(Col. 2:5-7.)

(Continued from page 258.)

We may find profit in considering the terms used in these verses, which specially relate to the Christian walk and place.

"Order" and "steadfastness" suggest a unity and solidity of military character – the thought of conflict, and so of the Christian company being massed for battle. It is connected with their faith in Christ as the object of their faith. It might be rendered, "your Christ-ward faith." Being thus arrayed solidly and firmly, they caused the apostle to rejoice. This is the proper attitude for the Lord's people, since they confront a world-system solidly arrayed under its master strategist-Satan-in opposition to the Christ of God and the precious truth of which He is the center and circumference.

The enemy's forms of attack have greatly varied. Today it is not open, violent persecution, though that too may be manifest in certain quarters; it is rather a process of "nibbling" at faith's first line of defense-that of unreserved devotion to Christ. Do we give evidence that we purpose to maintain what attaches to the name and truth of Christ?-refusing compromise for the sake of our own ease, convenience, or advantage? In the measure that the enemy can make inroads along this line, he weakens or nullifies our testimony. It is not so much failure to obey our Lord's positive commands as failing to detect the enemy's effort to lead into ways or acts which do violence to the spirit of His word. The Christian, and the Christian company gathered out to the Lord, are responsible to show that God and His things are given first place. His order, whether it be in relation to creation, human relationships, or the assembly, is to be observed according to both the letter and spirit of His Word. The Christian is not left to choose for himself.

"Be ye.. .imitators of God, as beloved children" (Eph. 5:1).

"As children of obedience, not conformed to your former lusts…. Be ye also holy in all your conversation" (1 Pet. 1:13-17).

"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service; and be not conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:1, 2).

From a number of scriptures we know that God's purpose and will are that the fundamental relationship of human life, that of husband and wife, must be maintained in purity, in monogamy. And from 1 Cor. 11 we learn that God's order in creation as to headship is to be recognized and observed by His people. This last passage reminds us of a present day practice which the Christian woman should refuse to follow, not because there is a command in so many words not to cut her hair short, but because it is plainly contrary to the spirit of the passage. God's order is that the woman's long hair is a sign of her relative place in the order of creation. Paul declares it shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off, or to be shaved, that is adopting man's style. When God's order is nullified by a worldly fashion, it is the Christian's duty to refuse the fashion, and use the opportunity openly to show her recognition of God's order. "Whoever keeps His word [not simply His commandments], in him verily the love of God is perfected" (1 John 2:5).

The fashion of the day may seem a small matter to some, but it illustrates the enemy's method of attack by which he gains a point of advantage against the unwary Christian, leading to a virtual setting aside of God's word. It cannot fail to induce a weakened spiritual state, which, if not judged, makes the next "nibble" at the Christian's first line of defense, with a larger inroad upon his faithfulness to Christ. Our bodies are to be presented as a living sacrifice.

These remarks may seem to be a digression from our study, yet the particular matter cited serves to show how easily the enemy pushes back the line of our orderly and steadfast faithfulness to Christ, which should be main-tamed in militant energy, as suggested by the terms used here. "In your faith have also virtue" (literally, supply virtue), that is, soldier-courage, militant energy; and that with "knowledge" obtained by feeding upon God's word (2 Pet. 1:5,6).

In verses 6, 7 we find a change of metaphor from the solidity of military array to walking; then as the rooting of a tree; and then building.

We made reference to Christian walk in our last study, Rooting conveys the idea of firmness or fixedness. The change of tenses here helps to make the meaning more clear. It is having been rooted (perfect participle), indicating what had been done and in result continued. Then, being built up (present participle), the process which is going on. Having received the word of truth, they became rooted in Christ as a tree in the earth. Their order and steadfastness witnessed that this had been already accomplished and continued. Epaphras gave testimony to this. As a tree grows, its roots spread out and take deeper hold upon what is essential to make it firm and strong. So with the Christian. This idea of rooting follows the exhortation to "walk in Christ." We might have reversed them. But a walking in Christ as revealed in the gospel, results in that root-development which is illustrated in tree-growth. We go down deeper into, and lay hold more firmly of Him who is essentially our all. As we walk in Christ the roots of spiritual life spread out and, taking hold of the richness and fatness of the divine life and nature in which the believer is set, we are "built up," our branches spread out, fruit and foliage increase, our spiritual vigor is manifest in a consistent obedient life, exhaling the mind and spirit of Christ.

Building up does not convey the idea of successive courses of masonry as in a building, but rather the successive layer upon layer of wood which marks tree-growth. We are all familiar with the section of a tree which shows the yearly concentric circles of its development, and this seems to be the idea suggested by the connection in this passage.

If these things are true of us we will find ourselves "confirmed in the faith" as a present result, not by means of some new revelation or form of teaching, but "even as ye have been taught;" for Paul could declare that it was given to him to complete the Word of God. We possess that wonderful Word by which we are assured or confirmed in the faith, and as so strengthened we abound in it with thanksgiving. The mind is illuminated, the heart is satisfied, and as filled vessels we overflow with praise. The Lord grant us this spiritual steadfastness, growth, and happiness. John Bloore