Bible Studies
Resurrection, New Creation, New Living (Col. 3:1-4)
Series: ResurrectionIntroduction:
1. This passage defines a profound change in direction experienced by the saints at Colossae. 2. It is so radical that they have died, been raised, and are now living a new life. 3. In another place Paul calls this a “new creation” or becoming a new creature (Gal. 6:15). 4. Jesus described it as being “born again” (Jn. 3:3). 5. “Is it possible for me to start over with a new beginning?” “Is there some way for me to deal with the guilt, the shame, the anger, and the grief associated with my messed up life?”Discussion:
I. Paul holds out resurrection as the way to a new beginning. He says to the Colossians, “If you have been raised up with Christ . . .”A. They had been raised up with Christ. Col. 2:12 identifies the time when it had occurred.
B. While many disparage baptism Paul makes it the time at which God acts to give new life.
C. To be sure it is not the mere immersion in water that gives the new life any more than Naaman’s immersion in the Jordan cleansed his leprosy. It is God who cleansed Naaman and it is God who raises the dead.
1. God makes alive by forgiving our transgressions (2:13).
2. By canceling out the debt we owe by nailing it to the cross (2:14).
3. He disarmed those who had the damning goods on us and would prosecute us to death (2:15). Therefore no one can condemn us (2:16ff) and we can give up trying to pay for what we have done (2:20ff).
D. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17).
II. “If the debt is paid and we have been raised where do we go from here?” That’s Paul’s point! “If you have been raised . . . keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”A. First, notice the position of Christ as the authority. He is the King. He has disarmed those who would condemn us. He is our deliverer, our Savior.
B. We must keep seeking the things above. We must set our minds on the things above and not on the earth.
1. We are new creatures thus we must think, live and act like new creatures act.
2. We can’t go back to the behavior that got us in trouble to begin with.
C. The change involves a change in thinking and behavior.
1. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2).
2. “The god of this world blinds the minds of the unbelieving so that they do not see the light” (2 Cor. 4:4).
3. We have been “rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col. 1:13).
4. We are enlightened and thus live soberly as sons of light in preparation for the coming of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:1-9).
5. We are imitators of God, arisen from the dead, and Christ is shining on us (Eph. 5:1-14).
6. We have laid aside the old self with its evil practices (Eph. 4:17-6:1ff) and consider ourselves as dead to that way of life (Col. 3:5-4:1).
a. Note how it transforms our personal lives and our family life.
b. Contrast “laying aside the old self” with being “lovers of self “ (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
D. We have to stop thinking like the world thinks. We have been raised from the dead. Cf. Titus 3:3-8.
E. We need to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders so that we give no occasion to anything that might hinder them from coming to the light (Col. 4:5-6). We have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God (3:3). Every aspect of our life should be designed to lead others to Him.
III. Then when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, we will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).A. When He returns we will be vindicated.
B. What He has revealed will be validated.
C. The way of life will be confirmed.
Conclusion:
1. Have you been raised up with Christ? 2. Then keep seeking the things above. Set your mind on things above and not on the earth. 3. Your life is hidden with Christ and you will be revealed with Him in glory.
