If You Be Risen With Christ

Intro: Today is the first Sunday of 2025. As such, Today is a great time to reflect on the year that we came out of and it is a good time to look forward into the year that is now beginning. It is also a good time for God’s people to take inventory of their walk with the Lord.

We should take a very close look at where we are in our relationship with Him. We need to examine ourselves and see where we have been, where we are and where the Lord wants us to be. As we get back into the book of Colossians, this passage gives us the opportunity and the challenge to do just that.

Colossians 3:1–4 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Today contextually we are leaving the doctrinal part of Colossians and entering into the duty or practical part of Colossians.

So as we open these verses today, I want to show you that God has a plan for your life; that He wants certain things from your life; and that He has the right to demand these things from your life.

Notice the challenges contained in these verses as I preach on the thought An Old Challenge For A New Year.

Colossians 3:1 (KJV 1900)

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Before we begin lets remember the doctrine.

CHRIST is Preeminent!

THE MESSAGE OF COLOSSIANS affirms the believer’s perfect completion in Christ (1:28).

Colossians 1:28 (KJV 1900)

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Paul stressed the deity of Jesus against those who attacked the Person of Christ with “philosophy and empty deceit” (2:8, 9).

Colossians 2:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Accepting the fullness of Christ as God allows believers to come to fullness of life in Him (2:10).

Colossians 2:10 (KJV 1900)

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

So, if we are presented perfect in Christ, and Christ is the fulness of the Godhead, and we are complete in Christ because He is sufficient, then we need to be doing something,

Amen?

We need

RETAIN SOME THINGS

Colossians 3:1–2 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Paul is telling us that there are a couple of precious spiritual possessions we would do well to hang on to.

An Awareness Of Our Foundation—

Colossians 3:1 (KJV 1900)

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Paul tells us that we are “risen with Christ”.

The word “if” is not a statement of possibility, it a declaration of a spiritual reality.

Paul is saying, “Since you are risen with Christ …”

Paul is discussing our spiritual position!

When Jesus Christ died on Calvary, every person who would ever place their faith in Him also died that day, Gal. 2:20 ; Rom. 6:1–11

Galatians 2:20 (KJV 1900)

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:1–11 (KJV 1900)

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In a spiritual sense, we died to the penalty and the power of sin when Jesus died on the cross. Because I am dead, I do not have worry about being punished for my sins. The price has been paid and I have already died, Rom. 6:23.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because I have died with Christ, I have also been liberated from the power of sin in my life, Rom. 6:14.

Romans 6:14 KJV 1900

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

There is a sense in which every child of God is dead! They are dead to sin, Col. 2:20.

Colossians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 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,

In this verse, Paul reminds us that we have also been raised up with Jesus. When He died, we died. When He rose from the dead, we rose from the dead as well! When He got up, every person who would ever believe in Him got up as well!

We must never forget that we are dead to sin and alive to a new life in Jesus!

This knowledge will help us live clean and close for the glory of God.

An Attention To Our Focus—

Colossians 3:1 (KJV 1900)

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Since we have been raised to a new life in Jesus, we are told to “seek those things which are above”.

The verb “seek” is in the Present Tense, Imperative Mode.

In other words, we are told to “continually be seeking those things which are above”.

Verse 2 builds on that thought by telling us to

Colossians 3:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

“set”

our “affections on things above, not on things on the earth”.

The word “affections” refers to the “mind”.

We are told here to focus our thoughts on heavenly things not earthly things.

We are to set our minds on the things of God and on the things that bring glory to Him.

A quick look at some of the verses following this verse give a little insight into what Paul is talking about here.

We are to pursue:

Colossians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

A deeper knowledge of Jesus, 3:10

Colossians 3:5–9 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

A clean, holy life, 3:5–9

Colossians 3:12–17 (KJV 1900)

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Godly virtues, 3:12–17

Holiness in our domestic life, 3:18–21

Holiness in our social life, 3:22–4:1

An effective prayer life—4:2

A fruitful witness—4:3–6

In other words, we are to live like Jesus lived, 1 John 2:6.

1 John 2:6 (KJV 1900)

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We are to live out the fruit of the Spirit on our lives day by day, Gal. 5:22–23.

We are challenged to live out our lives with genuine spiritual values, and not the values of a fallen world. As we give our attention to these spiritual, heavenly things, we are enabled to live a heavenly, holy, God-honoring life in this world.

We are to allow a heavenly perspective to govern our earthily walk!

