Colossians 2:6-15 “Walking In Christ”
“Walking In Christ” is a sermon preached from Colossians 2:6-15, by Michael Beatty, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in New Berlin, Wisconsin – a confessional Reformed Baptist church subscribing to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
Scripture Reading and Prayer
I invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to the book of Colossians.
Colossians chapter 2.
Colossians chapter 2. We’ll be looking at verses 6 to 15 this morning.
Hear the Word of the Lord:
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. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ—having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Thus far the reading of God’s holy Word.
Please join me as we ask his blessing upon it.
Lord, we would ask that you would cause us all the more to hear the voice of Christ in the Scriptures, and grant by your Spirit that we might hear and in hearing believe that all these things are true, that we might glorify you and grow in our love for our neighbor. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Studying the Original to Spot the Counterfeit
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go perhaps to one of the local Federal Reserve branches or perhaps to a bank—maybe it was a school field trip—you can go back and see a number of the bills that they have, and they’ll at times talk about the problem that they have with counterfeit money.
I mean, just over the last number of years, think about how many different twenties we’ve had—or whatever cash you’d like to look at. They’re all very different. They all have a number of features that we’re told are placed there to prevent counterfeits.
It’s really important to have the original tender so that when you receive it, you know this is the real deal. And when someone else receives it, the same thing—that for the exchange to occur, it must be true.
In having the opportunity to see those things, they tell us that the way they spot counterfeits is oftentimes by studying the original. They become very familiar with the original bill—with what the true thing is. They study what is true. They study what is real cash money.
Federal agents are trained to spot counterfeits by becoming familiar with the original. Think about the various things they might consider: the type of paper that the money’s printed on that has a specific feel to it. It’s not like cardboard. It’s not the really nice paper we have in our Bibles. It’s a specific type of paper.
They study the ink. How does it look? Is it slightly raised? Can you feel it? What does it look like? How does it feel to the touch?
They memorize a number of the key features, whether it be the watermark, the strip that runs across it, or all the little wording along the way. They study the original so that they are prepared to spot an infinite number of counterfeits.
They’re so focused on the original, so focused on being experts about what is true, that they’re able to recognize any number of errors.
Paul’s Exhortation to Focus on Christ
We might say that in Colossians 2:6–15, in a more important way, Paul exhorts the Colossians—he exhorts us—to remember Christ. To remember what has occurred, to focus on the main thing, to focus on Christ, and to remember what we have heard concerning him.
To walk, as he says, in a manner worthy of our calling.
The Letter’s Flow and Gospel Foundation
He’s already grounded this exhortation in the good news. And so, if you remember Colossians 1 through chapter 2 verse 5, what we’ve seen over the previous weeks—he’s already shown us what the good news is. He has, in brief, opened the letter to us for a basic understanding of the Christian life.
And again, as an aside, it’s important for us to remember that a letter is usually read in one sitting—or at least that’s the ideal. You read it in one sitting so you don’t really forget what came at the beginning, because you’re there for about five or ten minutes, however long it takes to read Colossians.
But when we break it into sections and spend however long I end up talking on a particular Sunday, it can be easy for us to forget what came before. But it’s a letter, and we need to remember the gospel. The exhortation is flowing directly out of that.
At times I won’t spend as much time on the good news that grounds it, but that is what we’ve already heard. It’s directly flowing out of the gospel foundation.
Living According to the New Person in Christ
So when Paul comes in verse 6 and calls us to a life of conformity to Christ, he’s telling us something about what Christ has worked in us—that we are conformed to Christ and not to other standards, as we’ll see next week in verses 16–23.
We are to live according to the new person in Christ Jesus (chapter 3:1–17). Christ has so worked in us that now we relate to others in a way different than before.
If you remember Colossians 3:18–21, where we’re going in future weeks—all of our family relationships are now bound up in Christ.
Our employment relationships are grounded in Christ, as we’ll see in Colossians 3:22–4:1. We no longer simply serve the boss, seeking to please him so we can get a raise, a promotion, or simply not get fired. Now we serve Christ first.
