Colossians 3:1-4

Introduction: Engage the interest of the congregation

A good friend of mine named Steve was a missionary in Haiti and returned home to the United States for a short time.

While he was home, his dad had a major heart attack.

This left Steve, and the family devastated as they did not know if his dad would survive.

What made things more complicated was that shortly after Steve's dad suffered a heart attack,

Haiti experienced a major earthquake and needed assistance immediately.

Steve did not know what to do; there was a deep tension within his heart if he should go and help those suffering or leave and possibly miss his dad's last breath and even his potential funeral.

Amid his conflict, Steve went to see his dad in the hospital to explain the situation.

His dad heard his son pour out his heart, took Steve by the hand, and spoke these words to him: "son, we must be about the Father's business."

Steve's dad understood the important truth: The life of the believer means that we view things differently from the world because our lives reflect that we belong to Christ.

In today's passage, Paul exhorts his Christian brothers and sisters to understand that a new heavenly dimension has dawned at Christ's coming.

Because believers have been "raised with Christ," their new heavenly identity must significantly change their focus entirely on Christ.

Christians must focus on continually seeking and setting their minds on God's Heavenly Kingdom.

Paul addresses the important truth that conversion must always include a radical change of mind which produces a desire to leave the old life and pursue this new life in Christ.

Our new identity compels us to seek the Kingdom now and know the future Kingdom that will be fully manifested as we will share in Christ's glory.

Our new life in Christ gives Christians the ability and desire to commit themselves daily to peruse the values of the Heavenly Kingdom and live them out.

For both the Apostle Paul and Steve's dad,

they had it ingrained into their DNA that the life of the believer means that we view things differently from the world because our lives reflect that we belong to Christ.

In your Bible, today, please turn with me to Colossians 3:1-4

Paul writes, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

The first point this morning is…

I. "New identity in Christ" (V1, V3)

Paul expresses a call to action because we "have been raised with Christ," and our real "life is hidden with Christ."

As continually expressed by Paul in his letters that believers are to live their life in Christ.

It is important to realize that Christ is now the focal point.

We are to put the old way of doing things to death

because a new heavenly dimension has dawned at Christ's coming.

Paul understood that we have been raised with Christ to live by a new standard.

This involves us walking out our calling as believers.

As many here watch football, you understand that teams are always more successful when they know their identity as a team.

The New England Patriots, under Bill Belichick, as their head coach for years, had the reputation of doing things differently from the rest of the NFL.

New England would find players that other teams would pass up and develop them into great NFL players.

Also, New England will trade for players that had problems with their current team and grow them to be successful team players.

Coach Belichick would instill in his players that any bad habit they once had, needed to stop and now do things the Patriot way.

This led to great success for the New England football team. Why was this? It was because they created a culture of winning by doing things differently.

When players came to New England, they took on their identity as Patriot players and understood their role.

The Apostle Paul is addressing a church body that he is calling to come into their identity in Christ.

This means that their old way of doing things will not be done; rather, they must create new habits.

For us today, it is important to realize that our new identity in Christ involves us valuing things much differently.

We may have valued money before, but since we were raised with Christ, we value the things of the Kingdom.

The things that we value are at the forefront of our thoughts.

So then Paul addresses the importance of our new identity leading us to "seek" and set our "minds" on things that are above.

That leads me to my second point this morning…

II. "New way of thinking in Christ" (V1, V2)

What does it mean to think differently?

It means that our thoughts do not resort back to the old life we used to live when someone wrongs us.

Instead, if someone wrongs us, we think differently by praying for our enemies.

Thinking differently means that when we invest financially into the Kingdom and expect no earthly reward.

When making business deals, we think differently by conducting ourselves with integrity, even when no one is watching.

Our perspective is not on our own benefits;

our perspective is always to give God glory.

Paul exhorts believers to "seek the things that are above" and to "set your minds on things that are above.

