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Rooted and Grounded in Faith and Love

that Christ dwells in your heart through faith, rooted and grounded in love.* Rooted and built up in him, and established of faith.*

Previously I wrote about two men from the Old Testament, both are like a tree planted by the waters who send out its roots. One man puts his trust and confidence in God.* The second man meditates on God's word.* Paul writes of another man in the New Testament, he is rooted and grounded in love and faith. He is being established, grounded and as such will not shift from the hope of the gospel.* The word grounded means to found, to lay a foundation; to make steadfast; to establish, render firm, and unwavering. Peter writes the true grace of God establishes, grounds.* The word rooted means to root, cause to take root; firmly rooted, strengthened with roots; met. firm, constant, firmly fixed. All of these men will prosper and yield fruit in season because they are firmly planted, rooted, and grounded.

rooted and built up in him, and established of faith just as taught, abounding in gratitude.*

When Paul writes Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, he is saying the same as "rooted and built up in him, and established of faith." There is a man rooted and grounded, established in love but not just in love alone, but in faith also. How was he established? He was taught. Why does he abound in gratitude? The life of Christ is being revealed in His body, he is comprehending the surpassing power and love of God, and he is seeing things by faith, not by sight. "Rooted and built up", this is why gifts are given for the work of ministry.* Church growth begins with the proper foundation which Paul writes is being rooted and grounded in faith and love. Each person is the Church, living stones being built up, or we can say like trees rooted and grounded both in faith and love. This is what strengthens, Paul writes, faith energized through love.* Love is the bond that leads to perfection or maturity (being established in Him).* Love compels us to live for Christ.* Without love, Paul writes, our faith is nothing. Agape love and faith go hand in hand thus love that doesn't believe in you, that sees by sight and not by faith, is not agape love.

Now, that sown on good soil, this exists the one hearing the message and understanding, like as bearing fruit yielding as hundredfold, as sixty, and as thirty.*

This parable tells us the importance of being rooted. The seed can be sown but can be snatched away by the devil so it will never be rooted. The seed can be sown and grow, but because it has no roots it is uprooted, falls away when persecution comes. It can grow but be choked out by the weeds of the cares and anxiety of this world, its deception of riches, being unfruitful. Paul says we are rooted and grounded in faith and love, so we can equate the good soil with having been established in faith and love. Without being established in faith and love they will fall away but if they are rooted in faith and love they will bear fruit. Paul tells us why it is important to be rooted and grounded in faith and love,

so that having the strength to lay hold of (grasp, comprehend,) together with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and depth, both, to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge so to be filled to the extent all the fullness of God.*

When we are established in faith and love we have strength to lay hold of God's love so to be filled with all the fullness of God. Fullness is bearing fruit. This fullness is the outcome of true Church growth, which matures unto adulthood, unto the fullness of Christ.* This fullness or completeness, James writes, is one lacking in nothing, mature, and was tested to prove the genuineness of his faith.* Paul writes to obtain this fullness, we must first grow strong in the power of his Spirit in our inner being, having been rooted and grounded in faith and love. Why do we need this establishment? so to have the strength to lay hold of (grasp, comprehend) to know the love of Christ. Why do we need to know deeply about the love of Christ? so we do not fall away but bear fruit, which is being filled to the extent all the fullness of God.* Do you see the progression? "he grants you to acquire strength (grow strong, rendered strong, confirm; firm, resolute) power through His Spirit in your inner being, Christ dwelling in your heart through faith, rooted and grounded in love...* Rooted and built up in him, and established of faith just as taught...*" A Church Rooted and Grounded in Faith and Love will grow up into Him and bear much fruit.*

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