Resurrection Living

The Resurrection is regarded in Scripture in three aspects- as a fact establishing our Lord’s messiahship, as a prophecy of the believer’s rising from the dead, and as an enabling for the Christian life here and now. The last aspect is the one taught here. Scripture teaches that the believer is so joined with Jesus that he has died and risen with Him.

The settled unshakable conviction of the apostle Paul was that the open tomb opened the way to a life of immense possibilities. He wanted the Colossians not only to believe in the power of Christ’s resurrection but to claim the victory of it as their own. So he taught them the secret of Resurrection Living in . Victorious Resurrection Living can be realized through a conscious habitual pattern of thought in the mind and an attitude in heart (CIT). The victory of Christ’s resurrection enables Resurrection Living.

The death and resurrection of Jesus to many is just an objective fact concerning how the world was reconciled to God. You cannot be too emphatic about that fact, but that is not the whole gospel. The gospel is intended to be personally received, it is intended to change life, it is intended to become a living reality in the lives of those who believe and receive Jesus as their life. It is the foundational principle for truly living the Christian life.

Let’s investigate our text and learn how you can appropriate the gospel, how you can live a life in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For living in the power of Jesus’ Resurrection enables Resurrection Living.

I. SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE, 1-2.

The only remedy for the indulgences of the flesh (2:30) is the believer’s new life in Christ. By our union with Christ in His death we can died to the world’s way of believing, thinking and acting. In the believer’s union with Christ in His resurrection the power to live a new life is found. Verse 1 commands us to center our life on Christ by seeking His virtues.

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

We have learned that baptism symbolizes our death and resurrection with Christ (2:12). This union with Christ in His death and resurrection is the key that unlocks the power of Resurrection Living. When we surrender or yield our life to Christ we are incorporated into His death and life. When Christ comes to live within us we experience a resurrection to a new life and can live under His guidance and power -if we will surrender the control of our life to Him. That is why Christ commands us to die to our old life, to our old self, to our fleshly nature which we can only do by appropriating, by claiming His death to sin as our death to sin ().

This vital union with Christ gives one a new set of desires, and a new purpose, and a new perspective. The power of the Resurrection puts heaven in our hearts, but it needs to be transmitted to our minds. The Colossians had accepted Christ and His salvation, but it lay dormant because they were engrossed with earthly things. Their earthly priorities were controlling -directing their lives.

We can identify with them, can’t we? Long after our new life has begun our thoughts, energy, and time can be focused on our agenda of personal success and prosperity. This duality of direction, this split personality is what debilitates so many of us. St. Augustine said, “Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all.” When many of us came to Christ we never died to our personal set of purposes, plans, and priorities. Scripture calls for a radical transformation of our attention and a reordering of our values ().

As we apply our union with Him in His death we will die to the world and the flesh. If we apply our union with Him in His resurrection our born-again spirit will cause us to aspire in love, thought, desire and obedience so that we focus on Jesus who is on His throne where He rules and blesses the souls whom through faith live the new life of heaven on earth.

The devil tells us that if we seek the things above we will miss out on the things below. That’s not necessarily true. God is the rightful owner of the earth and all it contains (; ; ; ). “Seeking the things above” does not mean we abstain from the earthly things but that we use earthly things for God’s glory. You can use and enjoy earthly things better when you’re not seeking your satisfaction from them but are seeking fulfillment from God. Taste, touch, and tabulate can never really satisfy. Position, popularity, and people don’t bring us security. But if we focus on them they cause divided loyalties between Christ and our own agenda.

The testimony of a man who suffered greatly while BATTLING CANCER was, “This illness has put everything into perspective. Though I believed in Christ I realized that I have put all my thinking and energy into my career and the standard of living it afforded. Because of this crisis I have met the Savior about whom I have heard so much in church for so long. How sad that I’ve missed all those years with Him!”

If you have been raised with Christ in the power of His resurrection to a new life, seek the things above. If you haven’t, then keep seeking the things of earth. For one’s union with Christ is the only power that could enable us to seek the things above instead of focusing on earth.

In addition to setting our hearts on Jesus, verse 2 commands us to concentrate and direct our thoughts to the eternal.

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

That is, concentrate your concern on the eternal, not the temporal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

“Fix [your] eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” ().

The similarity of the two commands in reinforces their impact. “Set your hearts on things above”, and “Set your minds on things above”. The first suggests striving; the second suggests concentrating. You must not only seek heaven you must think heaven. For to change you actions you must first change your beliefs and your thinking, then, in due course your actions will change. Give a larger place in your thought life to heaven than to earth.

Satan wants to keep you so occupied or preoccupied with the things of earth that he can block out the things of heaven. First, he wants to make you ineffective in Christ’s cause, then he wants to take away your light and saltiness.

While driving along a highway, I have often seen VULTURES soaring high overhead, swooping down, and then rising again with the air currents. Every so often, a small group of them can be seen sitting right on the roadway, tearing apart and gobbling up the carcass of some unfortunate creature. I get the impression that these ugly birds are on the lookout continually for what is loathsome and repulsive!

