The Hidden Life (Risen In Christ)

The Hidden Life (Risen in Christ)

Colossians 3:1-8

Good Morning everyone, Glad that you have chosen to join us in the study of God’s Word-

Please turn to Colossians 3 and as you are turning, please bow your head for prayer.

Prayer-

Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colossae- (Modern Turkey)

Colossians 3:1-11

He writes to them guidelines for Holy Living- he talks about being risen with Christ and the difference that should make in our lives.

If then you were raised with Christ, set your hearts on the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Have a mind that all your thoughts are fixed on the things which are above, not upon the things of earth.

For you died (spiritually) and your life is hidden in Christ.

Why would Paul start out so aggressive and use such strong words on how we should be living if we are indeed in Christ?

Because the church had lost its way… they were more earthy than Christ-like

Because for some they were not kingdom minded anymore, they were just waiting to punch their ticket to go to heaven.

Paul refers them back to their salvation experience and their baptism and the showing of their faith in Christ.

As the water of being baptized covered them and they were submerged under the water they were buried in death, and as they emerged out of the water, they were resurrected to new life-

Christians after conversion and acknowledged by being baptized…they were to be different people.

They were no longer to be concerned about the earthy things but about spiritual things in their life. They had to be in the world but not of this world.

He is telling them and he is telling us today that we have to live in this world and we are not to be sitting around doing nothing until Jesus takes us home but we are also not to be so attracted to this world that we are of no spiritual value for the kingdom of God.

Christians have to work, we are to be a part of the world but as Christians, we will view everything against the background of eternity and not live like this life is all that matters.

I said this week at Wednesday Bible study that I am concerned that most are living this life just the opposite- we are striving to be best in this world, and we are more concerned about having all the pleasures and things of this world rather than realizing that this world is just a dash in time compared to eternity.

We have to live in this world and we have to make a living and we have to raise a family but we do not have to live this life like this is all there is and we do not have to raise our children and grandchildren without letting them know that eternity with Jesus is more important than any temporary thing this world has to offer.

There is a new set of values and they are determined and monitored by Jesus instead of the world. We should not care what the world thinks if the world thinks different than what Jesus has said.

Values like giving rather than getting

Serving above ruling

Forgiving above revenging

How is this to be accomplished? Because our life as a believer is hidden in Christ! I am going to hit it hard this morning.

Remember we just talked about water baptism and the spiritual death and resurrection of a believer- the old sinful person going down and the new raised up believer coming up –

Paul fought the Greeks because they thought when they died they would be hidden in the earth- this is all there is. Dead to the dead dead!

Paul says no as a believer hidden in Christ you can experience new life now while you are on earth and new life in eternity because you are a believer.

This life is not all there is… those hidden in Christ will experience eternity with Christ and those without Christ will spend eternity separated from Christ.

I want you to catch this- past, present, future with Christ

Past- “You were raised with Christ”

Present- “ your life is hid in Christ”

Future- “ You shall appear with Him in glory”

All things come through union with Him

Raised from death/ hallelujah!

Hid in God/ it is no longer about you but all about Him

Revealed in glory/

Christian life-

Origin-raised in Christ (not about you)

Source- Jesus

Consummation- we get to be in glory because of what He has done for us.

The spiritual resurrection becomes the primary fact OF OUR NEW LIFE.

There is no living (spiritually) without Jesus being in your life.