Many of us can go back in our minds with fond memories to places we have been. We dream of the “good old days”. In our text this evening, the Holy Spirit had Paul urge us to do the opposite. Instead of looking back, we are to look ahead. Not only are we to dream of eternity with God in heaven, but we are to live as though it will become reality TODAY. We are to live above while still below.

Transition

This evening I want us to examine three things we must do if we are going to live above while still below.

The 1st thing we must do to live above while still below is to …

Review our Conversion (3:1)

Paul begins this section with the words “If ye then be risen with Christ”. He reminds us that he is talking to Christians. Only those who have truly placed their faith in Christ for salvation are risen with Christ. Does that really describe you?

  1. Christ died and arose again to give us life
    1. (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
    2. (Hebrews 2:14) “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:15) “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
    3. (1 Peter 3:18) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
    4. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:10) “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”
  2. We died and arose to new life in Christ
    1. The moment a person repents and trusts Christ for salvation, he dies to sin and receives a new life in Christ. God makes him a new person (2Co 5:17). Water baptism by immersion pictures what Christ did for us the moment we repented and placed our faith in Him alone. (Romans 6:4) “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
    2. Paul said, (Galatians 2:20) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
    3. (1 Corinthians 6:19) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:20) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
    4. If you have truly risen with Christ, then you should have a new focus.
      The 2nd thing we must do to live above while still below is to …

Focus on Eternity (3:1-2)

Here the Holy Spirit gives us two commands.

  1. 1st seek those things which are above
    1. The original word order places the emphasis on “the things above.” – The things above we must seek. The Christian life is not about having a good time on earth. It is about preparing for heaven.
    2. We are to seek the things above. In other words we are to seek in order to find; to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after; to crave.
    3. God wants our passion in life to be about seeking God’s will in heaven. Remember what Jesus said we are to seek instead of the needs of this life? (Matthew 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
    4. What were Jesus’ last words to his followers? (Mark 16:15) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” What have you done this week to spread the gospel?
  2. 2nd set your affection on things above
    1. Again, the original word order places the emphasis on “the things above.” Heaven is to be our focus.
    2. The command “set your affection on” comes from a word that means to direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for; to be devoted to.
    3. This command appears to be similar to the former one, but it has a different focus. In his commentary, John Eadie states, “The verb in this verse … refers more to inner disposition, while the former is rather practical pursuit.” In other words, seeking to do God’s will is to be our outer activity, while focusing our thoughts on God in heaven is to be our inner activity.
    4. How much have you focused on God in heaven this week? Have you taken time to personally worship Him? Have you done as the Psalmist said in (Psalms 100) “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
      ☆ These two commands, to seek to please God and to seek to know God are to be our primary goals if we have been raised to new life in Christ.
      The 3rd thing we must do to live above while still below is to …

Look for Christ’s Return (3:3-4)

  1. Your life is hid in Christ
    1. When you were born, you were born with a sinful nature and a selfish life. Your sinful nature and selfish life were ruled by sin and the devil. Life was all about serving self, pleasing you, doing what you enjoyed. That sinful, selfish lifestyle is what must be repented of before a person can place true faith in Christ for salvation from that self-life.
    2. When a person trusts Christ to save him, that selfish life ruled by sin dies and Christ gives new life. Though we may not fully understand this, we must accept it as fact. (Romans 6:11) “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin no longer masters you.
    3. If saved, your new spiritual life is hid together with Christ in God. Your life is now hid or concealed in Christ. Christ purchased you and you belong to Him. He rescued you from hell. He has equipped you to serve Him instead of yourself (Eph 2:10). He wants to empower and change you (Gal 5:16-25; Eph 6:10-18).He is your new identity. Life is no longer about serving self. It is all about living for Christ.
  2. You will appear with Christ in glory
    1. The phrase, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear” tells us that Christ will one day be visible. We cannot see Him now, but if He is your source of spiritual life, one day you will see Him. He will come to take all true Christians to heaven. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
    2. When He comes, we will appear together with Him in glory – that is in the presence of God Almighty. This world is not our permanent home. We will forever live with God in glory. Why then do we not seek to please God, seek to know God and to live for eternity?

Conclusion

God wants us to live above while still below. He wants us to live for eternity instead of living for self. When God looks at your life, can He truly say that you are seeking those things which are above and setting your affection on them? If not, you need to ask God to show you what changes you must make and then make those changes.

Song: Have I Done My Best – 368
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Living Above While Still Below
22 January 2017 PM – Colossians 3:1-4 – Scott Childs