These two parallel commands are at the heart of this paragraph. Paul grounds these two commands for those who identify with Christ in his death and resurrection.

The "things above" are Christ-centered, whereas the "earthly things" are man-centered.

Thus, being in Christ, believers see the world differently than the rest of society.

Humans are value-driven and willing to sacrifice for things they value.

If it is time or money, our values drive our discussions.

We, as believers, are compelled to be led by the Kingdom because our identity is grounded in Christ.

Everyone knows that whatever we focus on demonstrates what our heart truly loves and values.

Thus, our thoughts expose what we put priority on in our lives.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Our new identity in Christ and our treasure in his Kingdom leads us to "seek" and "set our minds on things that are above."

Paul is communicating that seeking and setting our minds on things of the kingdom is a natural process in the believer's life.

Paul understood that the evidence of salvation is that it will radically change the mind of the person who has been born again by the Spirit.

The old things that the person used to seek and set their affections on are changed by the Spirit.

Because our identity is founded in Christ,

we are called to seek and set our minds on the realities of heaven.

This means that because our thoughts are always on the things of God,

our actions will be greatly affected.

When your boss is hard to deal with,

your thoughts will not dwell on the present situation with your boss,

but rather your thoughts and focus will maintain on Christ.

You will continue with a Christ-like attitude when your kids act out in your home,

when money is tight, or whatever you are facing.

Why?

Because, you have gained a heavenly perspective because you seek things from above.

This idea of always having your thoughts on Christ seems like a good thought but unrealistic to achieve.

Remember, the person writing this is in jail and facing greater challenges than we could imagine.

Yet, Paul clearly shows how our life should always be set to seek and put our minds on the things of God.

As we seek and set our minds on things above,

we will live out our identity in Christ and be ready to see God's future glory manifest.

This leads me to my third and final point this morning:

III. New future in Christ (V4)

Verse 4 again

“When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Because our lives reflect that we belong to Christ,

we will take part in the future glory with Jesus.

When we set our thoughts on the realities of heaven,

we know that we can look to the future

and know that Christ's Kingdom will one day be fully manifested upon his return.

1 John 3:2 states,

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Because we are in Christ now, we look to the future hope that we will share in his glory.

When Christ returns, we will fully be transformed into the image of Christ.

We experience transformation now through our new identity in Christ.

However, one day what we experience in the Spirit's transformation power now will not compare to the future glory that we as believers will one day experience.

Christ's glory will fully manifest as we will be completely transformed.

So now, our new identity in Christ demonstrates a taste of this future hope of glory.

Such great news will certainly impact what we seek and set our minds on now.

Our perspective changes because our gaze is completely fixed on Christ and his Kingdom.

Our new identity in Christ compels us to bring transformation around us now because we belong to a different kingdom.

C. S. Lewis writes, "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."

Setting our sights on the realities of heaven will affect how we live today as our gaze is focused on the hope of eternal reward.

Our perspective must change in how we see the world around us.

When we see through the lens of the Kingdom,

we are more loving and compassionate with the people we encounter.

Sometimes it is hard to love people, especially if they do not value the same things as we do.

However, God has called us to love the lost because we see each person as someone created in the image of God who needs to know that they can find true belonging in Christ.

We can walk out this calling because our new identity in Christ transforms us to see things differently.

When we are Kingdom minded we treat people differently

When we are Kingdom minded every aspect of our lives is changed

Conclusion

I challenge each one here today to walk out your calling as a son or daughter belonging to Christ.

Your life is no longer to take part in the old way of doing things because you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind by the work of the Spirit.

As you leave this morning, know that your true identity is in Christ,

which will lead you to always seek and set your minds and hearts on the ways of Christ's

Kingdom as you eagerly wait for the future glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I encourage you to actively look for ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

As people of the Kingdom we must reflect Christ to the world....

The life of the believer means that we view things differently from the world because our lives reflect that we belong to Christ.