So we devote ourselves to him and to his service wherever we are. And we’re devoted to prayer (chapter 4), to walking wisely, to making the most of the time.
In all these things, conformity to Christ is now the metric by which our life is measured. And furthermore, we are to gauge it by whether we are doing so in a way worthy of the calling we’ve received in him.
Focusing on Christ to Discern Our Walk
Returning then to the idea of studying the original: for us to know whether we are living in a way worthy of our calling, we must focus upon Christ.
What has he accomplished? What has he called us to? That we might put our life to walking after Christ and living accordingly in this present age.
I want to look at that in two points this morning:
- Rooted in Christ (verses 6–7)
- Remembering Christ (verses 8–15)
Since we are in Christ, we’ll see that we are to walk in him, giving thanks, remembering his many benefits, that we might walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
Rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:6–7)
Look down at verses 6–7. Notice here that Paul tells us we are to be rooted in Christ, to walk in Christ.
Paul’s exhortation comes to everyone who has received Christ—to walk in him.
So the first thing we need to understand is: Have we received Christ?
In other words, the Christian life is first grounded upon all that Christ has done for us—that we’re bound up in him. Even as it says in verse 7, we are established in Christ. Our life is grounded and bound up in him.
The Colossians received Christ through the proclaimed Word, and they received him as their Lord (v. 6). Not only by his Word, but also as Lord—the one over their life. We’ll see more of this in a short while.
Their minds are fixed on Christ—the one who has called them, the one who is now their Lord.
Transformation of the Mind
Our operating mode is now completely different from before. In the past, our minds were set on the flesh and death. We were hostile in our minds toward God.
Now we are alive in Christ, and our mind is fixed upon him.
The outcome of this reception is gratitude. Even as we hear in verse 7: “just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
That’s the first exhortation Paul gives—that we are rooted in Christ, found in him, built up in him.
Four Descriptions of the Christian Walk
Paul describes our walk in four ways in verses 6–7:
- Firmly rooted (like a tree fixed in the soil)
- Built up in him
- Strengthened in faith
- Overflowing with gratitude
Firmly Rooted Like a Tree
The first description is “firmly rooted”—like a tree fixed in the soil.
We had some storms a few weeks ago, and we had the opportunity to find out which trees were firmly rooted and which trees weren’t.
The wind came through. The day before we might have said, “I really like this tree. It’s a great tree.” But the next day, the tree was on the ground. It wasn’t such a great tree—it wasn’t firmly rooted. When the winds came, it was unable to withstand the storm.
So if we have received Christ and are found in him, the first way we walk is to be firmly rooted in Christ. We drill down into Christ by our roots. We don’t seek to be rooted in anything else but him.
That is what it means to walk in him—to cling to Christ.
You’ve seen a tree when it flips over—the root system is vast, almost as big as the tree above the soil. It clings to the ground, and it takes a lot of effort to pull it out.
Paul uses this example of being rooted very effectively to describe our life. The Christian life clings to Christ. We are rooted in him as a tree grips the soil.
Built Up in Christ
Secondly, we see that walking in Christ means being built up in him.
It’s Christ who builds us up. As we’ll hear in verses 9–10, he is the head of all rule and authority, the one who builds us up.
Our life is being built up according to the mind of Christ. Think about a house being constructed. It’s being added to, following the blueprint—the mind of Christ, as Paul says elsewhere.
As we are built up according to his mind, we walk according to his ways.
Strengthened in Faith
Thirdly, Paul says we are “strengthened in faith.”
The word here is often used in a commercial or business sense—like a growing investment. A strengthening.
Our interest in Christ is ever-increasing in strength.
Overflowing with Gratitude
Finally, Paul says we are to overflow with gratitude.
Imagine what it would be like if you were in debt, and a family member came and redeemed you from prison. That’s what Christ has done for us.
He is our Kinsman Redeemer. He has come and redeemed us from our debts.
So these four descriptions—rooted, built up, strengthened, and overflowing—show what Christ is doing in us. He is working in us what is necessary for life and godliness. Our walk is grounded completely in him.