Some people are like that. Nothing seems to satisfy them more than feasting on what is sinful, corrupt, and immoral. The books and magazines they read; the TV programs they watch; the conversations they engage in, and the activities they pursue reveal a vulture-like appetite.

How much better is the spiritual diet the Bible suggests:

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble/honorable, whatever things, are just/right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue/excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise meditate/dwell on these things" ().

What kind of “food" do you prefer? Don't be like the vulture. Rather, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (). The new birth creates a new appetite and requires a new diet. [RWD. Our Daily Bread]

Our Scripture emphasized that followers of Christ need to be heavenly-minded, not earthly-minded. We can choose which it will be.

not earthly-minded. We can choose which it will be.

We can succumb to selfish, earthbound thoughts, blurring our view of anything beyond the end of our noses. Or we can gaze through this sinful scene and fix our attention on things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand-and we with Him! Then, and only then, are we in a position to see what's most important in life.

Only the mind that's set on things above can say no to sin and yes to Christlike holiness. The choice is ours.

In his classic spiritual allegory PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, John Bunyan paints a word picture of a man who only looked downward. This poor guy was on his knees in the dirt and filth, working constantly trying to unearth with a rake some choice morsel that would enrich his life. Yet all the while a bright crown of immeasurable worth was within reach just above him.

Bunyan summarizes the tragedy: "There stood One over his head with a celestial crown in His hand, and [pr]offered him that crown for his muck rake; but the man never looked up as he continued gathering to himself the straw, the small sticks, and the dust of the floor!”

Bunyan’s words remind us that the rewards of heaven will have no appeal unless we set our mind “on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Although we who have trusted Christ as Savior have to live here in this world, we should not cling to material things. We must become so occupied with pleasing Him and working for the crowns of eternal rewards that we lose our preoccupation with digging in the dirt of this fleeting world.

Isn't it time that you and I adjust our priorities? Isn’t it time that we focus our attention and life on Christ? All the things above are found in Christ. All the splendors of eternity are in Christ. Love, mercy, grace, compassion, righteousness, holiness, wisdom, understanding, truth, creativity, humbleness, justice, courage, boldness, faith, hope, sound mind, light, Jesus Christ is the summing up of all the eternal treasure of God, of all the blessed things that are above. Praise, worship, thankfulness, virtue, honesty, good works, self-control, patience, integrity, contentment, healing, wonder.

Now that does not mean we need not be concerned with the things of earth, but that they are not to be our priority, they are not what we aim for, not to be our goals and dreams, the master of our everyday life. We are to seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness ....

The things of earth that are not evil in and of themselves are far more satisfying when they are of secondary instead of primary importance. When they are in proper perspective we control and use them, instead of them controlling and using us. “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven” and your other aims as students, business men, parents, scientists, or anything else will be far more rewarding by subordinating them to the conscious aim of pleasing God. This world is not our eternal home so stop living like it is by giving it undue attention.

II. FINDING LIFE IN CHRIST, 3-4.

It is like a man whose firm has offered to place him in another country, where there is said to be a gold mine. He hates to give up all he has and take any risk. But if he is going to be fired and must leave and has his choice of living in a wilderness or digging in a coal pit, or else take the gold mine, then there is no hesitation. The unregenerate man likes heaven better than hell, but he likes this world the best of all. When death stares him in the face, then he thinks he would like to get to heaven. The true believer prizes heaven above everything else and is always willing to give up the world. Everybody wants to enjoy heaven after they die, but some don't want to be heavenly-minded while they live.]

II. FINDING LIFE IN CHRIST, 3-4.

We can only change our mind set, changes our priorities if we are united in Christ’s death. Verse 3 tells us how we can set our mind on heaven.

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:4 ESV

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

The person who dies to sin by the power of Christ’s death, which destroyed the power of sin over us, this person’s life is hid in Christ. There is something bold and defiant and jubilant about being dead to sin and the old life by our sharing in the death of Christ. The fact is that Christ has destroyed the power of sin. Now, because we share in the death of Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, and are empowered to become what we potentially are, what we were recreated in the new birth to be. In His death we died to sin, the old man, and the world so that even while we live in the body we have another life derived from Jesus.

The person who dies to sin by the power of Christ’s death, which destroyed the power of sin over us, this person’s life is hid in Christ. There is something bold and defiant and jubilant about being dead to sin and the old life by our sharing in the death of Christ. The fact is that Christ has destroyed the power of sin. Now, because we share in the death of Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, and are empowered to become what we potentially are, what we were recreated in the new birth to be. In His death we died to sin, the old man, and the world so that even while we live in the body we have another life derived from Jesus.

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

The person who dies to sin by the power of Christ’s death, which destroyed the power of sin over us, this person’s life is hid in Christ. There is something bold and defiant and jubilant about being dead to sin and the old life by our sharing in the death of Christ. The fact is that Christ has destroyed the power of sin. Now, because we share in the death of Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, and are empowered to become what we potentially are, what we were recreated in the new birth to be. In His death we died to sin, the old man, and the world so that even while we live in the body we have another life derived from Jesus.