Every decision, every activity, every plan and purpose is to be considered in the light of eternity. Everything is to be laid out before the Lord and considered not from an earthly, sensual perspective, but from the viewpoint of Heaven. God’s people are called upon to become heavenly minded. This is possible because of our Lord’s presence in Heaven. From His place at the Father’s right hand, Jesus makes intercession for us and He gives us all that we need to live for Him in this world, Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:31–34 .

As we prepare to live through another Year, may the Lord help us to realize who we are and what we have in Jesus.

May that realization change our walk for His glory!

Have you retained who you are and what you have? Hold on to this tight!

Now that this is lodged in us and we have a foundation, lets

RELEASE SOME THINGS

In our spiritual lives, Some things have to be let go! There are some things that try to attach themselves to our lives that are just plain trash. Those things need to be kicked to the curb! Other things simply don’t have a place in our lives and those things need to be let go.

Paul tells us in verse 2 that we are to focus our thoughts on Heavenly things. While we do that, we are to avoid getting caught up in all the things in this world that would swamp our minds and hinder our walk. If we allowed the mind to focus on this world, it would have no time to give itself to the things of God.

Here in Colossians, Paul mentions some dangerous distractions that would hinder our walk if they were allowed to. Let me show you what he says we need to avoid.

False Doctrine—

Colossians 2:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul warns these early believers about those who would carry them off into false doctrinal beliefs.

The word “spoil” means “to carry off the booty; to carry someone off as a captive”.

The enemy would love nothing better than for God’s people to get themselves trapped in some false system of belief that takes the emphasis off Jesus. He tells us that the enemy does thin through:

Philosophies—This refers to wisdom of men. Man has invented some strange belief systems over the years, and every single manmade belief system is at variance with Jesus Christ. If what a person teaches is not backed up by the Word of God; that system is to be avoided by the believer.

Vain Deceit—This phrase means “empty tricks”. It refers to those who deceive through trickery or through a slick message. Again, if the message is not Jesus it is not of God. If the focus is not on Jesus and His shed blood, it is not of God!

Traditions of Men—Believer are warned to be careful of long held beliefs. Just because people have believed something to be true and have been taught that something is true, does not make it true! We are not to base our faith and our walk on the traditions of men, no matter how godly or worthy of respect the man may be. We are to base our belief system on the Word of God alone!

The Rudiments of the World—Again, believers are warned against falling away from a mature faith to accept a simplistic doctrine. This phrase refers to an alphabet, or things in a row. It speaks of simple things in contrast to deeper truth. We are to stay with the Bible and try every teaching against the clear Word of God.

(Ill. If you listen to certain high profile preachers in our day, you hear the very things Paul warned the Colossians about being taught in the pulpits of our day. We are to avoid false doctrine at all costs. We are to run from it, regardless of the package in which it is presented.)

B. 2:16–17, 21–23

Foolish Demands—

Colossians 2:16–17 KJV 1900

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:21–23 KJV 1900

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Paul also warns believers to watch out for people who would place them back under the Law. Jesus came to deliver us from legalism and from the harsh, impossible demands of the Law. Christians are to stand in the liberty they have been given in Jesus Christ. Paul is telling these believers that “no man has the right to be their judge”.

If they have been saved by Jesus, they have been delivered from the demands of the Law and they enjoy great liberty in Jesus.

The only reason that liberty should be limited is for the sake of a weaker brother or sister, Rom. 14–15; 1 Cor. 8–10.

The whole point of these verses is this: true spirituality does not consist in the keeping of manmade, external rules; but in a personal, faith relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

What you do or do not do is not what makes you a spiritual person.

Spirituality comes from knowing Jesus and allowing Him to live through you!

Fleshly Deeds—

In these verses, Paul lists several common sins of the flesh and admonishes believers to eliminate them from their lives.

Let’s take a quick look at these verses and what they forbid.

Colossians 3:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

v. 5 Fornication—This word is translated from a Greek word that refers to any type of sexual expression. Paul is telling us that any sexual activity that takes place outside the confines of a marriage relationship is a sin and must be put away from our lives.

v. 5 Uncleanness—This word means “impurity” and it looks beyond the acts of the body into the very thoughts of the minds and the motives of the heart. Not only is the outward man supposed to be clean, so is the heart and the mind!

v. 5 Inordinate Affection—This speaks of “wicked passions”. It has the idea of lust for forbidden things. God has marked certain things as being off limits; this kind of lust seeks out those things and longs for them.

v. 5 Evil Concupiscence—This means “evil desires”. It speaks of a mind that longs for forbidden things. The person with this kind of mind mat never commit evil on a physical level, but they live in a fantasy world where their most wicked thoughts are acted out in the heart and mind.

v. 5 Covetousness—This word means “to have more”. It refers to the insatiable desire to possess more than one has been given by God. It is a refusal to accept what you have as the gift of God. It is the placing of things ahead of God and of His will for your life. That is why it is called “idolatry”.

