Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. IF (SEEING THAT) YE THEN. In ; he condemned the "fleshly mind:" in contrast he now says, 'If then ye were once for all raised (Greek, aorist) together with Christ' (namely, at your conversion and baptism, ): for death with Him implies also resurrection with Him (). SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE (; ). SITTETH - `where Christ is,...

To those fruitless exercises which the false apostles urged, (429) as though perfection consisted in them, he opposes those true exercises in which it becomes Christians to employ themselves; and this has no slight bearing upon the point in hand; for when we see what God would have us do, we afterwards easily despise the inventions of men. When we perceive, too, that what God recommends to us is much more lofty and excellent than what men inculcate, our alacrity of mind increases for following God, so as to disregard men. Paul here exhorts the Colossians to meditation upon the heavenly life. And what as to his opponents? They were desirous to retain their childish rudiments. This doctrine, therefore, makes the ceremonies be the more lightly esteemed. Hence it is manifest that Paul, in this passage, exhorts in such a manner as to confirm the foregoing doctrine; for, in describing solid pi...

1-4 As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together; and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other. Those that are born again are dead to sin, because its dominion is broken, its power gradually subdued by the operation of grace, and it shall at length be extinguished by the perfection of glory. To be dead, then, means this, that those who have the Holy Spirit, mortifying within them the lusts of the flesh, are able to despise earthly things, and to desire those that are heavenly. Christ is, at present, one whom we have not seen; but our comfort is, that our life is safe with him. The streams of this living water flow into the soul by the influences of the Holy Spirit, through faith. Christ lives in the believer by his...

CHAPTER III. _The apostle exhorts the Colossians to heavenly-mindedness after_ _the example of Christ, that they may be prepared to appear with_ _him in glory_, 1-4. _Exhorts them also to mortify their members, and calls to their_ _remembrance their former state_, 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_, 8-14. _Shows that they are called to unity and holiness; and commands_ them to have the

IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST - The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12; see the notes at that passage. The argument is, that there was such an 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 fix their affections there. SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE - That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them. WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD - Notes, Mark 16:19. The argument here is, that since Christ is th

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 3:1 SECTION VII. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE. The apostle, having delivered his attack on the system of error inculcated at Colossae, now passes from the controversial to the more practical purport of his letter. There is no break, however, in the current of his thought; for throughout this chapter he urges the pursuit of a practical Christian life in a sense and in a manner silently opposed to the tendencies of Gnosticizing error. How much more congenial was the task to which he now addresses himself we may judge, perhaps, from the ease and simplicity which mark the language of this chapter, as compared with the abrupt and seemingly embarrassed style of the last section. We may analyze the hortatory section of the Epistle ...

IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST,.... The apostle having observed in the former chapter, that the believing Colossians were dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, were buried with him in baptism, and were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, argues from hence how much it became them to regard a new and spiritual life, and to seek after superior and heavenly things, and treat with neglect and contempt carnal and earthly ones. For he does not here call in question their being risen with Christ, but takes it for granted that they were, and makes use of it as an argument for his present purpose. They were risen with Christ as their head, and as members in union with him representatively, when he rose from the dead; and emblematically in their baptism, when having gone down into the water, and being baptized, they emersed from it; and spiritually in conversion,...

Colossians 3:1 _If ye then be risen with Christ,_ Leave all these outward rituals, and formalities, and ordinances of men, Colossians 3:1. _Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth._ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. This exposition consisted of readings from Colossians 2:6; and Colossians 3:1....

III. THE PRACTICAL RESULTS: LIVING AS RISEN WITH CHRIST (3-4) CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The life hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1)_ 2. The contrast: The old man and the new man (Colossians 3:5) 3. Manifesting Christ (Colossians 3:12) 4. Relationships (Colossians 3:18; Colossians 4:1) Colossians 3:1 Risen with Christ; such is the believer's position. “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Chri

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE RISEN WITH CHRIST. Those who are risen with Christ must aspire to the things above, in the region of Christ's heavenly session at God's right hand. Their minds must be set, not on terrestrial things, but on things high and heavenly. So far as their old life was concerned they died (_i.e._ in baptism); their life now is a hidden life in God. That is what it means to be united with Christ (Colossians 3:3). It is Christ who is our life. Hidden though He be, He shall be manifested at His coming: and His manifestation will involve our manifestation also with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). Put to death then the members on the earth fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, covetousness. These things incur God's wrath. The Colossians had formerly practised them; but they must now,