Rooted in Christ

[Chad]

How Deeply Are You Rooted?
By: Brian A. Yeager

The Scriptures warn us of what happens to those who are not deeply rooted in Christ. Notice what Jesus taught about this subject: “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13). In what Jesus taught about being rooted in the truth we find that there are those who start the journey in Christ in a good way. We find they receive the truth with joy. Yet, the truth is not rooted in them deeply enough. Thus, when temptation arises, that person falls away.

The lesson above, which was taught by Christ in the “Parable of the Sower”, shows us the importance of being deeply rooted in the word of our Lord. We all know that falling away from Christ is a serious threat and can happen to any one of us (I Corinthians 9:24-27, I Corinthians 10:12, Galatians 1:6-9, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 5:4, Galatians 5:7-9, I Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 3:12-13, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-31; 38, II Peter 2:20-22, and Revelation 2:1-7). So, why wouldn’t all of us want to be deeply rooted to make apostasy less and less likely to occur to any of us?

Being Rooted And Grounded In Christ

We’re supposed to have Christ in our hearts and be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17). If we’re not rooted, we will find that we’ll just wither away (Matthew 13:5-6). Thus, we have to desire the truth and grow strong in Christ (I Peter 2:1-2). We have to be rooted and built up in Christ through being taught the truth (Colossians 2:7). This process isn’t an overnight process either. The process of being rooted, grounded, and settled in Christ requires a continual work for each one of us to do. Notice the inspired words of the Apostle Paul: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister” (Colossians 1:21-23).

As we just read, our being rooted and grounded in Christ keeps us settled. The word translated as “settled” is from the Greek word “hedraios”. Using Thayer’s Dictionary and the Strong’s number 1476, you find this word means: “firm, unmovable, steadfast”. Rather than being tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:14), we’re supposed to be settled [firm, unmovable, steadfast]. Notice these Scriptures: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord…But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end… For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end…Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (I Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, and I Peter 5:8-9).

Anyone who begins the journey in Christ must be secured firmly by roots or they’ll fall away. That has been Scripturally made clear. What we also need to understand is that we’re talking about falling away, not just someone who forgets to study his or her Bible one afternoon. We’re talking about someone who just forgets about the Lord and the commitment they’ve made to Him.

Those Not Deeply Rooted Soon Forget The Lord

I cannot make this point any better than the Psalmist did. Thus, let’s see what inspiration has recorded on this point: “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert” (Psalms 106:3-14).

To Our Question: How Deeply Rooted Are You?

It’s easy to look back on the Israelites and pick at how soon they forgot the works of our Lord. Now, it’s time for each of us to use this study for ourselves. Ask yourself some questions like these: Am I rooted enough not to allow my family to stand between the Lord and me (Matthew 10:34-37)? Am I rooted enough not to allow my worldly friendships to stand between the Lord and me (Proverbs 1:10 and I Peter 4:1-5)? Am I rooted enough not to allow false doctrine to be taught and thereby ruin my relationship with the Lord (Proverbs 28:4, Romans 16:17-18, and I Timothy 1:3-7)? Am I rooted enough not to “fall for” the wrong person because that guy or girl is “hot” (Proverbs 6:23-35, Proverbs 7:6-27, and Matthew 5:27-28)? Am I rooted enough not to follow the wrong leaders (Isaiah 3:12, Isaiah 9:16, Matthew 15:14, and III John 9-11)? Here’s the point, being rooted and grounded really comes down to always having your affections above (Colossians 3:1-4)!