Colossians Chapter 3 Series

Colossians Chapter 3

Introduction: The apostle exhorts the Colossians to heavenly-mindedness after the example of Christ, that they may be prepared to appear with him in glory, Colossians 3:1-4. Exhorts them also to mortify their members, and calls to their remembrance their former state, Colossians 3:5-7. Shows how completely they were changed from that state, and gives them various directions relative to truth, compassion, meekness, long-suffering, forgiveness, charity, Colossians 3:8-14. Shows that they are called to unity and holiness; and commands them to have the doctrine of Christ dwelling richly in them; and how they should teach and admonish each other, and do everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus, Colossians 3:15-17. The relative duties of wives, Colossians 3:18. Of husbands, Colossians 3:19. Of children, Colossians 3:20. Of fathers, Colossians 3:21. Of servants, Colossians

3:22. He concludes by showing that he that does wrong shall be treated accordingly, for God is no respecter of persons, they should teach and admonish Colossians 3:23-25. (Adam Clarke)

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

v.1 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Amplified

A. If ye then be risen with Christ. (same as Col. 2:12)

1. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him. (Adam Clarke)

2. It is our privilege that we have risen with Christ that is, have benefit by the resurrection of

Christ, and by virtue of our union and communion with him are justified and

sanctified, and shall be glorified. (Matthew Henry)

3. There was such a union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they

become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life, and that,

therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven and set their

affections there. (Albert Barnes)

4. Ascension follows resurrection: hence, if we are the members of Christ we must ascend

into heaven, because he, on being raised from the dead, was received up into heaven

that he might draw us up with him. (John Calvin)

B. Seek those things which are above.

1. Seek

a. (search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to

worship, or to plot)

b. “having an urgency and a desire and an ambition” (Chuck Missler-YouTube)

2. There should be an excitement that goes with seeking spiritual things. (CM)

3. We must mind the concerns of another world more than the concerns of this. (MH)

4. We must make heaven our scope and aim, seek the favor of God above, keep up our

communion with the upper world by faith, and hope, and holy love, and make it our

constant care and business to secure our title to and qualification for the heavenly

bliss. (Matthew Henry)

5. Oh! how often we need to be called to this, for the flesh is groveling, and it holds down

the spirit; and very often we are seeking the thing below as if we had ho yet attained to

the new life, and did not know anything about the resurrection power of Christ within

the soul. (Charles Spurgeon)

C. Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

1. We should seek and secure what he has purchased at so vast an expense, and is taking so

much care about. We must live such a life as Christ lived here on earth and lives now

in heaven, according to our capacities. (MH)

2. Since Christ is there, and since he is the object of our supreme attachment, we should fix

our affections on heavenly things, and seek to be prepared to dwell with him.

(Albert Barnes)

v. 2 Set (direct the mind) your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

v. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].

A. Set your affection on things above

1. Think Heaven. Set your watch on “HQ time” Daniel, when he was a captive in Babylon,

yet reckoned his time to Jerusalem 200 miles to the east. (CM)

2. Politics: “How you stand depends upon where you sit.” Where are you seated? “In the

heavenlies” Eph. 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

3. A warning against false systems which attempt to rob the believer of the great unity with

Christ in His death and resurrection. (CM)