Seeking the things Above (3:1-4)
In the first four verses of this chapter, Paul lays the foundation on which he builds everything else in this chapter, so we really need to understand the foundation. He begins with the words, “If then you have been raised with Christ,” that is, if you have put your faith in Christ by the grace of Christ, then you have been made alive with him, you have been raised up with him, and you have been seated with him in the heavenly places (see Ephesians 2:5-7). This is your new reality, and if this is true of you, then Paul wants you to know that some other things are also true of you.
Specifically, we see in verse 3 that by putting our faith in Christ, we have literally died to our lives on this earth so that our true lives are hidden with Christ in God. For a number of reasons, our God and Savior has thought it best to leave us here on earth for a brief season but the truth of the matter is that our lives are no longer defined by our lives in this world.
Further, we see in verse 4 that when Jesus Christ who is our life comes again and his glory explodes upon the sky so that every eye sees him and every ear hears him, we will not tremble in the way the nations will tremble because the truth of who we are will also become apparent at that moment. I don’t know how this is going to work, I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but what I plainly see in Scripture is that when Christ appears in stunning glory, we who belong to him will be there with him.
Friends, if you believe in Jesus Christ, this is a picture of your reality and your destiny which is why Paul exhorts us in verses 1-2, “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” By faith, you have died to this earth and by faith your life is in Christ, so seek and set your mind on Christ with all the passion and energy you can muster. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Put to Death What is Earthly (3:5-11)
With this exhortation in mind, Paul instructs us in verses 5-11, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you [because of your identity and your destiny]: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Paul’s point is this: since we who believe in Jesus are not who we once were, let’s put to death our former way of life. Since our destiny is to be revealed with Christ, let’s rid ourselves of everything that’s not like Christ. Since our highest pleasure will be found when we see him face to face, let’s remove every obstacle to that pleasure day by day.
Put on What is Heavenly (3:12-17)
Now, on the positive side, Paul instructs us in verses 12-17, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Again, Paul is saying, since our identity and destiny are found in Christ, let our way of life imitate Christ. Since we have been loved with an everlasting love by God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, let’s love one another with this same love especially by bearing with one another and forgiving one another and protecting the unity we have with one another in Christ. Since the peace of God in Christ is the essence and aroma of our lives, let’s live as thankful people of peace toward God and one another.
Conclusion
Friends, both Paul’s negative and positive instructions are implications of what God has done for us in Christ (see 3:1-4). He’s calling us to live in a certain way as an overflow of who we are. He’s calling us to value certain things and to devalue other things as a display of the fact that our hope is in Christ and not in this world. So, by the grace of God, let’s hear this call and take action. Let’s put to death what is earthly, and put on what is heavenly for the glory of Jesus’ name and the increasing joy of our souls.
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