Risen with Christ. Colossians 3:1. Changes in believers' lives in Christ are clear when we “seek those things that are above.” The eternal truths of heaven become the main focus of life in Christ because we have new minds, affections, ambitions, appetites, habits, and hopes. The newness of resurrected life frees us from sin’s control and gives us the desire and ability to live differently. We were dead in our sins but are now dead to sin and alive to God.
This doesn't happen gradually or little by little. New life comes from God through His grace, not human effort. Self-denial and vain works are actions done by those trying to add to what God has already done. God doesn't save lost sinners because they deserve salvation but because He wants to give us what we need and cannot do ourselves. Divine love for us and His desire to share eternal life with us moved the Father to send the Son to be the Savior of the world. He alone can bless us with new life in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins; He was buried, and three days later, He rose again. Now, a new fact has clearly come to light: we have risen with Christ and now share His life.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” is a spiritual response and a joy for those who have been “justified freely by His grace.” We are identified with Christ as those who have been raised from the dead in Him and are set apart for Him. He is seated at God’s right hand in a place of authority, power, and honor. There is a responsibility on our part to take action and intentionally seek the things above. That means we must crucify the fleshly desires and those things of the earth, like worldliness, selfishness, lustfulness, hatred, and bad habits that seek to control us.
The evidence is there; the love of God is in our hearts. But sometimes, we barely know where and how to act rightly or do what is right so that we may honor and please our Lord. It is essential that we seek daily guidance from the Bible. His Word has come from the Holy Spirit, and the truths in the scriptures have been given to us with love. The Holy Spirit has come from above to guide us into all truth, and faith through His Word will teach us to trust our risen Lord in testing times.
Love for God and love for the brethren come from above as part of the new nature we have received. Eternal life and a home in heaven have also been given to us. A sure hope, not based on vain speculation, is placed in us by the Spirit of God through the word of God. We know God as our Father; we have eternal salvation; grace has been given to us so that we might honor God each day. The Lord provides heavenly peace that will not pass away. Christ is our Mediator and Advocate before the throne of grace when we pray. The just and holy God has accepted us in Christ, and our life is His own because we are hidden with Christ in God.
We are now participants in kingdom living even though we are still in the world. Our place now, as far as the world is concerned, is that of strangers and pilgrims passing through a foreign land. The way worldly citizens live and their normal practices are contrary to our heavenly citizenship. The things of earth will still try to claim our attention and participation, but we are not to be conformed to this world; instead, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Throughout our journey in this world, we must consciously seek the things above, think as citizens of heaven, and live consistently as those whose attention is directed to and guided by Christ, who sits at the right hand of God.
We “seek those things that are above” where there are no walls, barriers, fences, or pretenses. Christ is there, seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and believers in Christ are seated in heavenly places “in Christ.” There is no night there, no fears or tears—only light in our true home where forgiven, free children of God set their affections. That is where we belong; those are the things we seek, who are “hidden” in Christ but not in the dark—once “dead,” but now alive in Christ; “risen” to walk in the light even though we are still apart; “seated” with Him and still able to serve Him here. Our hearts, minds, hopes, and lives are blessed because of our position in Christ. Glory shines in His face, fills all that place, and we see His glory when He appears, and that glory will remain through ageless years.
Justice and the law had claims to be made because God is a holy God who cannot ignore the sins I've committed and be true to His Holy Word. So, publicly, through three hours of light followed by three hours of darkness, the sacrificial Lamb met the law's demands and took our place. Hell stepped forward to claim the souls of all those Satan had deceived. He wanted in the worst way possible to stop people before they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, but right out in public before those who gathered at the cross came the words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" The heel of the Lord bruised Satan's head; now those who believe in God can live “risen with Christ.”