229. As And So.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. - Colossians 2:6.

THERE is great safety in going back to first principles.

To make sure of being in the right way, it is good to look back at the entrance gate. Well begun is half done.

The text is addressed, not to the ungodly, nor to strangers, but to those who "have received Christ Jesus the Lord." They have commenced well; let them go on as they have begun.

For the spiritual good and establishment of such in the faith, the apostle longs, and to this end he gives the exhortation.

I. NOTICE IN THE TEXT THE FACT STATED. Sincere believers have in very deed "received Christ Jesus the Lord."

This is the old gospel word. Here is no evolution from within, but a gift from without, heartily accepted by the soul.

This is free-grace language: "received," not earned or purchased.

It is not said that they received Christ's words, though that is true, for they prize every precept and doctrine, but they received Christ.

Carefully observe ---

1. The personality of him whom they received, "Christ Jesus the Lord": his person, his godhead, his humanity, himself.

They ---

· Received him into their knowledge.

· Received him into their understanding.

· Received him into their affections.

· Received him into their trust.

· Received him as their life at their new birth. When they received him, he gave them power to become the sons of God.

2. The threefold character in which they received him.

The words of the text, "Christ Jesus the Lord," indicate this.

They received him ---

· As Christ, anointed and commissioned of God.

· As Jesus, the Savior, to redeem and sanctify them.

· As the Lord, to reign and rule over them with undivided sway.

3. The looking away from self in this saving act of reception.

· It is not said, as ye have fought for Jesus and won him, or studied the truth and discovered Christ Jesus, but, as ye have "received" him. This strips us of everything like boasting, for all we do is receive.

4. The blessed certainty of the experience of those to whom Paul wrote, "As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord." They had really received Jesus; they had found the blessing to be real: no doubt remained as to their possession of it.

II. NOTICE, NEXT, THE COUNSEL GIVEN. "So walk ye in him."

There are four things suggested by that word "walk."

1. Life. Vitally enjoy the Lord Jesus.

2. Continuance. Remain in Christ. Make him your constant place of daily movement and occupation.

3. Activity. Busy yourselves, but not with a new way of salvation. Work for Jesus, with him, and in obedience to him.

4. Progress. Advance, but ever let your most advanced thought remain in him.

III. NOTICE, LASTLY, THE MODEL WHICH IS PRESENTED TO US. We are to walk in Christ Jesus the Lord "as we received him."

And how was that?

1. We received him gratefully. How we blessed his name for regarding our low estate!

2. We received him humbly. We had no claim to his grace, and we confessed this and were lowly.

3. We received him joyfully. Our first joy was bright as the dew of the morning. Have we lost it?

4. We received him effectually. We brought forth many spiritual fruits and abounded in life, faith, love, and every grace.

5. We received him unreservedly. We made no conditions with him, and we reserved nothing for the flesh.

Thus, we should continue to walk in him, evermore in our daily life excelling in all these points.

Alas, some have never received Jesus!

Our closing words must be addressed to such.

If you will not receive Jesus, you refuse mercy here and heaven hereafter.

What! will you not receive so great a boon?