THREE TRUTHS

THAT WILL

CHANGE YOUR 

CHRISTIAN LIFE

COLOSSIANS 3:1-17

Introduction:  There are some hard truths found in the three words that I am going to read for myself, as well as you.  I only wish again...that someone had given me these truths years past in my Christian life.  I will warn you in the beginning that these words are what I call “sweat” words.  There is massive discipline in these words.  If followed, these words will give your Christian life a dimension that you have never known.  Here we go

FOUR PRELIMINARY TRUTHS TO NOTE:  

1. First, we are DEAD with Christ.  3:3a.   [this is PAST TENSE]

a. Do you understand that when Christ died, you died also?  “for you have died” 3:3a..  I Peter 2:24 makes it also clear when the text says, “who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree...”  Now, if He did bear in His own body your sins, then the sin question has been dealt with.  My assurance as a believer today has nothing to do with me personally, but it has to do with His dying for my sins, bearing in His own body my sins.  

2. Second, we are RISEN with Christ.  3:1   [this also is PAST TENSE]

a. The cross has two sides, one is death and the other is resurrection.  He died for me and this CUTS me off from my old life.  We are risen with Him and this CONNECTS me to the new life.  This is illustrated in II Cor 5:17....”if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.”  

The fact that you and I are risen with Him means that “every sin” all sin” “secret sins” you name it...were all handled by Him at the cross.  Had there been just 1 little sin, smaller than you can imagine...that He did not die for, then HE COULD NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THE GRAVE.  The devil would have called the hand of God on that 1 little sin.

3. Third, we are HIDDEN with Him.  3:3b   [this is PRESENT TENSE]

A. Hidden implies Two things.

1. SECRECY:  We who know Christ personally have an “unseen supply” This is why a real believer cannot be explained by the unbeliever.  It is the same truth as John 14:19....”the world seeth me no more, but YOU SEE ME.’.  He  is invisible to the world, but not to the believer.  The fact that you and I are “hidden” is a absolute mystery to the world.  

2. SECURITY.  I like  Col. 3:3b....for it says I am “hid WITH Christ and IN God.” This like having two locks on the door.....WHAT SECURITY....When I think of the double lock of “with Christ” and “in God” I can sleep like a baby at nights.  

4. Fourth, we are to APPEAR with Christ in glory.  3:4   [this is FUTURE TENSE]

1. Please note that there is NO break here.  All who are “dead with Christ” are also the ones who shall “appear with Christ.”  Question:  What if we lose our union or become as some say “unsaved?”  Paul absolutely forgot to include losing our UNION with Him.  He looks at all believers with no respect to TIME.  It is the same as Rom. 8:28-29....every one of the words in Rom. 8:28-29 are in PAST TENSE....”justified, sanctified, glorified” are all in past tense.  In reality, as you read these notes, I Ralph Norwood have already been glorified according to Rom. 8:30.  

2. Note that all of these 4 truths come because of our Union with Christ.  I today, right now, am dead, am risen, am hidden, I shall appear.  You cannot pray for these marks, you cannot go forward for them, you cannot work for them.  THEY COME WITH THE PACKAGE OF GRACE.  I am today united to His past, united to His present and united to His future.  When He died, I died, when He was raised, I was raised, when He appears, I appear with Him. 

THREE IMPERATIVE CLAUSES ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.   

  A. SEEK:  v. 1.   “seek the things which are above”  

1. the idea here is NOT that something is lost and we are to seek it....This a  word that refers to the idea of EXAMING. “keep on examining.”  The word is in PRESENT tense....thus I am to “keep on seeking, examining.”  I am to do this in an unbroken, continuous manner.  “I am to keep seeking those things which are above.”   

a. Lesson:  People, this is hard, I am told to continually “seek those things which ar above.”  I am sorry to have to tell you and myself, but this then involves Bible Study, involves time, involves discipline, this is hard, this is not easy, this is daily, this is weekly.

B. SET:  v. 2.   “set your mind on the things above”

1. The word means “to think” or “to meditate.”  It is a reference to a MENTAL ACTIVITY.  I nearly forgot, but again, it is in the present tense.  “keep your mind on things above.” 

2. Again, it involves discipline, time, effort, meditation  TRY THIS FOR ONE WEEK....and see where you are in your life.  It is clear that unless you give your mind to the Christian life, you cannot live a holy life.  [note the verses on the mind]

a.Rom. 12:2...”be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the RENEWING of your MIND.’ 

b. Rom. 8:5....”they that are after the Spirit do MIND the things of the Spirit”

c. Hebrews 10:6....”I will put my law in their hearts and in their MINDS will I write them.”

d. Phil. 3:19....this is a verse about the unsaved for a contrast to what we have just noted.  “God is their belly whose glory is in their shame, who MIND earthly things.”

3. MORTIFY [v. 5]   “mortify therefore your members”   [It is an IMPERATIVE for believers]

1. Mortify can mean one of two things.

a. it can mean to put to death.

b. it can mean to treat as dead.  [In the light of Col. 3:3... it tells us that we died, thus you and I are “to treat as dead our members.”  Same truth as Rom. 6:2, 6:8, 6:11-13

2. How am I to MORTIFY?

a. First, by a SINGLE DECISIVE ACT.  The word in v. 5 is of such a tense [according to the Greek people] that it implies a SINGLE DECISIVE ACT.  

1. Question:  Have you as a believer ever made a “single decisive Decision or act in reference to your body??”

b. Second by a CONTINUOUS ACTION.  In some places, the word mortify is in the present tense, which implies a continuous action...as Rom 6:1...and Rom. 8:13...”if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.”

1. I as a believer should make the ONE decisive decision about the members of the body and then we are to follow it through with a continuous attitude of renewing .  Sometimes it is a daily attitude pertaining to  our members.