I Am Saved, Now What?

Colossians 3:1–4 (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.

Introduction: The worse feeling on a new job or even a new task is to begin and not know what to do. Having the right information and guidance provides confidence and success.

As we continue to study Colossians we approach Paul’s description of how believers must respond to salvation. The Christian journey is not to be taken lightly, therefore, when we are saved we are afforded the opportunity to exhibit what it means to be saved.

DT: When we accept Christ as our Savior we live so that He is glorified.

AIM: We will live so that others will know that Christ is our savior.

Proposition: The Christian is under obligation to live so that Christ is exhibited from their life.

Transition: Paul gives three responses the believer must make when one begins the Christian journey. The first response is Seek the Things of Christ.

Seek the Things of Christ (vv.1-2)

“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.”

Paul calls this Christian journey a resurrected one. He states the believer is raised with Christ from the old life to a new one. As a result of this new life there is a new objective. The objective is to obtain the things of Christ.

Things Above

Paul explains these things are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They are eternal things. Paul is not speaking of the pearly gates and golden streets. Paul is speaking of the care, joy, peace and love that comes from Christ to every believer. Paul is speaking of Christ, seek a life with Christ. A life of eternity.

Not of this earth (material)

Paul warns that the mind of the believer cannot be cluttered by the things of the world. Material possessions cannot be their ultimate ambition. The worldly live for the things of the world.

Philippians 3:19 ESV

19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

The believer has a heart aimed towards heaven because this world is not the home of the believer.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Illustration:

Application: Do not live for material possessions. God does desire that you enjoy your life and the blessings He grants you, but, God desires to be priority. Live seeking to Please God. Make heaven and eternity with Christ your highest ambition. Think about heavenly things! Joy, peace, love, and life with Jesus. It’s easy to complain about what we do not have and the frailties in this earthly life. Allow me to encourage you think about Jesus and all He offers.

Transition: The text offers secondly as a response to the Christian journey, Embrace the New Life in Christ.

Embrace the New Life in Christ (v.3)

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

A life dead to sin

When Paul says, “for you have died”, of course we know he is not speaking of a physical death. When the believer accepts Christ as Savior the believer dies to sin. Paul is stating that the believer is no longer under the power of sin. The death and resurrection of Christ frees the believer.

Romans 6:2 (ESV)

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

A life hidden with Christ in God

the beauty of this new life is that God sees us covered by Jesus. To accept Christ is to surrender to Christ as our Lord. We embrace this new life which is not about us and our wants but about Jesus and His Will. So, Paul is teaching to be hidden with Christ in God is to live before God having accepted his son as our savior. You cannot have one without the other.

Illustration: An excellent illustration of what it means to be hid with Christ is this: take the index finger of your right hand and wrap your left hand around it. Say that the index finger represents you and the left hand represents Christ. Where are you (the index finger)? In Christ. You are hid in Christ. When God looks at you, He sees you hid in Christ.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Galatians–Colossians, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 407.

Application: Embrace this new life in Christ. It is not too late to begin living under the influence of Jesus. Read the Word and

Transition: The final response to the Christian journey Paul offers from the text is Live to Bring Christ Glory

Live to Bring Christ Glory (v.4)

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

Plainly, Paul is calling for the believer to live with eternity with Jesus in mind. Live this life preparing for eternal life. This begins when the believer surrenders totally to Jesus.

Christ is our life

Paul says, “When Christ who is your life, appears”, Christ is the life of the believer. Christ is the sustainer of our lives. Christ is the source of our lives. Therefore, we owe Him everything. We owe Him everything now so that we are rewarded later.

Christ appears in our life

What is the reward? Paul says the believer will appear with Christ in glory.

1 John 3:2 (ESV)

2 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.

Illustration: When the great Christian scientist Sir Michael Faraday was dying, some journalists questioned him about his speculations for a life after death. He purportedly replied: “Speculations! I know nothing about speculations. I’m resting on certainties. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and because He lives, I shall live also” (Job 19:25)

Job 19:25 (ESV)

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 121.

Transition: That’s what Paul is saying in the text. We who believe shall one day be with Him in eternity.

Application: But what do we do until then? We live so that Jesus is glorified. Jesus can get glory from our lives now. When we are at work and on vacation. That’s what happens when we seek the things of Christ, it reminds us of our aim and destination. We long to be with Jesus! While I’m on my way I will give Him glory in my life. I will tell others about his goodness. I will serve him by serving others. I will love my neighbor. I will treat my enemies with love. I will stand on His promises.

Transition: If you have not made up your mind to follow Jesus let me encourage you to make Him your choice.

Conclusion:

Let’s think about it. What will life benefit me to have things but not have Jesus?

Money cannot guarantee me salvation, but Jesus can!

Money won’t give me never ending Joy, but Jesus will!

Houses deteriorate, cars rust, and clothes become rags but life with Jesus is eternal.

It was Jesus who died on calvary!

He gave His hands to the nails and His side to the spear. He died for your sins and my sins.

They placed Him in a tomb and Jesus stayed there all night Friday, All day Saturday, all night Saturday, but Early SUNDAY morning! Jesus got up!