If you have been raised with Christ….
What an interesting statement Paul makes at the beginning of Colossians 3. “If you have been raised with Christ……”. How can we better 
understand why this particular statement is used? Well a little background on this epistle might clear some things up. Paul penned this letter in response to a personal visit from Epaphras, who was the founder, pastor, servant, and minister of this church. Epaphras had come to Paul to ask for help because of a dangerous heresy that had entered the Colossian church. What was this heresy? Well, like all other heresies it was an attack on the humanity and deity of Christ Jesus.
Like all false teaching that distorts the person, work, and deity of Jesus Christ, a form of works based salvation is what usually follows and the heresy at the Colossian church was no different. Paul tells us exactly what it is:
“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used) according to human precepts and teachings?” Colossians 2:20-22
The church had been bombarded by a form of Gnosticism, claiming a superior and distorted knowledge of who Christ was and offering a different way to enter heaven other than by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The things the people were doing to “get right with God” actually only separated them from God prompting Paul to write this letter and make this statement:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1
The statement “if you have been raised with Christ” means: If you have been purchased out of sins market by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20), if you have been sealed with His Spirit as the guarantee of the inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), if you have been created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10), if you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), if you have a righteousness that isn’t intrinsic to you (Philippians 3:9), if you were saved not because of works done in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), if you have died and been set free from sin (Romans 6:7), if by faith you now have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), if you have been blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3) and have all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3) then………
SEEK CHRIST!
Because the answer to all things in life are found IN CHRIST ALONE!
Don’t seek the knowledge of men for it ALWAYS leads to heresy the end of which is death……
Whenever Christ is not sufficient enough for you then you have left your first love (if you ever truly loved him at all). Do not seek to be wise in the eyes of this world. Do not seek to be accepted and loved by this world.
Saved Young people: Do not seek to fit in with the crowd or be cool with the kids at school, but In Christ, seek to put on righteousness and actively evangelize the lost in your schools, parks, and hangout spots. Do not seek the comforts of human recognition, in Christ your reward is in heaven….
Saved married people: My wife and I sit down at least once a week and discuss how we are doing in becoming a Colossians 3 family. You know, a family that lets the word of God dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, the wisdom found in the Word of God (verse 16)! We get very practical in this: Rione submits to me as in the Lord (verse 18) as I Love her and work hard not to be harsh with her (verse 19). We both teach our children the truth not provoking them to anger (verse 20). I go to work and submit to my authority there working hard as unto the Lord not by way of eye service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord (verse 22).
These good works the Christian is called to do as a result of the new birth in Christ. We have been born again and the wisdom and knowledge we learn, seek, teach and follow comes from Christ. It doesn’t come from men, it doesn’t come from this world, and it doesn’t come from us, as Paul says:
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3
Are you living as if you have died to sin? Has God forgiven all your trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against you with it legal demands, setting it aside by nailing it to the cross? Is your life hidden with Christ in God? If not, then everything I have just suggested for you to do, you will fail miserably in. You have need of repentance and faith in Christ all-sufficient work on the cross. This is the very reason way Paul penned this letter. Christ is sufficient to save! Your works (outside of Christ) are not only unprofitable, but they are a continuous nasty smoke in the nostrils of God and He hates it (Isaiah 65:5)!
He is God in the flesh, the only sacrifice that is acceptable to God for the appeasement of His wrath! If you have broken just one of God’s laws then you have already committed enough sin to merit hell FOREVER! Christ is the God-Man the Savior full of truth and deity. Paul confirms this when he said:
“For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…..” Colossians 2:9
The Christian looks to Christ in all things: Strength in this Christian walk, forgiveness of sin, intercessory prayer to the Father, help
in our marriages, wisdom in raising our children, and a hope that we will be with Him one day, because He is all we need. He is
our life breath……
“When Christ who is your life appears, then you will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4
Amen…..
brdavision
When i was reading this article,what i could only do was to ask myself if i am really born again.I thank the Lord for strengthening and awakening you to spread the gospel.
Amen…
pray the Lord would send out more laborers truthsaid…..
Brandon,
Well said my friend…Colossians 3:2-3 has been a bastion of hope for me personally, especially the last couple of years or so. Thank you for highlighting what should come forth from hearts transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
On another note, I don’t know if you were still planning or have registered to attend the Shepherd’s Conference or not, but as of now the tickets are sold out. This is something my buddy Jordan had to learn the hard way, because he waited until the last minute to register! However, I think they still have walk-up registration, and that is an avenue that he will now have to pursue. Related to that issue, I got an email from the Director of Admissions and Placement at the Master’s Seminary. This is a correspondence that he sent to all folks attending the conference. I will post the letter, then offer some suggestions at the end.
