Living the Resurrection Life – Colossians 3:1-4

Eighteenth lesson in a verse by verse series through Colossians. This sermon commences the practical section of Colossians. Sermon outline: 1. The Pursuit of the Resurrection Life (Vs. 1) 2. The Passion of the Resurrection Life (Vs. 2) 3. The Perspective of the Heavenly Life (Vs. 3-4)

1. This section: We enter the practical section of the Epistle. Chapter 3 & 4 are laced with imperatives (commands). These flow out of the doctrinal basis laid down in chapters 1 & 2.
2. This lesson: The exhortation to make the things of Christ the consuming passion of our lives. This is a fitting start to this section. If our hearts are not in the right place in relation to our Saviour, then how will we really be in a position to obey what follows?
3. Key phrase: “Christ, who is our life” (Vs. 6)

The Pursuit of the Resurrection Life (Vs. 1)

Its Basis – The Believer’s Position in Christ

1. The believer is one who died with Christ, was buried with Christ, and was raised with Christ (Refer 2:12-13, 20; Romans 6:1-6)
2. The believer is seated with Christ in heavenly places: Eph 2:4-6 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
3. The believer’s citizenship is in heaven
   1. Phil. 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
   2. ‘conversation’ = Means ‘commonwealth’ or ‘citizenship’. The believer is a citizen of another country – heaven!
4. The believer is a stranger & a pilgrim on this earth
   1. Hebrews 11:13 “…and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
   2. 1 Peter 2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims…”

Its Essence – To Seek after heavenly things

1. Seek = Our energies & activities (practical striving)
   1. 2 Corinthians 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
   2. Matt. 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
   3. Psalm 63:8 “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
   4. Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two master: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” ‘mammon’ = material things (i.e. money)
2. Illustration: The picture of an Ambassador. He dwells in another country but he is motivated by the desires and aspirations of his home country which he represents. He is in that country but not of that country!
3. Example: David – Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
4. Example: The Apostle Paul – Phil. 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
5. “The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps up in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the kingdom of God. It is, however, not an end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead.” (Tozer)

Its Focus – Christ at the right hand of God

1. Right hand – a position of honour and authority.
2. ‘Christ’ appears 4 times in these verses.

The Passion for the Resurrection Life (Vs. 2)

The Focus – things above

1. ‘affections’ – Comes from the Greek word fronew (phroneo) which is translated elsewhere as ‘savourest’; ‘thinkest’; ‘mind’ as in “mind the things of the flesh” (Rom. 6:5); ‘think’ and ‘regardeth’. It refers to a bent of mind towards a particular object. It speaks of love or zealous attachment.
2. It is interesting that the translators chose the English word ‘affections’ to express this truth. Whatever consumes your thoughts reveals the love of your heart. (See Prov. 23:7). Whatever has your mind has your heart!
3. “This word ‘mind’ includes the entire personality and refers here to the whole bent of our inner nature, which is to be set in the direction of heaven because Christ is there. We are to see to it that the tendency of our life is toward heavenly not earthly things.” W.H. Griffith Thomas
4. “Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire to work and speak and think for thee.” Charles Wesley
5. “We live on earth as those whose home is in heaven.” (Moule)
6. “Lord, stamp eternity upon my eyes” (Jonathan Edwards)

The Contrast – things below

1. Examples
   1. Specifically: The man-made religious ideas that centre on earthly things
   2. Generally: The things of this life. E.g. Sports, entertainments, pleasures, money etc…
2. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The Perspective of the Resurrection Life (Vs. 3-4)

Union with Christ (Vs. 3)

1. The believer is dead! (3a) a. Gal. 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
   1. Rom. 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him…”
   2. Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ…”
2. The believer is alive! (3b)
3. The believer is secure! (3c)

Coming of Christ (Vs. 4)

1. In this verse our minds are taken forward to the final consummation of these glorious truths at the Lord’s coming for his saints.
2. The certainty – ‘when…shall appear’. Not if!
3. The person
   1. His description: Our Life – Christ is the very heart and centre of our spiritual lives. We are blessed by His indwelling and in Him we have been made complete.
      1. John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
      2. Php. 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
   2. His revelation – ‘appear’ means to make known. It has the idea of something invisible being made visible (manifest).
4. The consequence – we are also made manifest with Him.
   1. 1 Jn. 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
   2. When Christ comes, the real position of the Christian will be made manifest.

Conclusion

1. What are you living for? Who are you living for?
2. Where is heart?
3. What are your priorities?
4. Does Christ have first place (preeminence) in your life?

Sermon 18 of 28 in Colossians Series

Sermon Audio Id: 102916213396