What does it mean to be risen with Christ and seek things above?

To be “risen with Christ” means you share in His new life. God counts you as joined to Jesus in His death and resurrection. Because of that, Paul says to “seek those things which are above,” where Christ sits at God’s right hand. This is about where your heart and thoughts live. Instead of being driven by earthly pleasures, status, or outward religion, you aim at what pleases Christ, the coming glory with Him, and the values of His kingdom. Your focus shifts from this passing world to Him.

What does it mean that your life is hid with Christ in God?

When Paul says, “your life is hid with Christ in God,” he means your real, spiritual life is safe and kept with Christ. Right now, that life is not always obvious. Believers still face weakness, trouble, and ordinary life, so their glory is hidden. Yet God has already given them new life in Christ, and He holds it secure. One day, when Christ appears, what is now hidden will be seen. Those who belong to Him will be shown with Him in glory, sharing openly in His honor.

How do believers mortify their members which are upon the earth?

To “mortify your members which are upon the earth” is to put sinful desires to death so they no longer rule you. Paul names things like sexual sin, uncleanness, uncontrolled passion, evil cravings, and greed, which he calls idolatry. Mortifying these means refusing to feed them, turning from them when they arise, and not letting them shape your choices. It is not harming your body, but saying no to the old way of living, because you now belong to Christ and God’s anger is against these sins.

What is the old man and the new man in this passage?

The “old man” is your former way of life, shaped by sin and rebellion against God. Its deeds include things like anger, malice, lying, and dirty talk. To “put off the old man” is to treat that whole pattern as stripped away. The “new man” is the new self God gives in Christ. It is being renewed in true knowledge after God’s image, so your mind, heart, and will are changed. This renewal begins now and grows over time, as the old way weakens and the new way grows stronger.

What does Paul mean by Christ is all, and in all?

When Paul says “Christ is all, and in all,” he is showing that in this new life, old divisions lose their power. Greek, Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free all come to God on the same ground. What truly matters is Christ Himself. He is everything for salvation and holiness, and He lives in all who belong to Him. No group has a better standing. This lifts up Christ as the center and binds different people into one new family in Him.

What is charity, the bond of perfectness, in this chapter?

“Charity” here means love, the kind of love that moved Christ to forgive and welcome sinners. Paul lists many good qualities, like mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. Then he says, “above all these things put on charity.” Love is the “bond of perfectness” because it ties all the other graces together and holds a church or family in real unity. Without love, other virtues fall apart or become proud. With love, they are joined and reach their proper fullness.

How should the peace of God and the word of Christ shape the church?

Paul says, “let the peace of God rule in your hearts,” and “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” God’s peace is to act like an umpire in their hearts, helping them choose what keeps harmony in the one body. The word of Christ should fill their minds and conversations, not sit at the edges of life. They are to teach and warn one another, using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing from the heart to the Lord. Gratitude should mark this shared life together.

How should Christian wives, husbands, children, and fathers live according to this passage?

Paul applies new life in Christ to the home. Wives are told to submit to their own husbands “as it is fit in the Lord,” so their respect is shaped by devotion to Christ. Husbands must love their wives and not be harsh or bitter toward them. Children are to obey their parents in all things that fit with the Lord’s will, because this pleases Him. Fathers are warned not to provoke their children or crush their spirits. In all of this, Christ’s rule and kindness guide family life.

What does it mean to serve the Lord Christ in everyday work?

Servants are told to obey earthly masters sincerely, not only when watched, but from the heart, fearing God. Paul explains that in doing their work this way, they really “serve the Lord Christ.” This applies to all kinds of work. Whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, not just for people, knowing He will reward His children with an inheritance. Wrongdoing will also be repaid, because God does not favor one person over another. Earthly roles do not hide anything from Him.

How can this passage guide Christians today in daily living?

This passage steers believers to live from their new identity in Christ. It calls them to turn from old sins, not just outward ones but hidden desires; to put on mercy, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and above all love; to let Christ’s peace and word rule their hearts and gatherings; to do everything in Jesus’ name with thankfulness; and to treat family members and those they work with in light of God’s presence and coming reward. It is everyday life reshaped by union with Christ.

Col.3.1

Colossians 3:1

KJV

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Put On the New Self

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Christian Households

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Serving with Honor

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.