“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (NKJV). COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

What Does It Mean to “Set Your Mind on Things Above”?

I. “Seek those things which are above” (v. 1). A.We must aspire one day to live with God. “Where Christ is” (v. 1; John 14:1-3). “Seated at the Right Hand of God” (v. 1; 1 Pet. 3:22). B.“If we have been raised with Christ” we must desire eternity with Christ. Meaning of conversion (Rom. 6:1-9; Eph. 2:1-7).

II. “Not on things on the earth” (v. 2). A.We must think about some things on earth. “The things of the world” (1 Cor. 7:32-34). “Cares of the world” (Matt. 13:22). B.Earth must not be our priority. The earth is passing away (1 John 2:15-17). C.We must not yield to the sins of this world. In Christ we escape corruption (2 Pet. 1:2-4).

III. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (v. 3). A.In conversion our old self dies. “Buried with Him through baptism ” (Col. 2:11-13). B.God can still see the sins of a Christian. Being entangled and overcome (2 Pet. 2:20-22). C.We must deny ourselves. Christ lives in the Christian (Gal. 2:20).

IV. “You also will appear with Him in glory” (v. 4). A.We must look toward the time of this glory. Christians are glorified in Christ (Rom. 8:28-30). There is a glory yet to come (Rom. 8:16-19). B.When will this come? “When Christ who is our life appears” (v. 4). “When He comes, in that Day” (2 Thess. 1:6-10).