Authentic faith in Christ leads one toward “being made comformable unto His death, [having our] nature transformed to die as He died” (, Moffatt). Paul boldly turned his back upon the old man in order that the new life that had come to dwell in him might have room for growth.

The fact is plain in Scripture (; ; ) that unless a person dies to flesh, self-will, to the world, he will never have a life that is worth calling life. The pre-condition for all life and growth is death () and for the believer it is daily death (; ) in order to live the resurrected life that springs from death. Jesus said, “Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it die it brings forth much fruit.” The door which leads to resurrection life is death, is dying to the world, the flesh, and the devil by calling upon the power of the death of Christ which He died for you and with you.

Every year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, 103,000 fans crowd into the football stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to witness the classic football rivalry between ARMY AND NAVY. The midshipmen are on one side frenzy rooting for navy while the cadets are doing the same for Army on the other side.

However, the ball players are not listening to the thousands of fans. In fact, they are practically oblivious to their presence. The ball players listen to only one person, the quarterback. He is the one who calls the plays and leads the team.

In the course of our Christian life, we have all around us the shouts and cheers of the world. But if we are within the will of God, we are not listening to the thousands of voices from without; we listen to Christ, our quarterback, who is within us.

So, “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

We who have died with Christ are also united in Christ’s resurrection. Verse 4 confides to us that the Resurrection life and the final resurrection belong together.

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:4 ESV

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

When the Bible refers to “Christ who is our life” (3:4), it is making an astounding claim. The new life into which we enter by conversion is nothing else than the life of Christ Himself (). For us to live is Christ (). Our life is not only with Christ, it is Christ (; , ). Here is the radical claim that this new life is nothing less than a new creation () and right now we can walk in the new life, the new power of the next world.

“When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

When the Bible refers to “Christ who is our life” (3:4), it is making an astounding claim. The new life into which we enter by conversion is nothing else than the life of Christ Himself (). For us to live is Christ (). Our life is not only with Christ, it is Christ (; , ). Here is the radical claim that this new life is nothing less than a new creation () and right now we can walk in the new life, the new power of the next world.

This means at least two things. One, death has no power over us. The risen and exalted Lord conquered death. We do not wait for eternal life; it is ours now! Risen with Christ, the glorious privilege of beginning now the life with Christ which will continue eternally is ours.

Sharing Christ’s risen life means a second thing: the power which raised Jesus from the dead is also our power. We do not have to be the victims of sin. The hampering limitations of the present order need not overcome us. We have moved from the domain of the flesh into the realm of the Spirit. [Dunnam, Maxie D.; The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982, S. 371]

Listen again to the blessed hope those in Christ are anticipating. “When Christ is revealed, then we also will be revealed with Him in glory.” This reference is to the second coming of Christ. As John put it,

1 John 3:2 ESV

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.

Paul added a new direction to the believers’ focus of attention: not only should we look upward to Christ’s reign over us in heaven, we should look forward to His return for us in the clouds. Isn’t the Holy Spirit within groaning, longing to be clothed with Christ’s glory?

“We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” [believers will be glorified as He is glorified; ; ; ]. So Paul added a new direction to the believers’ focus of attention: not only should we look upward to Christ’s reign over us in heaven, we should look forward to His return for us in the clouds. Isn’t the Holy Spirit within groaning, longing to be cloth with Christ’s glory?

CONCLUSION

We may all have the risen life for our life, if we will unite ourselves, in humble dependence and utter self-surrender, to the Christ who died for us that we might be dead to sin, and rose again that we might rise to righteousness. And if we have Him, in any deep and real sense, as the life of our lives, then we shall be blessed, amid all the divergent and sometimes conflicting nearer aims, which we have to pursue, by seeing clear above them Him who satisfies our need, who leads if He is followed, and who never disappoints. God help us all to say, ‘This one thing I do, and all else I count but dung, that I may know Him, and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, if by any means I may attain unto the Resurrection from the dead!’ ()

A PILOT WAS FLYING over the Arabian Desert and landed at an oasis to refuel his plane. After taking to the air again, he was soon over a mountainous area when he heard a scratching noise behind him. It sounded as if some animal had gotten into the fuselage of the plane. He became quite alarmed, for he knew if an animal gnawed away at the electrical wiring it could cause a serious malfunction. But there was no place to land in that rugged territory.

Then the pilot had an idea. He accelerated the plane and nosed it upward. Higher and higher into the sky he took it until the gnawing and scratching ceased. Later, when he landed at an airport, he found a huge desert rat that had crawled in unnoticed when he had refueled at the oasis. But the unwanted stowaway was dead! Accustomed as it was to the desert, it could not live when the plane climbed to the higher altitude.

So it is in our spiritual life. As we "draw near to God" (), we put to death our mean, selfish, and sinful ways (). The old patterns of living cannot survive.

We live in the world, but we must not let the world live in us. So, "Seek those things which are above" (). The set you mind on Christ and the closer you draw in your relationship to the Lord, the more you will leave the world behind! [HGB. Our Daily Bread]

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand

By faith on heaven's tableland;

A higher plain than I have found

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. -Oatman