Walking the Path of Faith
On Sunday morning, I listened to a sermon based on Colossians 2:6-8. The message was especially meaningful because it was preached during a profession of faith and baptism service. While the sermon was directed toward those publicly declaring their faith, I found that its lessons apply to every Christian, regardless of age or how long they have followed Christ.
The central theme was simple yet profound: the Christian life is a journey that begins by receiving Christ and continues by remaining in Christ.
The Beginning of the Journey
One illustration from the sermon stood out to me. The preacher compared the Christian life to a hiking trail. Before you can enjoy the journey, you must first start at the correct trailhead. If you begin on the wrong path, it does not matter how enthusiastically you walk—you will end up in the wrong destination.
That is true spiritually as well.
Many people believe Christianity is primarily about being a good person, following rules, attending church, or living a moral life. Yet Colossians 2:6 says:
"As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him."
The order is important. We do not walk in order to be accepted by Christ. We receive Christ first, and then we walk with Him.
As I reflected on this, I realized how easily I can reverse that order in my own thinking. Sometimes I subtly believe that God will be pleased with me if I perform well enough, pray enough, serve enough, or avoid enough sins. Yet the gospel teaches something entirely different.
The Christian life begins with grace.
Jesus comes to sinners. He comes to those who cannot save themselves. He comes to people who need forgiveness. He invites us to receive Him as Lord and Savior. Salvation is not something we earn; it is something we receive.
This truth is deeply comforting. My relationship with God does not rest upon my achievements. It rests upon Christ's finished work on the cross.
Receiving Christ Means Receiving a King
The sermon also emphasized that we receive "Christ Jesus the Lord."
It is possible to appreciate Jesus as a teacher, admire Him as a historical figure, or even acknowledge Him as Savior while resisting His authority over our lives. Yet Scripture presents Him as Lord.
Receiving Christ means surrendering to Him.
That is not always easy. Our culture values independence and self-determination. We are encouraged to follow our hearts and create our own truth. But becoming a Christian means recognizing that Jesus has the rightful authority to direct every area of our lives.
Paradoxically, this surrender leads to freedom. Christ is not a cruel master. He is the King who loved us enough to die for us. His commands are not burdens designed to crush us but guidance given by One who knows what is truly best for us.
Profession of Faith Is Not the Finish Line
Another point that resonated with me was the reminder that profession of faith and baptism are not the end of the journey.
Sometimes we treat major spiritual milestones as destinations. We celebrate baptism, church membership, graduation from catechism classes, or other important moments. Yet these events are not the conclusion of Christian growth. They are merely steps along the way.
The Christian life is not about a single decision made years ago. It is about walking with Christ today.
Every morning presents a fresh opportunity to trust Him, obey Him, and depend upon Him.
God Is the One Who Sustains Us
One of the most encouraging parts of the sermon came from Paul's description of believers as being "rooted" and "built up" in Christ.
The preacher pointed out that these are passive actions. God is the One doing the work.
That perspective brought great comfort to me.
There are times when I become discouraged by my weaknesses, recurring struggles, and slow spiritual growth. I look at my imperfections and wonder whether I am progressing at all.
Yet the gospel reminds me that God is not only the author of my faith; He is also its sustainer.
He planted me in Christ.
He nourishes me through Christ.
He is building me up through Christ.
My responsibility is not to generate spiritual life by my own strength. My responsibility is to remain connected to the source of life.
Just as a tree draws nourishment from its roots, believers draw strength from their union with Christ.
The Danger of Drifting
The sermon included a warning that every Christian needs to hear.
It is possible to drift.
Rarely do people wake up one morning and decide to abandon their faith. More often, the process is gradual. Prayer becomes less frequent. Bible reading becomes sporadic. Church attendance becomes optional. Christ moves from the center of life to the edge.
Drifting does not happen all at once.
That is why remaining in Christ requires intentionality.
I was challenged to ask myself some honest questions:
- Am I spending time with Christ regularly?
- Am I cultivating a living relationship with Him?
- Are there distractions pulling my heart away from Him?
- Is my faith growing warmer or colder?
These questions are not meant to produce guilt but to encourage self-examination. The goal is not merely to remember Jesus once; it is to walk with Him daily.
Remaining in God's Word
The second major emphasis of the sermon was the importance of remaining in God's Word.
We live in an age overflowing with voices. Podcasts, social media, influencers, commentators, and countless online teachers all compete for our attention.
Some voices are helpful. Others are misleading.
The challenge for Christians is discerning which path leads toward Christ and which path leads away from Him.
The answer is found in Scripture.
God has not left us without direction. He has given us His Word as a trustworthy guide.
I appreciated the preacher's image of the Bible as a map. We are not pioneers blazing our own spiritual trail. The path has already been marked out for us.
When we face confusion, uncertainty, or difficult decisions, we must return to the Scriptures.
The question is not, "What feels right to me?"
The question is, "What has God revealed?"
A Life Marked by Thankfulness
The sermon concluded with Paul's call to be "abounding in thanksgiving."
I found this to be a fitting description of genuine Christian faith.
Thankfulness is evidence that we understand grace.
When we remember where Christ found us, how He forgave us, and how He continues to sustain us, gratitude naturally follows.
The Christian life is not merely obedience. It is joyful obedience.
It is not merely duty. It is delight.
We walk the path of faith not because we are trying to earn God's favor, but because we have already received it through Christ.
Final Thoughts
As I reflected on this sermon, I was reminded that Christianity is both wonderfully simple and wonderfully deep.
The path begins by receiving Christ.
The path continues by remaining in Christ.
Along the way, God roots us, strengthens us, guides us through His Word, and fills our hearts with thankfulness.
Whether we are new believers, making profession of faith, or Christians who have walked with the Lord for decades, the call remains the same:
"As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him."
May God grant us grace not only to begin the journey well, but also to continue faithfully until we reach our heavenly home.
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