Live as One Who is Risen!

The epistle to the church in Colossae was written by Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome around 62 AD. It is believed to be a letter of response to the news that were brought to him by Epaphras, the church founder, who came to Rome in order to inform Paul of potential troubles facing the church. Several dangerous heresies seemed to start creeping into the church which were meant to break the faith of believers. From the letter we can determine that these false doctrines, which originated from other religions, suggested that Christ cannot be a self-sufficient pathway to salvation. Knowledge, ‘special visions’, worship of angels, observation of festivals, self-abasement, etc. were just few of proposed deeds that were required in order to receive salvation and continue in spiritual growth.

The first two chapters of his letter Paul uses to remind the saints in Colossae of the One in whom they put their faith. After reiterating them the gospel through which they believed he strongly warns them from falling into empty deception. He defeats every attempt to overshadow Christ and calls Colossians to remember their position.

Our text today, Colossians 3:1-4, acts as a bridge between the doctrinal foundation of faith and the practical instructions which follow through the rest of the epistle. The two are completely united. One cannot exist without the other. In this passage Paul summarizes the amazing phenomenon of spiritual life, death, and resurrection of a Christian and how it resembles the one of Christ. He calls believers to live their lives according to this change.

Prior to his conversion a Christian lived the life that is dead to God (2:13; Eph 2:1), but at the same time he was well alive and thriving with respect to sin. The physical death of Christ, His burial, and resurrection perfectly reflect the spiritual reality of a change in the life of a Christian. Through faith at the conversion man dies to sin (3:3; Rom 6:2), but is resurrected to righteousness as well as newness of life in which he is called to walk.

The life that is given to us belongs to Christ. In fact it is so tightly united and identified with Christ that Paul calls Christ - our life (3:4). If the life that we live belongs to Christ we must live like Christ. We should have thoughts of Christ, desires, motivations and passions of Christ.

In light of this truth Paul calls us to keep seeking the things above. Instead of being occupied by the elementary principles of the world (2:20), we must focus on the spiritual values that characterize Christ. The two commands are to seek and to set the mind. For the man to have proper orientation of his will he must set his mind on it. He must meditate on the things above in order for him to act accordingly.

In verse 4 Paul encourages the saints with a promise. The completion of this earthly life comes with an unfathomable reward. There is absolutely nothing greater to look forward to than to the moment when we will join Christ in heaven in our glorified bodies and be with Him forever.