Looking Up and Ahead (Col. 3:1-4)

This sermon was preached on 30/1/2011

In a previous passage, Colossians 2:11-12, Paul reminded the Colossians that they had been united with Christ when he died and when he rose from the dead. The doctrine of union with Christ is a key doctrine in the Bible and if we grasp it we will understand many other doctrines. The doctrine has both representational and practical aspects. Obviously, a great percentage of his people did not exist when Jesus died and rose again (they had not yet been born), so what he did for his people then was representational, performed on their behalf. Probably some of the Colossians had been alive when Jesus died and rose from the dead, yet since they were not yet believers Jesus’ work on their behalf was also representational. Sinners enter into the consequences of his representative work when they believe in him.

Following on from these verses, Paul refers to several consequences of the death of Christ, the main thrust of his references being the liberty that the atoning death of Jesus brought to his people. Their sins are paid for (nailed to the cross), they are forgiven, they are delivered from bondage to evil powers, and they are above enslavement to legalistic religion. In 2:16-23, Paul explains to them what Christian freedom involves.

In 3:1-4, Paul moves to the implications of practical union with the risen Christ. He gives a summary of what such practical union is before developing various consequences in more detail (3:5ff), which we will consider on Thursday evenings during February and March. The summary can be itemised as follows: (1) the secret of Christian living, (2) the strategy for Christian living, (3) the security of Christian living, and (4) the sequel to Christian living.

1. The secret of Christian living

Normally, when individuals are eager for an achievement, they have an inner incentive which spurs them on. Some may engage in noble pursuits because they want to enhance their family name. Others may even give their lives because they love their country. There are many possible secret motives for a person’s outward actions.

What is it that makes Christians behave in particular ways? Paul is concerned about the behaviour of the Christians in Colosse and knows that different arguments are being used to influence them to behave in certain ways. These options are detailed in 2:16-23, and the motives for such lifestyle choices are also stated. Paul knew that these options were wrong, but he also knew that the Colossians had to have secret incentives that would produce right living.

The only incentive that Paul would suggest was union with Christ. Paul wants the Colossians to consider a whole Christ, not a partial one. He has already referred to the motives and benefits that come from thinking about the Saviour’s death, but he knows that other aspects of the Saviour’s work must also be areas of focus. So he reminds the Colossians of another three features of Jesus – his resurrection, his exaltation (seated at the right hand of God), and his return.

We know some things about Jesus that others cannot see. This was the case with the deeper significance of what occurred at the cross (many saw a crucified victim, but saw nothing else; we have never seen his crucified body, but we know that he performed great achievements while he was crucified), and it is the case with what has happened to Jesus since then. We don’t know about them because we have seen them, but because we experience the consequences of them. We have not seen Jesus risen, we have not seen him exalted, and his return has not yet happened. Yet each of these aspects affects us, and should affect us all the time.

As an illustration, imagine a person living in an obscure village who has a relative in an important government position in the capital city. The person in the village may not have seen the office in which the relative works, but he experiences his power in two ways. First, he experiences his power generally because the decisions the government minister makes affects everyone. Second, he experiences his power graciously because the minister has a family bond with him. In a similar but greater way, every Christian has this twofold link with Jesus – and the knowledge of this link is the secret that every Christian possesses for living the Christian life.

2. The strategy for the Christian life

Since the believer knows what others cannot see, he is able to live a different way and have alternative priorities to others. This way of life Paul describes as seeking the things that are above and setting one’s mind on them rather than on the things of the earth. So the strategy for the Christian life is heavenly mindedness.

The things that are above are contrasted with the things of earth in the following sections of Paul’s letter. They include heavenly attire (sin and holiness are likened to two different wardrobes in 3:5-14), heavenly amity (peace and gratitude in 3:15), heavenly anthems (what we should sing and how we should sing in 3:16) and heavenly aspirations (all our actions and how we should do them). It is noteworthy the place that thanksgiving has in living the heavenly life.

