If Then You Have Been Raised With Christ: Living Life as You Were Meant To
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-4
Opening Prayer
Introduction
Resurrection Sunday
Exposition
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.
Paul begins with a statement of “if then”
What does this mean
“if” makes something conditional
“then” provides a necessary consequence or change are a result of the condition being presumed to be met
If you have and “if/then” statement, then you need to identify both the condition and the consequence or change.
Some of you may have noticed what I did there...
I used an if/then in a different way
So what is the “if”
it you “you have been raised with Christ”
On this day, resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the fact that our saviour was raised!
Why?
It is far more than simply that Jesus isn’t dead, though that is what everything is rooted in.
No, it is far more
elaborate...
So the “if” was if you have been raised with Christ
This brings to mind a verse from the previous chapter
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
In a very real sense, if you are, made dead and alive
Baptism in an outward expression of an inward reality
So Paul is basically saying if you are a believer, if you are saved, but by emphasizing that new believers are new creations, he is pointing to something in particular...
Back to the verse...
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.
So, “if” you are a new creation, if you are a follower of Jesus, if He really is your Lord, “then”
Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right had of the Father
This leads us to our first point
You are either raised with Christ or not, if you are then you will seek Him
You are either raised with Christ or not, if you are then you will seek Him
The obvious implication here is if you don’t seek after the things above then you are not a new creation
explain/apply...
Expostion 2
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Re-emphasis
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Re-emphasis
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
What does it mean “Christ who is your life?”
answer...
appears
explain...
You will appear with Him in Glory
Explain
II. Believers are new creatures who have a “for sure” hope
II. Believers are new creatures who have a “for sure” hope
Blessed hope
Celebrate the resurrection!
Be resurected
Live like you are His!