“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
Isn’t it amazing when we hear someone say something exceptionally profound it makes such an impression on us that it sticks in our minds forever. (Well, maybe that doesn’t happen to you but it happens to normal people like me J.) Anyway, I remember way back in 1984 one of my former bible professors, James Bury, said, “In Colossians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul commands Christians to become what they are”. What?! What kind of speech is that anyway? Paradox? Sarcasm? Ozymoron? Misnomer? Surely it’s not a verisimilitude or a bildungsroman? How can we become what we are? What in tarnation does it mean?
These former pagans in Colossae have put on Christ in baptism and were raised up to a new life (Colossians 2:12; 3:1). They are like a young boy who puts on his new ball team’s uniform and seems to play better! When we put on Christ in baptism we see ourselves in a different light. We are different – we’re better. Paul is helping the Colossians keep their focus on Jesus AND grow up to become mature Christians. He instructs them to become what they are. They are disciples of Jesus so they need to imitate their teacher in word, thought and deed. Love like Jesus. Be holy like Jesus. Seek to serve rather than be served like the Suffering Servant Himself.
Submit to Jesus as Lord and the Holy Spirit will help you become more like Jesus. In other words, grow up and become what you are: SAVED SOULS FOR FUTURE GLORY WITH GOD IN HEAVEN.
Read Colossians 3:1-17. Then listen to Become Who You Are by Mainstay. After that be committed to grow like a weed to become what you are.
Colossians 3:1-17
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.