| Introduction Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch pastor and politician, famously said, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!" That is exactly what Paul is saying here. This part of the letter could be labeled The Christocentric Life. This is just another way to say that the banner JESUS IS LORD must be over all areas of our lives. I. The Whole Christocentric Life – An overview A. It is entirely based on the work of Christ, 1-4. B. It requires the putting to death attitudes, ways of thinking, and behaviors that are characteristic of a life without Christ, 5-11. 2. But even then Paul keeps on pointing out that this hard work is a work of grace, 10-11. C. It includes dressing ourselves with practical righteousness, 12-17 – again a work of grace (in the name of Christ in v. 17). D. The Christocentric life includes every relationship in life, 3:18-4:1. 1. Jesus is Lord over the husband/wife relationship, 18-19. 2. Jesus is Lord over the parent/child relationship, 20-21. 3. Jesus is Lord over the employer/employee relationship, 3:33-4:1. 4. Jesus is Lord over the relationship between brothers and sisters in the church, 3:16. II. Life Here only Works if Our Life Is Hidden in Christ, 1-4. A. FACT: the believer has been raised with Christ, 1. 1. In chpt. 2 Paul says that we don't have to follow the basic principles of the world because we have died with Christ to them, 2:20. 2. There is more to the story, however. 3. We have not only died to world in Christ, but we also have come to a new life with him in his resurrection. Rom. 6:4 – Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. a. Don't let the if in the beginning of the verse throw you for a loop. b. This is not a conditional sentence in the sense that there is any doubt that the if clause is true. c. It is logic condition – if you were raised with Christ, which you have, then whatever follows makes sense. d. That is why some Bible versions translate this clause as since you were raised with Christ. B. Less known FACT: the believer has ascended to heaven with Christ, 1-2. 1. We are instructed to seek and to keep our minds on things above on heavenly things because that's where Christ is. 2. Because we are united to Christ, where he is we are as well. Eph. 2:6 – … and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…. a. Even though we are here on this earth, our status is of people who belong in heaven. b. That's why life here can be so hard – we are called to live a heavenly life in a place that doesn't want to be reminded of heaven. C. Because we believe that the life Jesus lived was lived in our place, that the death he died was because of our sin, and that his resurrection is our newness of life, our lives are hidden in him, 3. 1. The false teachers were threatening that if the Colossians didn't follow their list of extra-biblical requirements, they would lose their status as children of God. 2. Paul says that they got it backwards. a. We do because who we are; we don't become something by our doing. b. That is implied in what he says concerning our life being hidden in Christ. 1) Throughout the Bible, the idea of being hidden in God means that one is protected. Ps. 27:5 – For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Ps. 62:7-8 – In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. 2) God is where we find protection and that protection is ultimately found in Jesus Christ – doubly hidden in Christ and in God (Paul uses God to refer the Father). D. There is also an element of that the fullness of life that we have in Christ is not fully revealed yet, there is a hiddenness to it still; but the day is coming when it will be not hidden at all, 4. 1. Paul here addresses the tension that we live in – the already and the not yet. a. In one sense we have been raised with Christ and sit in heavenly places with him, bit in another sense we are still dead and will not be made fully alive till Jesus returns and we are physically raised from the dead. b. This is the tension of this life: we have been removed from it and we continue in it. 1) Peter calls us sojourners and aliens who will not be fully at home till Christ returns. 1 Pt. 2:11-12 – Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. "There is a hope that stands the test of time, that lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave, to see the matchless beauty of a day divine when I behold His face! When sufferings cease and sorrows die, and every longing satisfied. Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul, for I am truly home. 2) This tension also explains the messiness of this life and why it gets hard at times. a) We are citizens of heaven trying to live heavenly lives in a world that hates that. b) But also, there is the not yet of remaining sin that causes tension in our obedience to Jesus – Rom. 7. 2. But he also encourages us to look forward to the final deliverance – this is not all there is. "The world which persecutes, despises, ignores now, will then be blinded with the dazzling glory of the revelation [of Jesus]." J.B. Lightfoot 1 Jn. 3:1-2 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. E. Now that we know that what the false teachers have to offer are only empty promises, let's see what Christ wants us to do. III. Two Actions That Flow from Whom We Are in Christ: Seek and Set, 1-2. A. These two commands (call to action) will shape the rest of the letter. 1. Putting sin to death, clothing ourselves with righteousness, family, church and societal relationships will be part of seeking and setting. 2. Also notice that these two actions involve doing and thinking. a. It is as if Paul started by saying that we are to act as citizens of heaven, but then quickly adds that we must also think as citizens of heaven. "You must only seek heaven; you must also think heaven." J.B. Lightfoot b. As we think of these two commands, let's keep in mind that they flow from whom we are in Christ instead of making us to be something in Christ. "… we are to make that heavenly status the guidepost for all our thinking and acting." Douglas Moo B. Seek those things which are above. 1. Things consistent with the life to come, righteous things – things above = heavenly things, things consistent with the character of God. 2. Several things about this seeking. a. It is a constant seeking – present active imperative. b. It is an active seeking. 1) We don't sit around and if something comes up in our radar then we go for it. 2) We pursue righteousness. a) It means we try to find out we are supposed to do in the Bible. b) It means we learn to like what God likes. C. Set your mind on things above. 1. There is a repetition of the things above, but with increased intensity. 2. Not only do the things consistent with the character of God, but also think in a way consistently with the character of God. 3. The things above are concrete things like the ones described in 12-16. 4. Thinking right thoughts is an immensely important part of following Christ. Rom. 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. D. Do not set your minds on things on the earth, 2. 1. These are not necessarily bad things. 2. This exhortation is to not make the things of this life of ultimate importance. 3. The idea here is that sometimes we look at this life as all that there is, even as Christians. a. So we fret and worry and despair. b. Christ has freed us from that. 4. Paul here echoes what our Lord taught on the Sermon on the Mount. Mt. 6:33-34 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Mt. 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 5. How are we holding on this life? a. With a tight fist hoping that we get all kinds of blessings from life itself? That leads to despair. b. Or with open hands as a thank offering to the Lord? Lk. 9:24 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. E. When we seek and set our minds on things above because of who we are in Christ, we are ready to start living out the put offs and put ons of the following verses. "These four verses, then, point to the believer's union with Christ as the root principle of the whole Christian life. It is the point of departure and the source of power for all that he does." Curtis Vaughn We are united with Christ. We died with him. We have been raised with him. We ascended into the heavens with him. Because of that, we seek what is heavenly and we think what is heavenly. We are of no earthly good if we are not completely heavenly minded. As we conclude, listen to Paul's own expansion of what he means in 3:1-2. Phil 3:12-21 – Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
This is who we are. Citizens of heaven who eagerly wait for the return of our King!
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