“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” — Col. 2:6
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Readers, the Christian life begins with receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but it does not end there. Salvation is the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith, obedience, spiritual growth, and fellowship with God. When a person receives Christ, he or she enters into a new relationship with God and begins a journey that should be characterised by continual dependence on Christ.
In Colossians 2:6, the Apostle Paul writes, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” This verse contains a profound instruction for every believer. Paul reminds Christians that the same Christ they received by faith is the One they must continue to follow daily. The way we begin our Christian journey should also determine how we live throughout that journey.
We received Christ through faith, not through our own righteousness or good works. Therefore, we must continue to live by faith, trusting in His grace, obeying His Word, and depending on His power. Christianity is not merely about making a decision to follow Jesus; it is about walking with Him every day.
Receive Christ Jesus As Lord: Paul begins by saying, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord.” This statement reminds us that Jesus Christ must be received not merely as a helper or a source of blessings, but as Lord and Saviour. To receive Christ means to believe in Him, accept His sacrifice for our sins, and surrender our lives to His authority. John 1:12 declares, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Receiving Christ brings us into a relationship with God. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own achievements (Eph. 2:8–9).
However, receiving Christ as Lord also means recognising His authority over every area of our lives. He is Lord over our thoughts, words, relationships, decisions, ambitions, and possessions. We cannot genuinely claim to follow Christ while deliberately refusing to submit to His teachings. Our faith must influence how we live, how we treat others, and how we respond to life’s challenges. The question is not merely whether we have received Jesus, but whether we are allowing Him to rule our lives.
Walk in Him Daily: The central instruction in Colossians 2:6 is, “So walk in Him.” In Scripture, walking often represents the way we conduct our lives. To walk in Christ means to live in daily fellowship with Him, allowing His Word to guide our decisions and His Spirit to shape our character. Walking with Christ is not a one-day experience. It is a daily commitment to follow Him, whether circumstances are favourable or difficult. A believer must walk in Christ at home, at work, in the church, in the marketplace, and in private. Our Christian faith should not be limited to Sunday worship or special religious gatherings. It should be evident in our everyday conduct.
Walking in Christ involves prayer, studying the Scriptures, obeying God’s commandments, fellowshipping with other believers, and maintaining a heart that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you.” Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, Christians cannot produce lasting spiritual fruit apart from Christ. We must therefore remain connected to Him through faith and fellowship. When we face temptation, we must depend on His strength. When we are confused, we must seek His wisdom. When we are discouraged, we must trust His promises. A successful Christian life is not measured merely by how well we begin, but by how faithfully we continue to walk with Christ.
Walk by Faith, Not by Sight: When we first received Christ, we trusted Him even though we could not physically see Him. We believed His promises, accepted His Word, and placed our confidence in His finished work on the cross. The same faith must continue to guide our lives. In 2 Cor. 5:7 the Bible says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Walking by faith does not mean pretending that difficulties do not exist. Rather, it means trusting God’s character and promises even when our circumstances appear discouraging.
There may be times when prayers seem unanswered, financial difficulties arise, sickness comes, or relationships become strained. During such seasons, we must not abandon our faith or conclude that God has forsaken us. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when its fulfilment seemed impossible. The disciples had to trust Jesus amid storms and uncertainty. Similarly, believers today must learn to trust God even when they cannot understand everything He is doing. Faith keeps us standing when circumstances encourage us to give up. It reminds us that God remains faithful even when our situations change. Therefore, let us continue to trust Christ, not only when we receive blessings, but also when we must wait patiently for His direction.
Be Rooted and Established in Christ: The verses following Col. 2:6 provide further insight into what it means to walk in Christ. Col. 2:7 says, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Paul uses the picture of a tree with deep roots and a building with a strong foundation. A tree with deep roots can withstand strong winds because it is firmly anchored in the ground. In the same way, Christians must be deeply rooted in Christ if they are to remain steadfast during trials and temptations.
Our roots must go deep into the Word of God. We must know what we believe and understand the truth of the gospel. A believer who neglects Scripture may easily be confused by false teachings, worldly philosophies, and misleading spiritual claims.
Jesus warned His followers about deception. Paul also cautioned the Colossians against being carried away by teachings that were not centred on Christ. Today, many voices compete for our attention. Some encourage us to place material success above spiritual growth, while others suggest that we can live according to our own desires without regard for God’s Word. To walk in Christ, we must remain grounded in biblical truth. We should read and meditate on Scripture, pray consistently, learn from mature believers, and participate faithfully in a Bible-believing Christian community. The deeper our roots in Christ, the stronger our faith becomes.
Walk in Love, Holiness, and Obedience: Walking in Christ must produce a visible change in our character and behaviour. A genuine relationship with Jesus should influence the way we relate to others. Eph. 5:2 instructs us to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” Christ demonstrated His love through sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness, and service. As His followers, we are called to reflect these qualities. We must forgive those who offend us, show kindness to the needy, speak truthfully, and treat others with dignity. We must resist bitterness, hatred, pride, dishonesty, and every practice that contradicts God’s Word.
Walking in holiness also means turning away from sin and seeking to please God. 1 Peter 1:15 encourages believers to be holy in all their conduct because the God who called them is holy. This does not mean that Christians will never make mistakes. Rather, when we stumble, we must repent, seek God’s forgiveness, and continue growing in grace. The Christian life is a journey of transformation. As we walk with Christ, the Holy Spirit works within us to develop Christlike character. Our lives should increasingly demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit described in Gal. 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The world should see something of Christ in our conduct.
Continue in Christ Until the End: One of the greatest challenges in the Christian journey is remaining faithful over time. Some people begin with enthusiasm but become discouraged when they encounter trials. Others allow worldly attractions, disappointments, or the cares of life to weaken their commitment to God. However, Christ calls us to continue walking with Him. Heb. 12:1–2 encourages believers to run with endurance the race set before them, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Our spiritual journey may not always be easy, but we are not walking alone. Christ has promised to be with His people, and His grace is sufficient to sustain us. When you feel weak, depend on His strength. When you fall, rise again through repentance and faith. When you face opposition, remain faithful to His Word. When blessings come, give Him thanks. Do not allow temporary difficulties to distract you from your eternal destination. Let your commitment to Christ be deeper than your emotions and stronger than your circumstances. Continue to pray, continue to believe, continue to obey, and continue to serve Him faithfully.
In Conclusion: The message of Col. 2:6 is simple but powerful: As we have received Christ Jesus as Lord, we must continue to walk in Him. We began our Christian journey by faith, and we must continue by faith. We received salvation through God’s grace, and we must depend on His grace every day. We accepted Christ as Lord, and we must continually submit to His authority. To walk in Christ means to remain connected to Him, trust His promises, obey His Word, grow in spiritual maturity, demonstrate His love, and persevere in faith. Let us examine our lives honestly. Are we truly walking in Christ, or have we become distracted by the things of this world? Are our decisions guided by God’s Word? Is our character becoming more like that of Jesus? Are we growing in faith, love, holiness, and gratitude? Today, the Lord invites us to renew our commitment to Him. May our lives be firmly rooted in Christ, our faith be established in His Word, and our conduct bring glory to His name. Remain blessed.
