If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God  (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

St. Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians in roughly 62 A.D. during his first imprisonment in Rome.  The occasion of this letter was news of heretical teaching in Colosse.  Paul is tying his ethical teaching to the doctrine of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer.  The heresies that are alluded to in this epistle seem to indicate an emphasis on the law – circumcision as necessary; certain dietary restrictions; observance of holy days.  Also prevalent was  false teaching relegating Christ to a minor place in the system, with claims that there were other powers that needed to be placated and worshipped.   There was also the error of asceticism – teaching that the body is evil and must be treated as such.  There was an undercurrent of the occult and mysterious.

.  Paul is instructing the Colossians to  concentrate on the eternal realities of heaven.  At the time he was answering the false teachers in Colosse who were instructing the faithful to concentrate on temporal observances.   Paul is saying that those who are saved ought to live worthy of that salvation.   Proper conduct is being taught.  Chapter 3 of Colossians is concerned with practical Christianity and Paul addresses this by emphasizing the believer’s relationship with Christ.  We are to abandon our old life and begin our new life in union with Christ.  We should be aware that the pagan religions of that ancient time said nothing about personal morality – what a person believed or offered had no direct relationship with how he/she behaved.  Christianity is different.  If we have been raised with Christ we have been given a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead.   We are resurrected with Christ and the application of that doctrine is to live in practical holiness in relation to ourselves and others.   This is an ongoing, daily process known as sanctification.

Paul explains the futility of trying to live a spiritual life relying on our fallen selves and legalistic guidance – only because of their resurrection with Christ will true believers realize a new power by which the believer can live a true spiritual life.  Paul is saying that our (the believer’s) resurrection with Christ is a fact –  he has no doubts about that.  The gospel makes clear the freeness and firmness of grace.  We either doubt this or enter into conscious friendship with God.  We make the decision to accept the free unearned gift of grace from God through faith in Christ Jesus.

C.S. Lewis, in his wonderful book, The Great Divorce, says that just to be born means an everlasting surrender to God or an everlasting divorce from Him. This decision is ours –  This is the message of Easter.