You ever notice how plants don’t just grow wild in the desert? They need roots, right? Deep, steady roots that dig into the soil, soaking up life-giving nutrients. It’s typical to think that spiritual growth works the same way. When Paul talks about being “rooted and built up in Him” in Colossians 2:7, he’s painting a picture not just of growth, but of security, nourishment, and strength. If you’re like me—a believer who stands firmly in grace and rightly divides the Word—then this verse isn’t just poetry. It’s a lifeline.
Rooted: More Than Just Standing Still
Being rooted means stability, but it’s not about simply standing still or being stuck. Think about a tree. Through the powerful anchor of its roots, it resists storms and winds. For grace believers, whose position is firmly established in Christ’s finished work, being rooted means knowing where your spiritual security lies—and that’s in the grace of God, not your performance. If you try to root yourself in anything else—good works, feelings, even the Law—you’ll end up shallow and vulnerable.
But here’s the catch: grace doesn’t mean passive. You have to choose to be “planted” where the renewing waters flow. That’s where rightly dividing the Word plays a starring role. When you rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), you don’t just read Scripture—you let it define your root system. You accept that Jesus fulfilled the Law on your behalf and that your growth is by grace through faith, moving you far beyond the Law’s shadows.
Built Up: Because Roots Don’t Grow Trees
When Paul speaks of being “built up in Him,” it’s not some abstract concept. This is architecture, construction with intention. The Greek word used here for “built up” (epoikodomeo) actually suggests a daily process of growth, a careful adding of stones that turn a sapling into a strong, towering oak.
You can be rooted and not built up, but that’s like knowing the truth and not living it. Built up means your life visibly reflects your foundation. It means the Word isn’t just something you nod at but is shaping your character, attitude, and outreach. It’s why rightly dividing the Word matters so much—because understanding grace frees you to build, instead of being trapped under guilt or fear. Have you ever met a tree so covered with vines it can barely stand? That’s what legalism or misinformation can do if you’re not careful.
Established in Faith, Overflowing with Thanksgiving
There’s a remarkable phrase in Colossians 2:7—“established in the faith, just as you were taught.” “Established” here means settled, firm, immovable. This isn’t about fickle, waffling belief. This is the kind of faith that anchors you in the grace message. A faith unshaken by failure or temptation because it knows who holds the outcome.
The beauty of being built up and rooted like this is how it naturally leads to gratitude. Thanksgiving isn’t a duty but a natural overflow of settled confidence and joy in Christ. When you’re resting in grace, your heart tends to thank God—not because you’re trying to tick a box, but because you’ve actually felt the weight of His kindness in your life.
Why Rooted and Built Up Is Ownable Today
Sometimes people talk about being rooted and built up like it’s some lofty spiritual goal for “super Christians.” But that’s a lie that disempowers. If you’re saved by grace and rightly divide the Word, you have the same promise. Your root system may look messy at times, maybe even tangled with doubts or past wounds, but the One you’re rooted in is relentless. He refuses to let you dry up or blow away.
So what does this look like practically? Imagine your spiritual life as a construction site. Your foundation—salvation by grace through faith—is done and dusted. Legalism and guilt-based efforts? Demolition materials to toss. The building up is ongoing: prayer, meditating on God’s Word rightly divided, walking by the Spirit, encouraging others—each is a brick in your spiritual house.
Pitfalls: What Chokes and What Grows
No garden thrives without weed control. Some believers get caught up in what I call “false roots.” They build their faith identity on:
🌱 Emotional highs and lows – Faith should be deeper than a good feeling
🌱 Self-effort and discipline alone – Unless rooted in grace, they’re destined to fail
🌱 Performance metrics – Grace obsoletes law-keeping as a means to approval
🌱 Confusing OT Law commands for NT grace living – which is why rightly dividing is vital
When you keep your focus on Christ alone, your roots go down deep and your growth is according to God’s pattern, not your own best ideas.
The Power of Knowing Freedom in Him
One of the greatest freedoms that come with being rooted and built up in Christ is peace. The peace that transcends circumstances doesn’t come from self-reliance or trying to earn God’s love; it comes from understanding that everything has been done on your behalf. You’re not just “believers”—you’re beloved and cherished children who have been made heirs. Being rightly divided in the Word keeps this at the forefront of our minds so we don’t slip back into legalistic bondage or confuse grace with license.
Honestly, sometimes I marvel at how God designed grace to be both a root and a building block simultaneously. It stabilizes and propels, grounds you and lifts you up.
The Invitation to Deeper Connection
This rooted and built-up life isn’t reserved for a spiritual elite. It’s available to all who embrace grace correctly. Are you searching for that kind of stability? Do you find your heart wavering between doubt and assurance? The answer lies in going deeper into the word with a heart ready to receive—not as a student desperately trying to earn a grade, but as a beloved child resting on a rock-solid promise.
The journey of being “rooted and built up in Him” is a daily invitation, stepping into the fullness of what Christ finished on the cross. It isn’t about piling on rules—it’s about sinking deep into the richness of grace and building a life that shows it unmistakably.
Final Thoughts
Imagine if every believer lived like this: firmly rooted in grace, where their growth wasn’t fueled by obligation or guilt but by a deep connection to the Living Word rightly divided. What if we stopped confusing legalistic striving for spiritual progress and simply embraced the finished work of Christ from the ground up? That’s the beauty waiting for us—steady, strong, and flourishing in Him.
Rooted in grace, built up by truth, established in faith, and overflowing with thanksgiving—that’s what being a thriving Christian looks like. No frills, no fluff, just the raw, powerful life Christ intends for every believer who walks the right line.
And if that sounds good to you, maybe it’s time to go back and check where your roots really are. Because what you’re building depends on it.