Above All: A Study in Colossians
Colossians 3:1-4
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
07-10-2022
Where We’ve Been
I’ve never actually started a sermon this way before. The verses that we will study today are the hinge verses of Colossians.
Every letter or story has a hinge, a running point.
In the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe it’s when Aslan dies on the stone table in Edmond’s place and then resurrects from the dead.
In the Wizard of Oz, it’s when Toto pulls back the curtain and reveals what was really happening.
In Hamilton, it’s the letter that Aaron Burr writes to Alexander challenging him to a duel.
Dear Alexander
I am slow to anger
But I toe the line
As I reckon with the effects
Of your life on mine
I look back on where I failed
And in every place I checked
The only common thread has been your disrespect
Now you call me "amoral"
A "dangerous disgrace"
If you've got something to say, name a time and place, face-to-face
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
A dot Burr
And, in perhaps the most famous turning point in a movie, In Star Wars, it’s when Luke screams, “You killed my father!” Darth Vader responds, “No, I am your father.”
[Show clip]
In the first two chapters, Paul is seeking to establish a doctrinal foundation for these believers to guard against false teaching. In the last two chapters, Paul moves from creed to conduct, from belief to behavior.
I want to begin by simply reading the first two chapters of Colossians. Remember, that this was a letter, written by Paul from a prison cell, to believers in the Lycus Valley. Their founding pastor, Epaphras, was a fellow prisoner with Paul and had told him about the Colossian Church’s faith in Christ.
This letter was read to the church, out loud, in a service similar to this one.
Read chapter one and two.
Turn with me to Colossians chapter three. Paul spends eleven chapters in the book of Romans building the foundation before moving toward how their faith plays out in the real word. In Ephesians, the hinge is chapter four. And in Colossians, the hinge is chapter 3:1-4.
Turn there now.
Prayer
Look Up
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:1-4)
Recently, I saw a video a young women named Cameron who identifies as a bird, specifically a cardinal.
A couple of weeks ago, I spoke a Living Waters Camp in Michigan to junior high students. We spent all week focusing on our identities in Christ. They have so many voices in their culture trying to define them, I made the case that we should never let anyone define our identities except Jesus.
This what Paul is doing as he transitions from the doctrinal part of Colossians to the more more practical behavior part of the book.
Paul, like any good preacher, is reminding them where they have been in order to set up the next section of his letter.
Position
He begins with the words “since then you have been raised with Christ.” Paul is reminding them of their identity, their position, in Christ.
In chapter two, that we just read, Paul makes this case:
“…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12)
When Jesus died, we died. When Jesus was buried, we were buried. When Jesus was raised to life, we were raised to life. This is what it means to be “in Christ.”
We didn’t do anything to earn it or deserve it. “You have been raised” is passive. It’s an action done by God in the past that has effects in the present.
He says the same thing in Ephesians:
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:6-7)
This is Paul’s starting point - our position in Christ. This is what will shape the way we live and lead us into a Christ-Centric life.
Paul wrote to the Romans:
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom 6:4)
In the Bible, there are indicatives and imperatives. Indicatives are facts. Imperatives are commands. These beginning words are indicatives - relating the fact of our being raised with Christ. But Paul moves to two imperatives, two commands that will result from our understanding of our identity.
Priorities
In view of the fact that we have been raised with Christ, what should we set our hearts on and what kind of mindset should we have?
First, Paul writes to “set your hearts [affections] on things above.”
“Set” could also be translated “seek.” This means an ongoing pursuit, search, a desire to possess.
It’s been said that some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I’ve never met someone like that. Most of us, including me, are so caught up in the web of our culture that we can’t really see how much our hearts are connected to this place.
What’s so important about “things above?” Well, it’s where Christ is, “seated at the right hand of God.”
The high priest never sat down because his work was never done.
