Colossians 3:3

For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

'FOR' -Again emphasizing the reason for this new mental perspective.

'YE DIED' -Colossians 3:1

'YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST' -

Points to Note:

1. Other passages touch on the same thought (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14).

2.. like how Bruce explains this expression, 'What, then are the practical implications of being raised with Christ? In the first place, believers have now no private life of their own. Their life is the life of Christ...Their interests must therefore be his interests..' (p. 134)

3. The word "hid" is an interesting term in this verse: (a) Clearly, the people in Colossae would see that these Christians had changed. In addition, Jesus calls upon Christians to demonstrate to others their new life (Matthew 5:14). So, Paul isn't saying that they are "hide" this new life. And neither is he saying that nobody ever knows who is. Christian and who isn't. (b) To me Paul is saying that when you became. Christian, you completely handed over your whole life to God, self was completely given up (Matthew 16:24; Galatians 5:24). In that sense your life was "hid", Christ and His will is now the predominant consideration in your life (2 Corinthians 5:9). Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20. 'it is no longer. who live', seems equivalent to the statement 'your life is hidden with Christ.'

'IN GOD' -If you have fellowship with Christ, if you belong to Him, then obviously you belong to God. Notice, one cannot be fellowshipped and one cannot be rejected with rejecting the other (2 John 1:9). 'to emphasize the fact of the union of Christ with God, or perhaps to deepen the reader's sense of the sacredness of this life in Christ.' (P.P. Comm. p. 148)

Point to Note:

Unfortunately, some Calvinists have taken the above beautiful expression and tried to twist into meaning that the Christian has eternal security, i.e. once saved, always saved. But other clear statements, in this very letter, contradict such an idea (Colossians 1:23; Colossians 2:19; Colossians 3:25).