“rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
The third statement about how God strengthens our faith is “established in the faith.”
and established in the faith
The word “established” means to make firm or secure, cause something to be known as sure, confirm, verify. God is the cause of the certainty of our faith. He makes Christ known in such a way as to prove its truth.
“Established” comes to mean increase in inner strength, resulting in greater firmness of character or attitude. The idea is to receive more inner strength and strengthen one’s heart.
Thus, “established” carries the ideas to be stable, fast, firm. The New Testament uses it to confirm a word (Mark 16:20), proving the promises reliable (Romans 15:8), the testimony of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:6). Our salvation was confirmed or guaranteed to us by the apostles (Hebrews 2:3). Our hearts are established by grace (Hebrews 13:9). The saints will be confirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8) and by God the Father (2 Corinthians 1:21).
God confirms us in the faith. That is, God makes us faithful disciples by strengthening us in what Christ provided for us. When we grasp who and what Jesus Christ is all about, God will establish us as faithful disciples.
as you have been taught
Teaching is the foundation for stability (Colossians 1:27-28, 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:7,3:2; 2 Timothy 2:2, 23-26). Teaching produces the three characteristics in the previous part of the verse: “rooted,” “built up,” and “established in the faith. Their pastor faithfully taught them sound doctrine so that they reached spiritual stability, an edification construct of the soul.
PRINCIPLE:
God establishes a firm faith in the soul by teaching unalterable truth in Christ.
APPLICATION:
Faith in God’s provisions in Christ is the cement for building faith. That kind of faith can withstand any gale that may come. A strong Christian can withstand the shock of an enemy assault. In the case of the Colossians, the assault was the false teaching of the Gnostics. When we establish our footings in Christ, God gives us spiritual fixity. As we repose upon truths about Christ, we become unshakable similar to our Lord. As we repose upon Christ, we become unshakable similar to our Lord. His love for us never wavers or fails. Since God strengthens our faith, we can face our problems with new power. Is your faith growing strong in your home, neighborhood, and work? God will strengthen your faith in these tests.
