"Living In Light of Your New Identity In Christ" (Colossians 3:1-4)

The aim of this teaching is to help the Christ follower operate in obedience to God against the sin nature. Let me say that God has given provision for our obedience, as well as, making us responsible for it! In other words, God's provision for us is made up of releasing us from the power and hard control of sin, uniting us with Christ Jesus, and providing us with the Holy Spirit as our Helper! Being obedient to God enables us to win the battle against the sin nature. In our text, the things that come from the sin nature is what Paul emphasizes when he commands us not to think "on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). In verse 5, Paul tells us to "consider the members of your earthly body as dead.." Keep in mind that apostle Paul would not have told us not to have our minds set on these things, (immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech) if they were no longer a threat to us! As Christ followers, we have to battle against these things! How? The answer is, we have to understand and embrace our new identity in Christ Jesus! Paul tells us "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). What does this mean? It means that when we believed in Christ, we were identified with Him in His death, (Romans 6:3-11; 7:4, 6; Galatians 2:19-20; 6:14). How does this help us in being obedient to God when dealing with the sin nature? How are we to practice being dead to sin in Christ Jesus? Paul tells us, "Keep seeking the things above" and "Set your mind on the things above" (v 2-3). Both commands are in the present tense and suggests a continual process. To keep seeking these things means to make the truths of Christ Jesus as shown in the Bible our continual pursuit. As Christ followers, we are to be devoted to going hard after the the things of God. We must keep bringing our thoughts back, over and over, to the things that are true about us in Christ. This is what it means to "Set your mind on the things above." This is because the truest thing about the Christ follower is what God says is true! Your move. Be encouraged!