Colossians 3:1-4 [Things on the Earth and Things Above]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. The passage above tells us that "things above" and "things on the earth" are clearly distinguished from each other. Therefore, we are told to seek and set our minds only on the things above, and not to set our minds on the things on the earth. Then why must we seek and set our minds only on the things above (verses 1, 3)? And what is the result of this (verse 4)?

2. In verse 1 above, the phrase "if ye then be risen with Christ" refers to "baptism." This is because the meaning of baptism is "to die together with Jesus and to be raised again together with Jesus" (Colossians 2:12). Therefore, if through "baptism" we have died and been raised again together with Jesus, then we must seek only the things above, not the things on the earth. This is because we have already died to the things on the earth (verse 3).

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."

Then what are "things on the earth," and what are "things above"? We can know this through the words of Colossians 3.

- Things on the earth:

Colossians 3:5-11 "5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

- Things above:

Colossians 3:12-17 "12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

[Decision and Application]

Through the apostle John, we were told not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world. This is because all that is in the world is "the lust of the flesh," "the lust of the eyes," and "the pride of life," and we are told that these are not of the Father.

1 John 2:15-17 "15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Therefore, because the things on the earth, that is, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are not from God, we must strive and labor to seek only the things above (Matthew 22:37). This world and all its lusts will pass away, and only those who do the will of God will abide forever with Jesus.

Among the words that teach us about the things above, Colossians 3:12-17 shows the life that those who are "the elect of God, holy and beloved" must put on in Christ. In other words, we must look to "the things above," that is, to Jesus Christ, and live by following Him. The reason it says "above" is that, after His ascension, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2, Romans 8:34). When the time soon comes, Jesus will come again and will catch us up in the clouds to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Therefore, we must also earnestly long for that day to come quickly.

2 Peter 3:11-13 "11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Therefore, if we look for the new heavens and the new earth and do not set our minds on the things on the earth, namely the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but instead set our minds on and earnestly long for the things above, that is, Jesus Christ, then according to the written word, when Jesus, who is our life, shall appear again, He will also cause us to appear with Him "in glory" (verse 4).

1 Peter 1:7-9 "7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

Romans 8:17-18 "17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Amen.