The book of Hebrews begins:
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Heb 1:1-3)
The right hand of God is the place of honor, majesty, authority. That’s where Jesus sits, having finished the work of redemption, and now prays for us.
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Rom 8:34)
It’s easy to set our hearts on things of this world - popularity, acceptance, prestige, wealth, power. [Or a PRS Custom 24?]
Jesus was approached by what we know as “the rich, young ruler” who asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus started listing commandments and the young man assures him that he has kept all those rules from childhood.
Then Jesus stops him in his tracks:
“Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10:21-22)
Jesus wasn’t make a statement about the value of wealth. He was making the point that the young man didn’t own his possessions, his possessions own his heart.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)
It takes persistence to focus our hearts on things that are above.
That’s why being intentional about Bible reading, memorization, serving, and sharing our faith helps us to keep our hearts looking up.
When our hearts are set on things above we can weather any storm because we know this is not our home:
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Phil 3:20)
There was a man who failed in business at the age of 21; was defeated in a legislative race at age 22; failed again in business at age 24; overcame the death of his sweetheart at age 26; had a nervous breakdown at age 27; lost a congressional race at age 34; lost a senatorial race at age 45; failed in an effort to become vice-president at age 47; lost a senatorial race at age 49; and was elected president of the United States at age 52.
Abraham Lincoln could have quit. He could have given up. But as he grow older, he learned to set his mind on things above, “providence” as he would call it.
Second, Paul gives the command, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
We are not only to set our affections on things above but also our minds and wills.
This word means to dwell intently on something.
Paul begins the hinge verse in Romans the same way:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:1-2)
This word conveys the idea of total concentration.
I took golf lessons and the instructor would say, “Keep your eye on the ball.” I would miss the ball altogether and he would ask, “what did you do wrong?” I took my eye off the ball.
We have a choice. We can set our minds on earthly things but, as they say, garbage in, garbage out.
Paul gave the Philippians, and us, encouragement to set our minds on things above:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)
We need to have a heavenly mindset while having our feet firmly planted in our culture. That way, we can see the world we live, and the people around us, with God’s eyes.
Paul then give the Colossians a truth about their past and a truth about their future.
Past Tense
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:3)
Paul made the point in chapter two that when Jesus died, we died to our old nature:
“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules…” (Col 2:20)
In the letter to the Galatians, Paul is even clearer:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20)
That happened in the past but the result in the present is that our lives are “hidden with Christ in God.”
Once we are born again, we are safe and secure in Christ:
Jesus said:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
And Paul wrote:
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)
This reality is concealed to the world.
“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (2 Cor 2:14)
This reality give us peace.
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)
Corrie Ten Boom [who knew how to set her hearts on things above] wrote:
Look around and be distressed
Look inside and be depressed
Look at Jesus and be at rest.
Promise
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
When Jesus appears. Wait, hold on. It’s been 2,000 years. Do you really believe He is coming back? Yes, I do! And I am going to devote an entire sermon to the second coming next week
But for this morning, let’s look at this last phrase: then you will also appear with him in glory.
Paul wrote the Roman Christians:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
Friday night, I was a Wrigley Field for a concert I bought tickets to three years ago! The headliners, the band that I went to see, was Def Leppard. But there were four other bands with them. They were also on the bill. They also got to play in front of 40,000 people.
Can you imagine the announcement? Appearing soon - Jesus Christ, King of Glory and appearing with him - you?!
In the Apple show Ted Lasso, there is a Mexican soccer player named Dani Rojas. He is an eternal happy, Tigger of a character who is constantly smiling and saying, “Futbol is Life!”
Can I ask you, what is your life? For some people, golf is their life. Or work. Or knitting. Or boating. Or a hobby. Or even a spouse or children. Or, sadly, drinking.
Can you say with Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain?” (Phil 1:21)
Could you say honestly that Christ is your life? He is your everything? Could you sing the old hymn with conviction:
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
Ending Song: “I’d Rather Have Jesus”
