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 minds 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.
The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul when he was a prisoner in Rome for preaching the gospel. What are verses are saying is we do not stand before God on the ground of responsibility; responsible man failed – there is nothing for him/her but condemnation. But Christ Jesus has borne that condemnation: Christ voluntarily took the place of the sinner and bore his judgment on the cross. In Adam we are separated from God in sin. In Christ we have received, in faith in Christ, new life. The resurrection of Christ has freed the believer from all necessity to be subject to sin in the flesh. We are called upon to seek those things which are above – our real life is there. The kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom of our God and His Christ and His one time pilgrim people shall reign with Him in heaven.
The believer is risen with Christ – such is his/her position. The believer’s life on earth is led by the indwelling Spirit to seek the things that are above and their minds will not act on things which are on earth. The more we do this the more things above will be attractive and things on earth will lose their charm; things like legalism, ritualistic ceremony, ordinances of man as well as earthly ambitions, honors, pleasures and achievements. This is the way of sanctification.
The world cannot understand and cannot see the hidden life of Christ in the believer. They could not see it in Jesus Himself nor could they understand Him when He came into the world and rejected Him and crucified Him. There is to be a glory, an honor, a splendor, a revelation of God in Christ that final day when the Lord Himself shall appear in all the light and glory of heaven. If He is glorified, we shall be glorified. If He is raised we are raised. If He never dies we shall never die. If He is in heaven, the believer shall be in heaven.