We are used to going elsewhere to obtain things. The strategy for the Christian life is to go to heaven for our adornment, go to heaven for our inner experiences, go to heaven for our celebration songs, and go to heaven for our motives in performing actions. All these provisions can only come from heaven, from where Jesus is. Our strategy must be to go there continually in order to always have fresh attire, fresh peace, fresh expressions of praise, and fresh motives for Christian living.

We don’t have to travel far to get them, because after all we are united to Jesus in heaven. The same link that unites us to him is the conveyor belt by which they are sent to us from him. That link is the Holy Spirit, and he can convey these blessings immediately, increasingly, and endlessly.

3. The security of the Christian life

Paul then reminds the Colossians of their twofold security – they are hid in Christ and in God. His words remind us of Jesus’ twofold description of the safety of believers when he said that no-one could take his sheep out of his hand or out of his Father’s hand (John 10:28-29).

Who is it hidden from? It is hidden from physical opponents (remember that many Christians suffer martyrdom), but their attacks do not affect the real life of believers. It is hidden from their spiritual opponents: the devil cannot find it and therefore he is not able even to attempt to destroy it; death itself cannot find it and instead of being an attack by a ruthless antagonist death becomes the door through which believers enter into an higher form of spiritual life.

Where is it hidden? It is hidden in heaven, with the Father and the Son on the divine throne. Remember the picture in Revelation of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. That is what and where our hidden life is. Our spiritual life comes from God and cannot be stifled. Although it is hidden, it flows to us because we are united to Christ. And so their life is secure.

4. The sequel of the Christian life

Having reminded the Colossians of the current benefits of their union with Jesus, he then leads them to look ahead to what will happen to them in the future because of their union with the Saviour. They will appear with him in glory. Glory is a description of the location and the state of their future existence.

Notice how Paul phrases his sentence. He points out that now Jesus is our life, which means that he is the secret source the strategy and the security we have thought about. Life shows itself in different ways, and the way that the life of Jesus will reveal itself in his people in the future is in glory.

Of course, Jesus already lives in glory as well as being glorified. It will be wonderful to see him as he is, but what will be truly amazing is that all his people will be like him, because they also will then live in glory and be glorified. It will be obvious on that day who the source of the believer’s life is – Jesus. Today, people are puzzled as to how Christians can keep going through troubles, difficulties, persecutions, harassments, spiritual obstacles and other adverse situations. The answer is that they keep going because Jesus enables them.

In a sense, we can also ask how believers will have the energy to live in glory, because glory can be overpowering. Remember the response of the three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration – they fell asleep. The reason may have been tiredness, yet it is also possible that their physical frames were not yet ready to live in glory. We will need strength to live in the future environment, and we will be enabled to do so by Jesus. He will always be the Life of his people.

‘To appear with Christ in glory’ is a reminder of our eternal company. The One we will all be with is Jesus, and because each believer is united to him they will all be with one another.

‘To appear with Christ in glory’ is a reminder of our eternal dignity. In this world, Jesus humbled himself in order to be with us; in the eternal world, he will exalt us in order to be with him. While never arising as high as Jesus, we will share with him in the benefits of his status as the heir of all things.

‘To appear with Christ in glory’ is a reminder of our endless consolation. No matter what happens to us, our destiny is to be with him. Nothing can prevent it taking place, nothing can separate his people from being with him for ever. His eternal presence will make up for the disappointments of time.

‘To appear with Christ in glory’ is a reminder of our earthly priority. While we cannot in this life attain to perfection, it is our duty and it should be our goal to be as like him as possible. This takes us back to what our strategy should be. In a sentence, our aim should be to get as much out of heaven now before we go there to enjoy its fullness. We should aim to please Jesus all the time.

‘To appear with Christ in glory’ is a reminder of the centrality of Christ. One’s goal defines one’s present behaviour. Since the centrality of Jesus is our goal, the centrality of Jesus must be the focus of our behaviour.

Union with Jesus our representative when he was on the cross and when he rose again is wonderful. Practical union with Jesus is life-changing in the present and will continue to transform us after he returns and brings us into his glorified presence for ever.