Colossians 3:1-4 - Since You Were Raised With Christ

Colossians 3:1-4 is the transitional point of Paul's letter to the Colossians, moving from the teaching of Christ to the exhortation of Christlikeness.

In the first two chapters Paul laid the foundational truths of the supremacy of Christ, the sufficiency of His work of redemption, and the security or the believer's union with Him. In chapter three, Paul tells the Colossians that, on the basis of who Christ is and what He has done, they should then press on to become more like Christ. Since they have died with Christ they should put to death those things that are contrary to Him. Since they were raised with Christ, they should put on those things that are fitting for Him.

In Colossians 3:1-4, then, Paul gives three indicatives based on the truth of Christ and His work from which imperatives flow for the Christian to grow in Christ. Because it is true that the believer has died and has been raised with Christ, he is to seek and set his mind on the things above, where Christ is. Because it is true that the believer's life is currently hidden in Christ, he is to live for Him here and now. And because it is true that Christ will appear in glory and the believer will then be made like Him, he is to press on with confidence.

The key that connects all of this together is that the believer is to "reckon" what is true of Christ and what Christ has done in him and then act according to his new identity and union with Christ. Since he is in Christ, he is to be Christlike. "Be what you are" should be his reminder daily.