Gentlemen,
If you are interested in attending The Master’s Seminary, I would like to invite you to come to one of the prospective student lunches we will be hosting during the Shepherds’ Conference. We will be hosting three prospective student lunches during the Shepherds’ Conference which will be conducted in an interactive format with a TMS Professor and an Admissions Counselor. These lunches will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the regularly scheduled lunch times indicated on the Shepherds’ Conference schedule. Please note that due to space limitations, openings for the lunches will be filled on a first come basis. If you would like to attend one of these lunches, please contact Matthew Johnston, Admissions Advisor, and indicate which day you would like to attend. We hope to see you there!
Casting all our cares on Him,
Ray Mehringer
The Master’s Seminary
Director of Admissions & Placement
800-225-5867, ext. 5627
http://www.tms.edu
My question to you is this. Since I am going to be attending the conference, did you want me to try to make one of the luncheons and gather any information for you? In addition, are there any questions that you needed to ask the director that I could field to him for you? Please let me know.
Hope to hear from you soon my friend, and continue to contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 3).
Soli Deo Gloria,
R4C
Brother Ready4change,
No sir I will not be able to make it to the Shepherd’s Conference this year. I really wish I could go. But to be honest I did not plan as I should. This blog, a weekly bible study, personal prayer, my wife, two kids, work (including much overtime) and now glory to God, my pastor has now added me to the preaching rotation (We have 2 church plants in Corpus and Loredo Texas, plus Lord willing another one in Austin about to begin) I’m am pressed for time…..extremely pressed…..
If you can attend that meeting and gather any materials they give I would be forever indebted to you my friend. That would be awesome!!!!!!!
Sorry for the shortness of this reply, I’m on lunch at work…
Grace, Mercy, and peace to my brother,
brdavision
This article really blessed my soul. I thank God for the wisdom he has given you. I will continue to pray that the Lord blesses you and allows you to stay holy and to keep spreading the Word of God.
Pray for more and more laborers Isaiah…..
I was reading the replies and wanted to say a big congratulations to you for being added to the preaching rotation at your church!!! Praise The Lord!
Yes praise the Lord Ms. Samantha! May the Lord make much use of this simple man and may His name received much glory!
Brandon,
No worries my friend…Consider it done…Shoot me an email when you get a chance (I think you have it in the details section of this reply?). If not, let me know and I can send whatever info I grab at the conference to the church or to your home…
Let me also add my congrats to you on the preaching rotation…Never doubted it my friend…May the Lord use you mightily for the proclamation of the gospel and the edification of His saints…On that note, I will leave you with something that you may have read before, but even if that’s the case its worth reading again…(smile)…Take note that whenever Christ places me in the pastorate, what you read at the end of this comment will be posted in my study…Someone as prone to sin and haughtiness such as myself needs this constant reminder…Enjoy the writing and let mek now what you think…
Be well my friend, and be sure to get in touch when you can…
Soli Deo Gloria,
R4C
And Preach As You Go!
Floyd Doud Shafer
Christianity Today, March 27, 1961
There was a time, about three generations ago, when the minister was known as the parson. Parson, in those days, was not a nickname, but an honorific title, and it meant The Person. More often than not the parson was the best educated man in the community and he ranked with the physician and the pedagogue, and the lawyer in eminence. But our time has seen a complete switch in this situation. The minister is no longer a parson. The advent of a highly educated public has put the minister close to the bottom of the listings in educated persons. Our reaction to this turn of events should have been a determined and disciplined effort to regain and maintain superior excellence in the things which pertain to God. Instead, the clergy retreated in mad scramble behind the breastworks of administrative detail, ecclesiastical trivia, and community vagrancy. Whenever our conscience bothered us, we simply ran off to another meeting to make arrangements for succeeding meetings to flee to. We are no longer parsons, now we are “good Joes” and in place of providing the Church with her needed “Scholar teachers” who are equipped to bring God and man together in reasoned relation, we no find ourselves among those who need to be reached by the “Scholar Teacher” and wise men of God. What is the resolution of this ridiculous farce?
