Colossians 3:1-4

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Christian Life

• If (since)

• The resurrection.

• Proof of our acceptance of Christ’s death and His acceptance of us (Romans 4:24-25)
• Pattern of our holy life (Romans 6:4)
• Power for Christian character and service (Ephesians 1:18-20)
• Promise of our own physical resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
• Pledge of our life hereafter (John 14:19)

In baptism the Christian dies and rises to new life

• Death had no hold on Christ after his resurrection

If that’s true, there must be a difference! Must choose.

• Active concentration (seek)
• Permanent attitude (set)
• Where is the difference? Thoughts, concerns
• No trivialities—eternal verities (truths)
• Doesn’t mean monastery—no interaction with the world
• Means doing all the normal mundane activities with guidelines from the Word
• Does mean all is seen in light of eternity

• Different background
• Blacklight

Will go on doing work in the world, but in a new way

• Giving—getting
• Serving—ruling
• Forgiving—avenging
• Sees eternal—sees temporal

Ye are dead.

Hidden with Christ in God

• Death = “hidden in the earth”
  Baptism = “hidden in Christ”
• Apocrypha = hidden books = hidden knowledge
  Apocrypteia = hidden knowledge is in Christ
• Life is hidden

• The world cannot understand or know the life of a Christian
• We cannot expect the world to understand
• Contrast with James 4:14

• Temporal life vanishes
• Eternal life cannot be touched

When Christ shall appear

• Who is the Christ – Messiah, deliverer
• Where is He now – hidden in heaven
• How did He get there – the ascension
• Why is He there – His time is not yet come
• What is He doing there

• Preparing for the saints
• Praying for the saints
• Preparing for His return

How will He return – in glory

• Revelation 19:11-16
• His majesty will be evident
• His train will be following (Ephesians 4:8) – trophies of His victory

What will happen when He returns

• Beast and false prophet cast in Lake of Fire
• All kings of the earth and armies killed – fowls filled with flesh
• Ye (we) shall appear also

Then shall ye also appear

• Where are ye (we) now – hidden in Christ
• Why are ye (we) there – we are dead in Christ

• And risen with Him

How did ye (we) get there – through faith, by grace

What are ye (we) doing there

• Seeking heavenly things
• Thinking heavenly ways

How will ye (we) appear

• What authority
• What presence

Who is our life

• Physically

• Created us – John 1:1-4
• Sustains us – Colossians 1:16-17

Spiritually

• Saved us – Ephesians 2:1, John 11:25, 1 John 5:11
• Keeps us
• Directs us – John 1:4

Thoughts

• Important areas of life:

• Jobs (food and raiment) – if we have food and clothing, then be content
• Family

• Marriage
• Children

House

Money

Time

Self-gratification

Things – cars, jewelry, computers, stereos

Christ IS Life – Luke 17:32