Alive with Christ- Colossians 3:1-4

Being dead with Christ may sound terrifying but may I remind you that is actually a great thing!

When we died with(in) Christ by faith a lot changed for us!

Col 2:12 “12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Pictured in baptism

See not only are we dead to this world and the sin in it(Romans 6)

We are now ALIVE

With Jesus.

Once active and dead in sin now alive and dead to sin!

This life we have now changes things! Being spiritually alive with Jesus ought to change our life on Earth.

This new life brings new everything!

It is in this passage we are going to see a couple of commands to those alive with Christ! We are told what to “Seek” and what to “Desire”

See this new life gives us new desires and new desires will result in us doing new things!

Being alive in Christ should give new desires. Let’s see what and how we are to desire. What does the Alive life look like?

(The Audience) Those Alive in Christ.

Colossians 3:1 “1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

This is to those who are alive in Christ.

Before we can live a life that is alive with Christ we first have to be dead with him.

Jesus not only died for us but we also died with him!

We are IN Christ!

Dead with him.

Romans 6:2 “2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” - Dead to sin and this world!

BY FAITH Col 2:12 “12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

IT IS THIS BEING DEAD WITH CHRIST THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ALIVE

We are dead and alive at the same time—dead to sin and alive in Christ.

Jesus is life !

He resurrected(came back from death.) and that is where our life is found. We rise with him!

If we died with him we will live with him

Romans 6:5 “5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

He is the our life!

Col 3:4 “4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

No life with out him!

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

WE ARE DEAD AND LIFE IS IN HIM

John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

That “If” in” Col 3:1 “1 If ye then be risen with Christ, “ is conditional.

See the things, blessings, and commands in this passage are for those alive in Jesus but to be alive in him you must first be dead with him.

All of this occurs by faith.

Colossians 2:12 “12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

You want life? You need faith in Christ and what he did.

YOU CAN BE IN CHRIST AND WHAT HE DID BUT IT TAKES FAITH

With our faith in him you are dead and will stay that way

Eph 2:5 “5 Even when we were dead in sins,

Those who are alive with him now live differently! Our affections change!

Affections in Christ

Col 3:1 “1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

Knowing our life is with Christ should change how and why we live it!

We are told to seek the things that are above. Where and what is that?

We are told to seek.

Seek: Look for, desire

Like treasure

It is heavenly things we should desire.

“Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”

Jesus even said this

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We should be seeking and desiring heavenly things!

ARE WE DESIRING RIGHT THINGS? HEAVENLY THINGS?

We are also told to set our affection on things that are above. Col 3:2 “2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

The word behind set your affection means- to ponder on.

Almost like how it’s really hard to stop thinking about something you really want

We need to ponder and think about the things above.

We are told to think like this in Phil 4:8 “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.”

We are told NOT to think on earthly things.

Col 3:2 “2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

We should have our minds where our Lord is

Rom 8:5 “5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Having our mind set where Jesus is will change everything about the way we live now!

Our character, work ethic, way we treat people, deal with problems, etc.

Our feet are on earth but our minds in heaven.

Setting your affections on things above will have a real positive influence upon your life. It determines your interests, your desires, and your eternal destiny. It will determine your friends and associates. It will also determine the important things of your life.

Aspirations (hope) in Christ!

Col 3:4 “4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

There is hope for now and the future in Jesus!

One day he is going to appear! He will be back!

When Jesus comes back he will come in glory!

Glory- raidence, heavenly-ness,

When he comes back he will come back in glory!

& we will appear in glory too!

The fact we are risen with him means we are glorified with him too!

We already have this glory but it is just not seen now

Jesus says John 17:22 “22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

When he appears with his glory we will appear with ours!

Col 3:4 “4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Part of setting ones mind on Jesus is looking for his return!

Titus 2:13 “13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

NEW LIFE NOW AND NEW LIFE LATER

Conclusion

To those who are risen in Christ are you living like you know it?

We have been told to seek and set our mind on where Jesus is are we doing it? Do we desire heavenly things?

Do we have hope and are we living like it?

Being risen with Christ changes everything. He is life.