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 on things with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also appear with Him in glory………(9) Do not lie to one another, since you have have put off the old man with his deeds, (10) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge acccording to the image of Him who created him. 11) where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Synthian, slave nor free, but Christ is all in all.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle PauL who was imprisoned in Rome for teaching the gospel. The Jews provided in some detail a lost of proscribed activities. – rules of strict behavior when it comes to matters of food and drink and rituals. The false teachers insisted on a rigorously ascetic life. Paul’s rules are different – a different perspective on Christian life -A way to pursuing holiness without reducing Christianity to simply being moral. The difference is found in man made philosophy at Colossee. Paul argues from life. Holiness is portrayed as the fruit of acceptance with God, not the root. We (the faithful) are already beloved of God in Christ and on this basis we are inwardly impelled to express life, not earn it. It is because we have already died with Christ and already. raised with Christ that we seek after holiness. No where is this more clearly seen than in chapter 3 Colossians where Paul mentions the basis on which he issues his ethical imperatives.

“Having put on the new self” we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. And because we have already been fully and freely forgiven by Christ that we also must forgive one another. We have already discarded the old man and his ways and have put on the new man is what is meant that we were once in Adam – the unregenerate embodiment of humanity so the new man is in Christ, the new humanity.

Risen with Christ is the believer’s position. The believer is dead with Christ; risen with Christ and in possession of a life hidden with Christ in God. Therefore the believer is safe and secure. These facts constitute the controlling motive of the believer and life on earth. In faith. In faith the soul will seek things set on things above, not on earth. Things above are Christ and His glory. All things on earth will fade away when the believer’s heart is occupied with Christ – Heart occupation with the risen Christ energized by the indwelling Spirit. Such a life means joy and peace.