Lesson ▪ 2013 Tags: Colossians 3:1-4; Identification with Christ; Sanctification; Thinking; Christian life Related Resources: Identification with Christ (6:1-14) ▪ Dominant Themes of the Epistle to the Philippians ▪ Progressive Sanctification ▪ Commitment to Holiness Text (ESV)1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. IntroductionColossians is essentially divided into two halves. The first half, consisting of chapters 1-2, is a doctrinal section. The start of chapter 3 signals the beginning of the second half, which focuses more on practical Christian living. The “verb river” graphic below, generated from Logos Bible Software, shows the distribution of imperative-mood verbs throughout the book of Colossians. Note that imperatives are almost absent from the first two chapters, but occur regularly in chapters 3-4. [Click image to enlarge] AnalysisIn verses 1-4 Paul gives two commands—to seek and to focus. Furthermore, the Colossian believers are to take these actions because of the reality of their identification with Christ. The first half of verse 1 illustrates the theme well: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above . . . .”The practical expressions of spiritual mentality—the believer’s acts of seeking and focusing—are to find their root in the spiritual reality of what God has done for him or her. Therefore, in studying this text, we will focus first on understanding our identification with Christ, and then proceed to learn about the mental disciplines that naturally follow. Spiritual Reality: The Believer’s Identification with ChristAlready in Colossians Paul has alluded to resurrection with Christ (2:12) and death with Christ (2:20). Now, in verses 1 and 3, he refers to these realities as the basis for distinctively Christian living. The most extensive discussion of these concepts in the New Testament is found in Romans 6. Through identification with Christ, the believer not only participates with Christ in his death and resurrection, but also in his seating at God’s right hand and in his future appearing.
Christ is said to be seated at God’s right hand (v. 1), and since the believer’s life is hidden in Christ with God, it is implied that the believer is there. This is made explicit in Ephesians 2:6. We look forward to Christ’s end-time appearing (or revelation). This will be a time of reward for faithful service (1 Peter 5:4), so we are urged to remain in God/Christ (1 John 2:28) until that time. Not only will Christ be appear (be revealed), but we will also appear (be revealed) with him (1 John 3:2). Romans 8:18-19, 23 convey essentially the same idea, but use apokalypto‾/apokalypsis rather than phaneroo‾. As we transition to talk about spiritual mentality, let us remember that we are called to godly thinking and living because of the reality of who we are in Christ. Spiritual Mentality: The Believer’s Focus on Things That Are aboveVerses 1-2 contain two imperative verbs—two directives for Christians to follow. Essentially, we are to seek and set our minds on a category of things that are said to be above. A little later in the lesson we will talk about what Paul means when he refers to “things that are above.” Right now we will look at the two directives. Two ImperativesThe two imperatives translate present-tense Greek verbs. The NET Bible conveys the sense:
SeekWhat does it mean to seek something? It has to do with spending energy to find, achieve, attain, or obtain something. Below are examples of things that people may seek. All of the texts in parentheses use the verb ze‾teo‾, which verse 1 renders as “seek.”
Set Your MindsWhat does it mean to set our minds on something? Below are examples of things that people may have as their mental focus. All of the texts in parentheses use the verb phroneo‾, which appears as “set your minds” in verse 2.
It’s essential to seek and focus on the right things because we tend to achieve the things for which we aim. Right thinking leads to right behavior. Things That Are aboveAs noted before, we are to focus on “the things that are above” (ta ano‾). How are we to understand Paul’s use of this phrase?
Works CitedGeisler, Norman L. “Colossians.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty. Ed. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. New Testament ed. [Wheaton, IL]: Victor, 1983. 667-86. Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998. |
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