Title: The life that Christians should pursue
Contents
Text: Colossians 3:1~4
Title: The life that Christians should pursue
Colossians chapters 1 and 2 deal with the supremacy of Christ and the dangers of heresy as a doctrine part, and chapters 3 and 4 deal with how Christians should live in practice.
Also, verses 3:1~17, which the text belongs to, show how Paul's union with Christ is applied to the Colossians in their lives.
In particular, the text emphasizes that the saints who have been united with Christ must now live a life that seeks the above.
The region of Colossae, not far from Laodicea in Asia Minor, was inhabited mainly by Phrygian-born Gentiles, who were very emotional and mystical.
In this context, Paul explains who Christ is and declares to the church in Colossae, "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above."
Now, through the text, we will look at what life Christians should pursue.
First, you need to find the above.
The word “therefore” in verse 1 is closely related to the content of the first part (2:10-23). In particular, it means “because he died to the vain worldly elementary studies” in verse 20.
In other words, Paul tells us to seek the things above, because the elementary sciences of the world, which have no conscience with God, that is, to follow the commands and teachings of men, are not only worthless, but because you were already crucified with Christ and you were raised with Christ. that's what you're talking about
Then what is above?
The above refers to things that belong to the kingdom of heaven.
Looking at Philippians 3:20-21, the above can be said to be the life and glory in the ascended Christ. And in Matthew 6:33, the above are described as the kingdom and righteousness of God.
Why should Christians who have been raised with Christ seek the above?
Verse 1 says there because Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
In other words, the kingdom of Han is the place where Christ is, and since it is the place where Christians have to go after the end of this world, we must find the things above.
Also, the reason why Christians must seek the above is that eternal and perfect life is hidden in God in heaven with Christ as our life.
Dear saints!
If we have been raised with Christ, let us seek the above.
Then when Christ, who is our life, appears, we too will appear in glory. Please believe in these facts.
Second, we must think of things above and not things on earth.
This verse contrasts “things above” and “things on earth” and “think” and “don’t think”, emphasizing the words to seek the things above in verse 1.
Above means, in a word, life and glory in the triumphant Christ.
And to think means to have attachment, which means to have fun.
That is, to “consider the things above” means to ask and think without ceasing with a heart that rejoices in the life and glory that are in Christ.
On the other hand, earthly things are in contrast to above things, meaning anything that has nothing to do with God or things that belong to God.
“Think not of earthly things” refers to the idealism, vain hypocrisy, formalism, angel worship, and elementary studies pursued by the heretics of Colossae at that time. In other words, don't make the purpose of your life to be anything that gets in the way of finding things above.
Regarding this, in Matthew 6:33, the Lord is teaching us to prioritize the lives of Christians by telling us to seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God, which are above all these things that are on earth.
Third, why should we think of things above and not things on earth?
In verse 3, Paul explains, “For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” This means that we are dead to earthly things, and life, our eternal hope, is hid with Christ in God.
Here, “your life” means the true life of the new man who was raised with Christ by the death of the old man with Christ.
Also, the word “dead” refers to a fact that has already been decided in the past, and the word “hidden” means to hide it in the present.
In other words, Christians should not think of things above and not of things on earth, because they have already died definitively to the old man and have been raised up in Christ, but are hidden in God until the second coming of Christ, when they will fully receive their life.
What are the promises given when we live a life that thinks about things above and not things on earth?
Verse 4 tells us that when Christ, who is our life, appears, then we Christians will also appear with Christ in glory. This is a wonderful word of hope for us Christians.
The life hidden in God with Christ in verse 3 will now be revealed at the time of the Lord's glorious second coming, and we Christians will also enjoy it with Christ.
conclusion
A French soldier had an operation on the battlefield after he had a bullet in his chest.
He said, “Look deeper. Deep in my heart is my beloved country.” There is also a poem by the famous poet Browning: “If you look into my heart, there is a name engraved in my heart, and that name is my homeland.”
In this way, people think deeply about what they love and pursue, and their life is determined by what they think about.
But the coming Word emphasizes that we should think about things above and not things on earth.
Dear saints,
Paul clearly declares that the life that Christians should pursue is to think of things above and not things on earth.
Have you died with Christ and raised with Christ?
So, let's think about the above.
As the French soldier and poet Browning confessed, let us confess that our heart is filled with the life and glory of Christ only by thinking of the above, that is, Christ as our life.
So, when Christ, who is our life, appears, I hope that you will become victorious believers with a glorious resurrection and eternal life.