"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth."
Colossians 3:1-2
Part 1
Today: The Great Change at Salvation
As each new believer comes through the New Birth and is placed into God’s family, he/she will begin to notice that things are different in their life. Some of the old appetites start to drop away. There is a new hunger for the sincere milk of God’s Word. Many things that used to hold them spellbound in the world have lost their luster. There is a new desire to be with God’s children. And in many more ways, the new believers change, as he/she grows up. They are determined to live for Jesus Christ!
The sad fact is that over time many a believer has found themselves thinking, living, and acting in ways that do not glorify the Lord Jesus. How can this happen when they started so well? In our verses, Paul talks about “setting affections.” This has to do with making wise choices as to what the believer likes and wants.
“If ye then be risen with Christ.” [1]
Paul is here referring to the picture of baptism that he began in chapter two. Before our relationship with Jesus Christ, we were lost in this world, just like every other sinner. We are pictured with Christ as dead in the world. He died at Calvary, and we were born dead in our sin.
“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances” (Colossians 2:20).
But then the miraculous happens, we are raised up with Jesus!
“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
When Jesus was raised from the dead,[2] in the picture, so was every sinner that is saved by grace. We arose with Jesus. Being risen with Christ, we no longer live in the grave. That changes everything for us, and we no longer live by what appealed to us when we were dead in sin!
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2).
“Seek those things which are above.”
Believers, if we have this testimony that we were raised from the dead with Jesus, our affections change significantly. If it were not for the fact that we “were raised with Christ,” it would be impossible for us to “seek those things which are above.” One who has not been born again cannot seek after heavenly things. After this transition to life, we are changed. Now we don’t pursue the world’s appetites and pleasures, but we “look above” for what appeals to us now.
“The things that are above.”
“The upward things…,
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
the treasure in heaven….” (Robertson).
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20).
Jesus’ value system is the opposite of the world’s. The obedient believer knows this and follows Christ’s way. Jesus calls us to a life of giving, of laying our treasures above. He changes our selfishness into generosity.
Why do we seek things that are above? Come back tomorrow and let’s talk more. See you then!
Quote: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
[1] In the Greek text, this is a first-class condition. It is assumed to be true for the sake of argument. Paul believed he is writing to believers at Colossi for the sake of argument. These words are meant for believers, “If ye then be risen with Christ, then…”
[2] “This word gives Paul’s vivid picture of baptism as a symbolic burial with Christ and resurrection also to newness of life in him as Paul shows by the addition “wherein ye were also raised with him.” A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. Colossians 2:12.