Minister of the Word
The answer ought to be obvious. Here it is in taunting simplicity: Make him a minister of the Word! But what does that mean? What could be more esoteric? Very well, we will say it with more passionate bluntness. Fling him into his office, tear the office sign from the door and nail on the sign: STUDY. Take him off the mailing list, lock him up with his books (get him all kinds of books) and his typewriter and his Bible. Slam him down on his knees before texts, broken hearts, and the flippant lives of a superficial flock, and the Holy God. Throw him into the ring to box with God till he learns how short his arms are: engage him to wrestle with God all the night through. Let him come out only when he is bruised and beaten into being a blessing. Set a time clock on him that will imprison him with thought and writing about God for 40 hours a week. Shut his garrulous mouth forever spouting “remarks” and stop his tongue always tripping lightly over everything non-essential. Require him to have something to say before he dare break silence. Bend his knees in the lonesome valley, fire him from the PTA and cancel his country club membership: burn his eyes with weary study, wreck his emotional poise with worry for God, and make him exchange his pious stance for a humble walk with God and man. Make him spend and be spent for the glory of God.
A Life Aflame
Rip out his telephone, burn up his ecclesiastical success sheets, refuse his glad hand, and put water in the gas tank of his community buggy. Give him a Bible and tie him to his pulpit and make him preach the Word of the Living God. Test him, quiz him and examine him: humiliate him for his ignorance of things divine, and shame him for his glib comprehension of finances, batting averages, and political infighting. Laugh at his frustrated effort to play psychiatrist, scorn his insipid morality, refuse his supine intelligence, ignore his broadmindedness which is only flat headedness, and compel him to be a minister of the Word. If he wants to be gracious, challenge him rather to be a product of the rough grace of God. If he dotes on being pleasing, demand that he please God and not man. If he wants to be unctuous, ask him to make sounds with a tongue on which a Holy Flame has rested. If he wants to be a manager, insist rather that he be a manikin for God, a being who is illustrative of the purpose and will of God.
One Thing Needful
Form a choir and raise a chant and haunt him with it night and day: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” When, at long last, he dares assay the pulpit, ask him if he has a word from God: if he does not, then dismiss him and tell him you can read the morning paper, digest the television commentaries, think through the day’s superficial problems, manage the community’s myriad drives, and bless assorted baked potatoes and green beans ad infinitum better than he can. Command him not to come back until he has read and re-read, written and re-written, until he can stand up, worn and forlorn, and say, “Thus saith the Lord!” Break him across the board of his ill-gotten popularity, smack him hard with his own prestige, corner him with questions about God, and cover him with demands for celestial wisdom, and give him no escape until he is backed against the wall of the Word: then sit down before him and listen to the only word he has left: God’s Word. Let him be totally ignorant of the down-street gossip, but give him a chapter and order him to walk around it, camp on it, suffer with it, and come at last to speak it backwards and forwards until all he says about it rings with the truth of eternity. Ask him to produce living credentials that he has been and is true father in his own home before you allow him license to play father to all and sundry. Demand to be shown that his love is deep, strong, and secure among those nearest and dearest to him before he is given contract to share the superfluity of his affability with all sorts and conditions of persons. Examine his manse whether it be a seminary of faith, hope, learning, and love or a closet of fretting, doubt, dogmatism, and temper; if it be the latter, the quarantine him in it for praying, crying, and conversion, and then let him go forth converted, to convert.
Sign and Symbol
Mold him relentlessly into a man forever bowed but never cowed before the unconcealed truth which he has labored to reveal, and let him hang flung against the destiny of almighty God; let his soul be stripped bare before the onrushing purposes of God, and let him be lost, doomed, and done that his God alone be all in all. Let him, in himself, be sign and symbol that everything human is lost, that Grace comes through loss; and make him the illustration that Grace alone is amazing, sufficient, and redemptive. Let him be transparent to God’s grace, God himself. And when he is burned out by the flaming Word that coursed through him, when he is consumed at last by the fiery Grace blazing through him, and when he who was privileged to translate the truth of God to man is finally translated from earth to heaven, then bear him away gently, blow a muted trumpet and lay him down softly, place a two-edged sword on his coffin and raise a tune triumphant, for he was a brave soldier of the Word and e’er he died he had become spokesman of his God.
And who shall return us to this ministry? “Therein the patient must minister to himself.”
amen brother for this! I want to post it as a blog article if that’s ok with you. Let me know!
Brandon,
Post as you wish my friend!!! I found that writing some years ago and it is a sober reminder of what ministry should entail…
Got your email as well, and I have responded. Take care and may Christ fulfill you richly…
Soli Deo Gloria,
R4C