Christ, the Author and Perfecter
This is important because it means Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, as we hear in Hebrews 12. He’s the one who begins it and the one who completes it.
So we’re not trying to prepare the way ourselves. Christ does it. It’s not something we can do with our own hands.
As we heard in Sunday school about baptism—many brothers and sisters love the Lord, love their children, and want to bring them closer, and so they baptize them. We can talk about that another time. But that’s not the way Christ told us to work. Rather, we baptize those who profess faith.
We do things only according to the mind of Christ. He is the one who begins the good work and the one who completes it.
Not Deceived by Plausible Arguments
In the verses that follow, we’ll see that we must pay attention to what Christ would have us do in life. Not according to what we heard last week in 2:4—that no one may delude us with plausible arguments.
We’re not looking for what sounds good or makes sense. We’re asking: What has Christ commanded us to do?
Hebrews 12:1–2 says:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
So, brethren, what do we need to live for Christ? To run the race. And how do we do it?
When you run, if your head is down, you don’t breathe well. You lift your head, fix your eyes on the finish line, and run toward it.
What does the Christian do but run after Christ with eyes fixed upon him?
He endured the cross, sat down at the right hand of God. We look to him. That is what it means to walk in him—fixing our eyes on Christ for all our days, so we are not deceived by plausible arguments.
Walking in Christ Practically
So the four ways Paul describes a typical Christian walk are ways to walk in Christ—ways to think about walking in Christ.
We might ask: What does it mean to be firmly rooted in Christ? It means meditating upon Christ and his many benefits, dwelling in him.
Meditating on Christ
That’s one way we can make use of what we receive on the Lord’s Day. We can meditate upon it throughout the week.
Think through: What does it look like to be firmly rooted in Christ? Like a tree digging deeper into the soil, so we are not blown this way or that, but drink deeply of Jesus and seek to know him and be found in him.
Built Up According to the Blueprint
Secondly, having been firmly rooted in Christ, we are to be built up in him—like a house constructed according to the mind of Christ, following the blueprint.
And in following the blueprint, what do we do but follow it precisely?
That may sound good in theory, but it comes down to what we do in our lives—not what we want, but what Christ has told us to do. He has told us in his Word what he desires of us, and we simply follow after him.
We’ll see more of this in the second point. But in being rooted in him, we follow after him. So we need to know what he has told us to do in his Word, so that we can follow.
If someone comes and says, “Brother or sister, it would be great if you did this and your Christian life would just take off,” what should we say?
Where is that in the Word? Where does God tell us that in the Scriptures? Where is that found? Is it according to the mind of Christ? How do we know? By the Word.
Strengthened in Faith through the Means of Grace
Thirdly, Paul says we are strengthened in faith.
Another way we are rooted in him is by being strengthened in our faith—like a business interest, growing in profit. We seek to profit from the means of grace.
Again, shameless plug for Sunday—you’re all here already—but we prepare ourselves to make use of the means of grace: the Word, the Lord’s Supper, baptism.
Make use of those things. Remember what they are. Seek the promise. Come and fully make use of them throughout the week.
Because Jesus sets before us a great feast, and imagine how silly it would be to leave hungry after such a feast. Come, fill up, take what Christ offers, and seek to profit from it as you walk in him.
Overflowing with Gratitude
Finally, if all these things have been done—being firmly rooted, built up, strengthened—then we are to overflow with gratitude.
What will we do to walk in Christ but be grateful for all he has done?
At what point would we say we’ve been grateful enough? When would we ever say we no longer need to be grateful, considering the debt that has been forgiven us?
In short, the Christian life is a thankful life. The Christian life is ruled by Christ according to his Word. We look to him.
This final description of gratitude really ties together the other three. It’s the spirit in which they are held.
Gratitude Extends to Others
For example, someone could be firmly rooted in one sense—reading a lot of books, staying in the library. You could have an ever-increasing knowledge, being built up, strengthening your faith.
But overflowing with gratitude extends itself to others—growing in our love for one another.
So all these things are tied back into our love for the saints.
