Give us Christ
Col 3:1-3: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The Pharisees were experts at appearing holy. In fact, Jesus told the crowd, “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). If you were a first century Jew, that would’ve been a shocking statement. How can our righteousness exceed the Pharisees? These guys are professionals! Of course, his point was that we need HIS righteousness – because on our own, the best we can muster is the self-righteousness exemplified by the Jerusalem elite, and that’s clearly not enough.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul had told the church to reject the outward practices of pseudo-holiness, not unlike that of the Pharisees: “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Col 2:23). For centuries, people have been practicing the art of looking holy. Austere and serious, these men and women appear to be sanctified, endowed with the discipline of the saints. Yet, Paul says that these practices “are of no value” especially as it regards the lust of the flesh.
True holiness, rather, isn’t so much what appears on the outside as much as an inner disposition of obedience and devotion to Christ. Holiness is what happens when we “set our minds on things that are above” (Col 3:1-3). Twice, Paul urges the Colossians to do this, and both times they are in the context of our union with Christ. We have been “raised with Christ,” and our “life is hidden with Christ in God.” So, what does it mean to set your mind on things above? It means to set your mind on Christ. It means that we should marvel at the realities of our union with King Jesus – We have died to sin, we have been raised with our resurrected Savior, and we are seated with Christ in heavenly place (cf. Eph 2:6). Beloved, holiness is what happens when we are consumed with the glory of Jesus. As Moses radiated the glory of God, so we shine with the glory of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 3:18).
From there, Paul moves on to give practical exhortations… “put away obscene talk… don’t lie to one another… forgive one another…” (Col 3:5ff). But do see his point? Reject self-righteousness and false-holiness (Col 2:23), set your heart and mind on Jesus and our union with him (Col 3:1-4), and then learn how to live in covenant community with one another (Col 3:5ff). Beloved, Christ is the center. If we want practical holiness in our lives, then we must behold the glory of Christ. The world can keep it’s self-righteousness. Give us Christ!
The Lord Bless You and Keep You,
Matthew
The Pharisees were experts at appearing holy. In fact, Jesus told the crowd, “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). If you were a first century Jew, that would’ve been a shocking statement. How can our righteousness exceed the Pharisees? These guys are professionals! Of course, his point was that we need HIS righteousness – because on our own, the best we can muster is the self-righteousness exemplified by the Jerusalem elite, and that’s clearly not enough.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul had told the church to reject the outward practices of pseudo-holiness, not unlike that of the Pharisees: “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Col 2:23). For centuries, people have been practicing the art of looking holy. Austere and serious, these men and women appear to be sanctified, endowed with the discipline of the saints. Yet, Paul says that these practices “are of no value” especially as it regards the lust of the flesh.
True holiness, rather, isn’t so much what appears on the outside as much as an inner disposition of obedience and devotion to Christ. Holiness is what happens when we “set our minds on things that are above” (Col 3:1-3). Twice, Paul urges the Colossians to do this, and both times they are in the context of our union with Christ. We have been “raised with Christ,” and our “life is hidden with Christ in God.” So, what does it mean to set your mind on things above? It means to set your mind on Christ. It means that we should marvel at the realities of our union with King Jesus – We have died to sin, we have been raised with our resurrected Savior, and we are seated with Christ in heavenly place (cf. Eph 2:6). Beloved, holiness is what happens when we are consumed with the glory of Jesus. As Moses radiated the glory of God, so we shine with the glory of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 3:18).
From there, Paul moves on to give practical exhortations… “put away obscene talk… don’t lie to one another… forgive one another…” (Col 3:5ff). But do see his point? Reject self-righteousness and false-holiness (Col 2:23), set your heart and mind on Jesus and our union with him (Col 3:1-4), and then learn how to live in covenant community with one another (Col 3:5ff). Beloved, Christ is the center. If we want practical holiness in our lives, then we must behold the glory of Christ. The world can keep it’s self-righteousness. Give us Christ!
The Lord Bless You and Keep You,
Matthew
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