Colossians 3:8 KJV 1900

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

v. 8 Anger—This word refers to a deep, smoldering, bitterness. It is an anger that dwells in the heart and makes the angry person hard to deal with. The angry person will tend to lash out in both words and deeds.

v. 8 Wrath—This word refers to anger that boils over. It speaks of sudden, explosive outbursts of anger.

v. 8 Malice—This is anger mixed with a desire to do harm to the focus of the anger. When malice is involved, the angry person strikes out to do damage to another person.

v. 8 Blaspheme—The word literally means “to slander”. It can refer to slanders directed at God or at other people. We slander others when we insult and belittle others. This happens in gossip and when we put others down behind their backs.

v. 8 Filthy Communication—This refers to “abusive speech”. It speaks of words that are thrown around in an attempt to hurt and wound someone. This usually happens when people say things they should not say in a moment of anger!

Colossians 3:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

v. 9 Lying—When we lie to one another, we are using the tool and tactic of the devil, John 8:44.

John 8:44 KJV 1900

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

This characteristic has no place in the life of a child of God!)

(Ill. If any of these things are in your life, they need to be out away! They will hinder your walk with God and cripple you spiritually!

How can we be victorious over the sin in our lives?

One step we can take is to starve the fleshly appetites.

Do not feed the anger.

Do not feed the lust.

Second, we can overcome by crowding it out. We can so fill our lives with positive things that evil has no room to flourish.

When we fill ourselves with the things of God, Phil 4:8

Philippians 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

, and the Word of God, Col. 3:16,

Colossians 3:16 (KJV 1900)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

sin cannot gain a foothold in our hearts.)

REMEMBER SOME THINGS

These last two verses of our text serve as reminders of some important spiritual truths today. We need to consider them before we leave these things behind.

Colossians 3:3–4 KJV 1900

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

There Has Been A Death—

Colossians 3:3 (KJV 1900)

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We are reminded again that we have died to sin and to the influence of this world. One of the surest ways for the child of God to enjoy spiritual victory in his or her life is for that person to understand that they are crucified with Christ, Gal. 2:20 .

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If we can get a grip on that truth and do what Rom. 6:11 tells us to do,

Romans 6:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

we would grow deeper in the things of the Lord.

There Has Been A Deposit—

Colossians 3:3 (KJV 1900)

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When we were saved, we were given new life in Jesus.

This new life imparts to us the “divine nature”, 2 Pet. 1:4 .

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV 1900)

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This new life guarantees the believer eternal security, 1 Pet. 1:5 ; Heb. 7:25; John 10:28 .

1 Peter 1:5 KJV 1900

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 10:28 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Because we are hidden in Jesus, we are in protective custody and none of the enemies of the soul can approach us, attack us or take us out of Jesus.

There Has Been A Dream—

Colossians 3:4 (KJV 1900)

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Paul closes this paragraph by reminding us that this world is not the best there is. We may have to deny our flesh down here, but it will be worth it all over there. We might have to battle Satan here, but we will enjoy victory there. When Jesus comes, our faith in Him will be vindicated and we will be glorified with Him.

Right now, every believer in this room battles the world, the flesh and the devil. Each of these enemies does everything they can to hinder us and to cause us to fail.

One day, the battles will be over!

This flesh will be changed and remade in His image, 1 Cor. 15:53–54 ; 1 John 3:1–3 .

1 Corinthians 15:53–54 KJV 1900

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 John 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We will leave this world with its sin, its evil, its problems, its devil and we will go to land of perfection to bask in the glory of our Redeemer forever, Rev. 21:4 .

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Right now, I have a dream. I dream of a day when I will go home. I dream of a day when I will see the Lord Jesus Christ. One day that dream will become a reality and I will be in His presence! That is what we need to remember as we fight the good fight of faith!

Conc: That’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? But, as we stand here on the cusp of a New Year, we need to take a good, hard look at our lives and at our walk with the Lord.

Are there some things in your life that need to be Retained?

Does your focus need to be adjusted?

Are there some things in your life that need to be Released?

Do you need to lay down some of the things mentioned in this message?

Are there some things in your life that need to be Remembered?

Do you need to take a trip down memory lane and nail a few things down today?

If there are needs and the Lord has spoken to your heart, this altar is open. You mind Him! If you need to be saved, you can do that today. If He is calling you, then you need to come to Him and be saved.

Whatever the needs may be today, you should listen to the voice of the Lord and do what He us telling you to do. Let’s seek to make 2025 the best year of our lives for the glory of God!