The Tree Tested by Storms
Again, consider how a tree operates. A tree rooted in the soil may look strong, but you don’t know until the day of trouble comes.
A storm can reveal whether its roots are weak or strong. Sometimes a tree that looked weak survives, while one that looked strong falls.
The soil and roots bear the weight of the storm to hold the tree up.
Why is this important? Because everyone is rooted in something. Whether strength or weakness is revealed when the winds blow.
If we want to withstand the day of the Lord, as spoken of in Joel 2, we must be rooted in Christ. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
On the last day, when what is hidden is revealed, when Christ gathers the nations for judgment, everything not according to Christ will be laid bare and shown to be foolish.
So when we consider being rooted in Christ—since we have received him—our entire life is found and grounded in him, so that we are not deceived by plausible arguments or shipwrecked by the wicked.
That’s the first point: Rooted in Christ.
Remembering Christ (Colossians 2:8–15)
Now I want to turn to the second point: Remembering Christ.
We’ve seen being rooted in Christ. Now remembering Christ.
It’s a kind of feedback mechanism: you’re rooted in him, then you live out that reality, and then you return to remembering Jesus. It’s a cycle that continues for the whole of life.
We must remember this, fixing our gaze upon Christ that we might resist evil.
Paul’s Warning Against Captivity
Paul highlights this for us in verse 8:
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
We can know the counterfeit and the genuine article by comparing them against the original.
At the end of verse 8: “not according to Christ.”
How do we know the counterfeit? By knowing Christ, and recalling what we’ve been taught in him. Because we know the original, we can counteract the counterfeit.
Comfort for the Christian
This is very comforting for the Christian. We don’t need eight years of post-doc education. We don’t need to know ten languages or every new argument.
We simply need to know Christ—to know Christ and his ways.
All those other things may be helpful, but when someone says, “If only you had this extra knowledge, then you’d know,” the truth is: we just need to know Christ.
We compare everything against Christ. Can we always grow in our knowledge of Christ? Certainly. But even the basics are sufficient if we cling to him.
Beware of False Teachers
Paul also reminds us that we must be aware of false teachers. He’s not saying this might happen someday.
The second command of this section is: See to it that no one takes you captive.
So we must be on alert, watching so that no one takes us captive. Instead, we must be aware of who Christ is, what he has accomplished, and what is being told to us.
Three Counterfeits
Paul lays out three counterfeits in verse 8:
- Sophistry — philosophy gone bad (bad use of reasoning).
- Traditions of men — teachings not commanded by Christ.
- Ceremonial law — blending the gospel with Old Testament ceremonial requirements.
Most errors we encounter can be grouped into these three categories.
Christ Is the Antidote
How do we resist? By knowing Christ.
In verses 9–12, Paul reminds us again:
- Christ is God — “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (v. 9)
He is very God of very God. - We are complete in Christ — “You have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” (v. 10)
His person and work are sufficient. Nothing needs to be added.- Head over all rule and authority (v. 10)
- Circumcision made without hands (v. 11)
- Buried with him in baptism, raised through faith (v. 12)
Christ has already accomplished it all.
So to know Christ and remember Christ means we cannot be told we need some extra requirement. In him we have everything.
Beware of Empty Deceit
Paul warns us not to be taken captive by empty deceit.
He points out three problems and three solutions:
- Problem: Sophistry (bad philosophy)
Solution: Christ is our wisdom and knowledge. “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (2:3) - Problem: Traditions of men
Solution: Follow the teachings of Christ. “Built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught.” (2:7) - Problem: Blending the gospel with ceremonial law
Solution: Christ has fulfilled the ceremonial law. It is obsolete under the new covenant.
Every Christian Is Called to This
Paul makes it clear this isn’t just for pastors or elders. Every member must “see to it” that no one takes them captive.
Certainly, God gifts some with special ability in defending the faith. Elders especially are responsible. But Paul says every member must guard themselves by remembering Christ.
And Christ promises to supply what we need. As James says, if we lack wisdom, we should ask—and God gives freely, without reproach.
