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Study: Colossians
3:1-3
If ye then be risen with Christ, Colossians
3:1
If ye then be risen... Not everyone has risen with Christ. Most people
do not even understand what Paul is talking about here. They think to
themselves: we will strive to be risen with Christ. Paul is not speaking
to such. They hope that by their own efforts (“God helps those who helps
themselves”) they can enter into the new life. We who are risen with
Christ have the life of Christ in us. The life did not come into us
because we were trying real hard to be nice, or zealous, or successful –
but because we had faith that Jesus died for our sins. If we have the
life of Christ, the rest should follow. He that does not have the Son
does not have the life (1John 5:12). (To be continued)
Seek those things that are above,
Colossians 3:1
If we have been resurrected with Christ (not our bodies - this is yet to
come), then we should look up. Once again, most people don’t understand
Paul here. Seeking the things above seems symbolic to them. They are
‘literalists’ and do not know the power of the Scriptures, especially
those pertaining to Christ’s beloved church. But we, who know our
Beloved and he us, seek after him much as the spouse does her husband in
The Song of Solomon. We look up to him. We find spiritual riches there,
not a list of touch not, taste not, handle not. There are things above
that are readily available to us by faith. If we have risen with Christ,
let us seek those things that are above.
Where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1
This is the Christ of the Bible, not some earthly caricature of him. We
do not see him, but we love him and follow after him. This is because we
know he is the Son of the Father. We believe that God made all things by
the Son. We believe that Jesus is the very image of the Father and the
brightness of the Father’s glory (Hebrews 1:2,3). We believe there is
none else. We believe that this Son by himself purged our sins. And
because of this, he overcame for us and sat down on the right hand of
the majesty on high. This is our inheritance. “To him who overcomes will
I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and am sat
down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21). Why look elsewhere but
up?
Set your affections on things above,
Colossians 3:2
How can we set our fleshly desires, our longing for pleasure and
comfort, on things above? We can’t. This does not stop people from
trying. Their efforts are futile. What Paul means is that, if we have
been risen with Christ and have the life of Christ in us, then we can
and should set our affections on things above. Jesus knew how to do
this, seeing as he created us in the first place. He said, “Where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also.” He was talking about laying
up treasure in heaven. Most people will set their affections on other
things and cannot understand why they cannot reverse the admonition to
read, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also,”
pretending affection for Christ. If we misquote him to justify our
fleshly comforts, we show him no affection.
Not on things of the earth. Colossians 3:2
We would think if we are told to set our affections on things above that
we would automatically understand not to set our affections on earthly
things. But our tendency, as earthly creatures, is to desire the things
of this world. But we have a much greater treasure in heaven, if we seek
it. In order to have the one, we must forsake the other. Jesus said,
“You cannot serve both God and the riches of this world. You will come
to love the one and hate the other.” John said, “Love not the world,
neither the things of the world.” In our journey to heaven, we must be
continually reminded that our walk is by faith, not by sight. If we look
around us and begin to set our desires on things contrary to faith, we
will not obtain that for which we have hoped. If we have a new life in
Christ, let us not trust in the old one.
For ye are dead, Colossians 3:3
This is perhaps my favorite word of faith in the Bible. The very
shortness and finality of it assures me I am dead. It is a wonderful
thing to be dead and know it. Dead to my own evil desires and dead to
the world. The dear cross of Christ by which I am crucified to the world
and the world to me. In the very midst of my troubles, when the world
and its evil ways seem to be choking me, entangling me with the cares of
this life, I can put my trust in Jesus Christ, for its true that I am
dead. How can anyone have claims on a dead man? How can the Law of Moses
itself have any power against me? I am a dead man. I have died, not
alone, but I have been crucified with the beloved Savior of my soul, my
Lord and my God, who was also resurrected. This is why I am also risen
with him into newness of life.
And your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3
A wonderful, spiritual reality. It cannot be proven to the carnal mind
that my life is hidden with Christ, or that God is hidden in Christ. But
because I am dead, it is true. Because this life is hidden does not mean
it has no effect in the seen world. Although our earthly bodies have not
been changed, the glory of Christ’s life in us can be manifested. And
because our life is hidden with Christ, no man understands how this can
be (John 3:8). But we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the
glory we manifest is clearly not our own, but Christ’s (2 Cor. 4:7). And
because our life is hidden, no man can rob us of that life (Psalm 91).
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man
found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field” Matthew 13:44. “It is like leaven, which a woman
took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened”
Luke 13:21. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is
not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is
in the sight of God of great price” 1 Peter 3:4, speaking of woman’s
service to God.
When Christ, whom is our life
It is true that in a general sense all men, even the wicked, owe their
lives to Christ. It is not the devil who keeps them alive! It is not
their flesh that makes the sun rise and set one more time on their vain
lives. It is not their free will that makes the rain to fall. They do
not even have power to retain their spirit (life, breath, Eccl. 8:8). It
is only the mercy of God that allows them to experience a few years of
light before they go into eternal darkness (John 12:35). Jesus is the
Life, the light that lights every man who comes into this world
(John1:4,9). But more particularly, we who have died in Christ, have
Eternal Life. We, being dead, nevertheless live. As the Spirit of Life
lifted Jesus from the dead, so also does that same Life keep us alive
even though we are dead (Romans 8:10). Most people who think they know
Christ as Lord do not have him as their life. This is because of
unbelief. But those of us who believe know that our life is not our own,
because we traded our old life in at the cross. This is the hope of
glory (Col. 1:27).
- Chris Simonson
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