Series: Truth, Judgment and Eternity Text: Colossians 3:1-10 Pray Mind’s Set Above

Mind On Things Above Colossians 3:1-2 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Christians who believe they have been saved by the blood of Christ, are called to set their hearts on things above, heavenly things, things of eternal value, with our eyes on the throne of God where Christ is seated. Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” There is saying, “that he is so heavenly minded he is of no earthly good.” But what it should say, “if he is not heavenly minded, your not of any earthly good.”

Hidden in Christ Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” A true Christian is dead to the old life of sin. Paul elaborates on this point in Romans 6:2-13 We are told that our life is now hidden with Christ in God. If our life is truly hidden with Christ, then should not our desires, our interests and our concerns be for where our life is hidden? If our life is hidden in Christ, should not then our desires be for Christ? Should not our interests be for Christ? Should not our concerns be for Christ?

When Christ Appears Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” This is the promise that makes everything that we have to endure to be Christian in this life, all worth it. When Christ appears, at that moment we will be transformed into our imperishable bodies and we will be lifted up to be with Him and we will be with Him forever. 1Corinthians 15:51-52 “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Put Our Sin Nature to Death Colossians 3:5-6 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” The King James reads, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” To mortify means to subdue by self denial. In so many of Paul’s letters to the churches he calls the believers to self-control. Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,”

Rid Yourself of Sin Colossians 3:7-8 “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.” Again Paul presses home the point of turning from sin. He addresses this point because even back when the Church was first born and in its prime, sin was getting a strangle-hold on the believers.

Put on the New Self Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” We are called to speak truth, therefore Paul emphasized that we should not lie. As Christians we have taken off the old self of sin and we are being renewed, how? We get renewed in knowledge, and this knowledge transforms us into the image of our Creator, Lord Jesus Christ.

Let Christ Dwell in You Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” The Word of Christ dwells in us as we teach and admonish one another in all wisdom. The Word of Christ dwells in us when we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God. The Word of Christ dwells in us when we show gratitude in our Hearts to God Admonish: warn or reprimand someone firmly

Do it in the Name of Jesus Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” If our mind’s are set on things above, and we are dead to sin and our lives are hidden in Christ, then everything we do in life should be done in the name of our Lord Jesus. If we do anything which is not for the Lord Jesus or in His name, then we have to question our motive in doing it. It is so easy to spend most of our time living in our own names and barely any for Christ.

Conclusion Jesus does not just want a part of our lives. He does not just want the bit that we have left over after a busy week. He doesn’t just want a good 90% of our life. He wants our whole lives, why? Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”