So when we engage with others, we look to Christ. That is enough.
Counterfeit #1: Sophistry (Bad Philosophy)
The first counterfeit in verse 8 is sophistry—those who seek to deceive through bad philosophy.
The solution? To know Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
While philosophy can be useful in some areas of life, when it comes to the Christian life—walking in Christ—we look to Christ alone, who is our wisdom and knowledge.
So what is necessary to combat this false gospel? To know Christ, to seek in him the wisdom and knowledge that is found only in him.
Again, Paul is saying here that every Christian can do this.
There are, of course, those more gifted in apologetics. God blesses some with a deeper ability to answer objections. Elders especially carry responsibility. But Paul says every member must “see to it.”
This should encourage us. Wherever we are in the faith, we can and must remember Christ. And since Christ calls us to this, he will supply us with what we need.
If we don’t have wisdom, James tells us to ask. God gives freely. We can cry out to Jesus, and he will help us.
So take heart. As you engage with others, looking to Christ is enough. Lay before them simply what Christ has given us in his Word.
Counterfeit #2: Traditions of Men
The second counterfeit in verse 8 is “empty deceit according to human tradition.”
The solution? To follow the teachings of Christ. “Built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught.” (Colossians 2:7)
This one can be tricky, because people often misuse verses like Paul’s “Follow me as I follow Christ.” They say, “This practice helped me, therefore it must help you.”
We’ll see examples of this next week:
- Verse 16: “Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink.”
- Verse 18: “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism.”
- Verse 21: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.”
These things may sound good, but they are not what Christ has commanded.
So when someone presents us with a tradition, we ask: Where is that in the Word? Has Christ commanded it?
If not, it has no power to affect what is promised. It doesn’t make us holier. It doesn’t conform us more to Christ.
Christ alone tells us what to do in his Word, by his Spirit, to be conformed to him.
Yes, traditions can affect external things. For example, one school with a strict dress code may have fewer problems than another without one. But does that make any spiritual difference? No. It’s only an external outcome.
So if we want to walk in Christ, rooted and established in faith, we must follow what he has commanded—not the traditions of men.
Counterfeit #3: Blending the Gospel with the Ceremonial Law
The third counterfeit, also in verse 8, is blending the gospel with the ceremonial law—what Paul describes as “according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
We see an example in Acts when Peter, afraid of the Judaizers, stopped eating with Gentiles. This blended the old ceremonial law with the new covenant.
But the Christian must distinguish the gospel from ceremonial law. The gospel calls us to respond with gratitude, not with ceremonial works.
Paul addresses this in verse 23:
“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
Why highlight this? To focus us on Christ—on who he is, what he has called us to do—so that we might walk worthy of our calling.
Every Christian desires this: to withstand the storms, to be built up in Christ, to be pleasing to him.
But false gospels can weigh heavily upon us. So what do we do? We study Christ. We know Christ. We cling to him—actively, intentionally, every time something new is presented.
We ask: Is this what Jesus would have me do? How do I know? Is it in the Word, or is it just a plausible idea?
Corporate Implications
This warning is not only for us individually but also for us corporately as a church.
Why are we doing certain things? Why are we not doing others?
At the end of the day, if it’s based on my opinion or your opinion, that’s not good enough. This is Jesus’s church. He is head over all rule and authority.
And he has told us that the Scriptures contain all that is necessary for life and godliness—whether corporately or individually. The blueprint is already given.
So this section—being alive in Christ and walking with him—calls us to reject any doctrine not conforming to Christ’s teaching, and instead to follow closely wherever the Lamb goes.
Sacrifice and Obedience
In our own lives, this can require heavy sacrifices.
It might mean putting aside long-held practices that aren’t commanded by Christ. Or it might mean taking up practices we’ve never done before—because they are commanded.
Here’s one example: when Christmas falls on a Sunday. Do we gather for worship or not?
If we don’t, why not? Wasn’t it the Lord’s Day the other 51 Sundays of the year? What has changed?
I mention this somewhat provocatively, but to get us thinking: Why do we do certain things? Is it tradition, or is it obedience to Christ’s command?
