

·         The word "received" = a particular action, done and completed in the past, which has a continuing result. It has been completed in the past and is continuing in the present.

·         This is a matter that must already be settled in our hearts. In fact, nothing else of scripture has any importance for us or any interest to us if Christ has not yet been received into our hearts. 

            B.         Its Influence

·         If Christ has been received at a point in the past, then that fact determines how we live now.

·         Keep in mind that Paul was writing to a group of people deeply influenced by human tradition, and man-made philosophies.

·         He reminds them that, when they were saved, they had received a living Lord and not human tradition.  It was a past decision that leads to:

II.        A PRESENT DEVELOPMENT (VV.6-7)

The decision made in the past is to bring a development in the present. The fact that we have trusted Christ is the determining factor of how we now live. This development is characterized in 3 ways. Our Christian development is characterized in the fact that we are to:

A.        Walk In Jesus

·         The word "walk” denotes a continual action.  To "Walk, and keep on walking."

·         Since we have begun right, and have been taught right then keep on walking in what we have been taught. We are to walk in it, and keep on walking in it. (Illus: G. Campbell Morgan - "To walk with God means to go in the same direction that He is going!")

·         We are to walk in the Lord, and with the Lord. 

     B.         Rooted In Jesus 

The word "rooted" speaks of a tree planted its roots deep within the soil.  Someone has said that a root has two distinct purposes.

·         It anchors

We are plant our roots deep into the truths of God in order that we might weather life’s storms and have stability.

·         It produces

We are plant our roots deep into the truths of God in order that we might produce fruit from our lives.  (Illus: "Grow out of Him as a plant grows out of the soil that it is planted in." – J. B. Phillips).

C.        Built Up In Jesus

Notice how Paul describes how this process develops in our lives (v.7). 

·         The phrase "built up" referred to a building being added to, or constructed upon. 

It is almost as if God has placed the sign, "Under Construction" on our lives. We are continually build on the foundation that has been laid through the Word of God.  We are exhorted in Jude 22 to be, "...building up yourselves on your most holy faith..."

·         (Illus: "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement!")

Conclusion:     I don't know about you, but there is plenty of room for improvement in my own life.  We are to be rooted in the truths of God, be built up in the truths of God, and keep on walking in the truths of God.  We are to be making progress in our lives, and be sure of our devotion.