Colossians 3:1-11 DYING AND LIVING The results of understanding the reality of the Christian life from God's perspective are changes in the everyday conduct and practice of our life in the world. In the beginning verses of this chapter, Paul begins with our conversion and goes to the appearing of Christ in the future as our incentive to holy living in practical ways. Our standing in Christ is identified as those who are dead to the world [v.3] and are raised to new life in Christ [v.1]. That could be called the indicative position in which we are found. Our state as believers is set as a challenge to us to act by what we do in accordance with who we are. This is the imperative condition expected of us as those who acknowledge the supremacy of Christ. We are to set our affection on things above [v.1-2]. We are to put to death, in a practical way, the old nature and its practices. We are to get rid of those things linked with our old self-life. Before we can really live, we have to die.
Our attachment to Christ is not linked to angels or star-gazing into the skies looking for something mysterious. It is the lifting up of the heart and its affections to our Savior, who is sitting alive and well on the right hand of God. This is not wishful thinking or some kind of mental detachment from ourselves to reach to God. This is a real act of faith as we look to our risen Savior, who, by virtue of His finished work of redemption, has justly brought us into the heavenly sphere where He is. There, in His dignity and authority, He calls us to live out our resurrection life here by His power.
Our affections, our heart's desire, is a humble-minded appreciation of our union with Christ. My affections are centered on that which is of major concern in my life. If the affairs of this world claim my attention more than anything else, then my attractions become earthly and materialistic, and my affections will be only here on earth. Believers are living here as patrons of the world system, but as pilgrims, our home is elsewhere - above, "where Christ sitteth." Our new life comes from our resurrection with Christ. Our spiritual life is hidden from the world. Our "affection" involves an act of understanding in which we know the worth of those things which are above. It also involves an act of our will to choose those things above all other "things" because we know their value and love them with a godly enthusiasm. Then we will pursue those things, grasp them, and love and prefer them far greater than those things which are below. We will be more than willing to part with earthly things when our affection is above.
When Christ appears, we will see His glory and enjoy it with Him and be participants in that glory. Our life lived by faith with grace will then be a life of glory that will forever display God's exceeding riches of grace." in a spiritual sense, we are able now to share our lives here below with divine Persons. The blessed state of life in heaven with the joy that it will bring can, to a degree, be experienced now and here when our affections are in the right place.
In view of that standing we have, we must put to death those lustful members of our body that lead us to sin. The very first emotions that arise must be dealt with by us denying our consent to the attractions that try to usurp our new nature. Sin, and its activities and power, must be slain - put to death. We must deal decisively with any carry-over of sin in our lives by daily mortifying and subduing it and hating it rather than secretly responding to sin's appeal. Sin begins in the mind and is worked out in life through our physical bodies. The list of sensual sins is totally opposite to the character of God.
Fornication and uncleanness are outward acts of sensual sin. Any illegal access into another body is abhorrent to a holy God. When we died with Christ, we were given the power to have victory over such sin in our Lord Jesus Christ. Passion and evil desires are the inward motivation that initiates such outward acts. Covetousness reaches out its evil influence to control one's spirit ending in putting other things before the things of God. Covetousness is never satisfied. It always wants more. The reason it is called idolatry is because covetousness dictates what we serve. Divine reaction to the acts of the children of disobedience is holy opposition that will invariably end in just punishment to bring about a correction in behavior.
It seems like the Colossian believers had lost the sharp edge of their spirituality and were not what they once were when they first consciously experienced the grace of God. These sensual sins affect not only our public testimony but also our own personal life with God because we are catering to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Added to this were the social sins that interfered in a very negative way with their interaction with other people. Some people seem to have the attitude of anger as a habitual response to all that is going on around them. From that attitude comes the sudden outbursts of anger and rage that are called "wrath." There is a sense in which wrath takes on the form of vengeance that leads to the deep disposition of animosity we recognize as malice. Malice wants something bad to happen to another person. Slander puts into words that which tears down another person with abusive speech, blasphemy - that ends up in filthy words, defiling speech, and then deception, lying, and misrepresentation of the truth.
When a believer testifies in their baptism that they have died and been buried with Christ, they also are publicly declaring they have put off the "old man" with all its lusts and worldly ways, like putting off an old garment. It is wrong for us to give any place to those social and sensual sins - neither in thought, word, or deed. But to just put them off is not enough. There needs to be the Christ-like characteristic of the new man that indicates a radical change has taken place and we have a new identity. Being renewed with a view to spiritual growth assures us that we have the capacity for knowledge. This leads to a progressing, maturing Christian life that has the characteristics of our Savior, who gave us new life.
In that Christ-like image that begins with our inner life with Christ, there is a unity of saints where there once was a division among cultures and races. There are no distinctions made as to who is of the highest importance in the body. When we realize in a practical way that our affections are set on things above, then we will enjoy our unity in and with Him and His people. There will not be a competition as to who is more important. When Christ "is all and in all," all things to us in all situations, that is the highest possible kind of unity.
Colossians.3:1-3 “Seek those things which are above--- set your affection on things above--- Christ who is our life…” “ABOVE” – what an expansive word! There are no walls above; Christ sits on high above, There are no fences. At God’s right hand. There are no fakes above, I too, am seated there, There no pretenses. In Christ I am --
There is no night above, Accepted, free, forgiv’n, There are no fears. A child of God. There’s only light above, Above is my true home, No cause for tears. “With Christ in God.”
Above’s where I belong, “Hid”, but not in dark, Those things I seek. “Dead”, in Him I live. Things that are His are mine, “Risen”, yet still apart, All at His feet. “Seated”, still Him to serve.
My heart’s at home above, “Glory”, it shines in His face, My mind’s at rest. “Glory”, it fills all that place. My hopes are based on love, “Glory”, when He shall appear, My life is blest. “Glory”, His through ageless years.
Justice and the law had claims to be made, God is a holy God. He cannot ignore the sins I've committed and be true to His Holy Word. So publicly through three hours of light and followed by three hours of dark - The sacrificial Lamb met the law's demands, and took there the sinner's part.
Hell stepped forward to claim the souls of all those Satan had deceived. Hell wanted in the worst way possible to stop people before they believed. But right out in public before those who gathered, came the words, "Father, forgive!" The heel of the Lord bruised Satan's head, now the one who believes God, can live.
“Gracious Father in heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God: It is true that sometimes we get homesick for heaven. Our Lord and Savior is there. Our dwelling place is there. Our expectations are all on high. Our hope both sure and steadfast, are focused there. We have a lot of loved ones there. All that we really want is there although You know it doesn’t always seem like that. We love the thought of such a place to enjoy our eternal inheritance. The fellowship must be great; the music of the voices of men and angels can only be imagined. The activities will be so appropriate that it will be our great joy to serve You without the limitations we have here. We praise You for the anticipation as well as the promises that we look at when we set our affection there and not here. We want to be found looking up when the Lord comes. Amen.”