If it’s the Lord’s Day, and we normally gather, why would we not gather then? That’s where we feel the pressure—when something “nice” collides with what Christ requires.
There are other examples too. But the point is: we are to follow only what Christ has told us to do. That we might be firmly rooted in him, conformed to his likeness, and walking in the way he has appointed.
Rejecting False Standards
Let’s bind together the three problems and their solutions.
- We reject those who pervert wisdom.
We affirm that all wisdom is found in Christ. So we seek wisdom in his Word and reject anything else.(By rejecting, I don’t mean cutting people off or shunning them—I mean we do not follow their teaching. We follow Christ.) - We reject those who elevate traditions of men above Christ’s teaching.
We affirm that Christ alone establishes the rule of the Christian life, since he is head of all rule and authority.So we find in Scripture what he would have us do—not in plausible-sounding ideas. - We reject those who return us to the ceremonial law.
We affirm that Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law. It is obsolete under the new covenant.
Dealing with Brothers and Sisters in Error
It’s important to note: sometimes believers fall into these errors.
That means we need to deal with them accordingly—kindly, in love. They may still be brothers and sisters.
We are accountable for what we do as a congregation, in our households, and in our own lives.
Remember the membership vows? I haven’t heard the exact wording here since we’re new, but I know the vows Sarah and I took. I assume yours are similar.
We vow to look after one another’s lives. To help each other.
That means if you see a brother or sister in error, you go and talk to them quietly, in love.
That includes issues like these. Because ultimately we want to ensure that no one is deceived by the tricks of the devil—no matter how plausible.
And we love one another enough to help one another, even when it means touching a “sacred cow.”
We want to see everyone presented before Christ blameless, with great joy. He has called us to be part of that, helping one another persevere.
The Tree and Its Fruit
Returning again to the concept of a tree:
We know how well a tree is rooted when storms come. But there’s another time when we learn something about the tree—when the fruit comes.
We know what kind of tree it is by the fruit it bears.
We may not know at first, but when the fruit appears, the identity is clear.
And that is important spiritually: growing in Christ produces good works of every kind. Christ causes every believer, like a tree, to grow and bear good fruit by faith.
On the other hand, those who follow false gospels or the traditions of men do not produce such fruit.
We know them by their fruits. We know them by their works.
We do this not to be self-righteous, but—as Paul says in verse 8—“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit.”
We cling closely to Christ.
Conclusion: Fix Your Gaze on Christ
So in conclusion, brethren: let us fix our gaze upon Christ.
Let us seek to know him and to know him intimately—ever growing in that knowledge, never content to say, “I know enough about Jesus.”
We must both know Christ and walk in his steps. To take up our cross daily and follow him. To follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
When confronted by error, we must quickly reject it. If unbelievers promote it, we call them to repentance and to faith in Christ.
If we find it among our brethren—especially since we have vowed to one another as members—we must lovingly put in the time to help them.
Not rejecting them harshly, not saying, “How could you believe that?” But sticking with them, loving them, helping them follow Christ.
Because we ourselves have been loved with a great love by Christ.
So let us be rooted in him. Let us remember him. Let us live to give glory to him, both now and on the last day.
Closing Prayer
Please pray with me.
Father, we thank you that you have been pleased to show us your Son in your Word. That you have highlighted for us his many benefits. That you have placed within your Scriptures the rule and law you would have us obey.
Lord, we ask that you would give us great wisdom, that we might live faithfully in these evil days.
We pray for those who fall into error, that you would free them. We pray especially for how we deal with those outside the household of faith—that when we see error, we would call it out boldly and with truth from the Word, yet also love our neighbor as ourselves.
May we not simply reject them and move on, but contend with them for the sake of the gospel.
And, Lord, grant us wisdom to know the times, and to know when to speak. You have promised that when we are put on trial, you will give us the words to say.
So we look to you, asking you to supply these things according to your ability, knowing you are able and willing to hear our prayer for Jesus’ sake.
And add all these things unto us for the sake of your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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