Learn:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Read: Colossians 3:1-17
1. Previously in this letter, Paul has attacked the error that has come into the church at Colosse. In this portion of the letter, he is telling the Christians: Become in practice what you already are by God’s grace. As a born again Christian, what is our position at this time? v 1a
How have we obtained this position? Colossians 2:12b
2. What should our outlook on life be because of our position in Christ? v 3b
3. Use a Concordance to find another verse which tells us to “seek those things which are
above.”
4. Why should our focus be on heaven rather than on what we can gain on this earth? v 1c
5. Using the following scripture, explain in your own words what is the significance of Christ’s being “seated” at the right hand of God?
Ephesians 1:20-22
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 10:12, 13
Revelation 3:21; 12:11
6. Can any human person, by any means bring Christ again back to earth to repeat his sacrifice? Use Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:10-14 and Isiah 53:11to explain your answer.
7. According to the Scripture, is it possible for any person who DOES NOT believe that Christ has completed his work of salvation on our behalf, (doing all the work in which we have no part to perform) truly be a Christian? Why?
8. Verse 2 again reminds us to “set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth.” Practically speaking, this is accomplished by making ourselves acquainted with the things of heaven, esteeming them above all other things, and putting ourselves out to prepare for the enjoyment of them. How did David make this preparation? Psalms 27:4
What promise and warning did Paul give concerning the focus of our affections in Romans 8:6
What example did Abraham give as to how to set our affections above? Hebrews 11: 8-10
According to Hebrews 11:13-16, what are 6 KEY WORDS in understanding what it is to “seek those things above?”
9. How can we come to the point that our affections, our thoughts and motivation for our action, will became focused above rather than on this life here on earth? v 3 See also Galatians 6:14.
NOTE; If we are dead to the earth, and have renounced it as our happiness, it is absurd for us to set our affections upon it, and to seek it. We should be like a dead thing to it, unmoved and unaffected towards it. Our true life lies in the other world. MATTHEW HENREY COMMENTARY vol. VI p.761
10. Our new man is born and nourished from above. We are hid in Christ. He is our security. He is at present hid from our sight, but this is our comfort; that our life is hid with him, and laid up safely with him. What must we keep in mind as we live our lives, going through both joys and difficulties? II Corinthians 4:16-18
11. In verse 4 we see the phrase “Christ who is our life” Using the following Scriptures, Explain in your own words what this means.
Galatians 2:20
Philippians 1:21
12. According to verse 4, what will happen in the future? See also Jude 14;
Revelation 19:7, 8, 11-16.
13. Because Christ is our life and our affections are with him in heaven, what are we
commanded to do? v 5
NOTE: Mortify means “put to death.”
“Your members” speaks of the habits of mind which took control of you before you knew Christ.
14. Use a dictionary to define each of the lusts which are listed in verse 5.
15. What response do these lusts bring from God? v 6
16. What is the “wrath” of God that is coming?
II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:11-15
17. According to verse 7, we who are now in Christ, were in the past outside of Christ.
Describe what we were like at that time? Also see Ephesians 2:2, 3.
18. Verses 8 and 9 begin with the phrase “But now.” There is a contrast made between what we were before and what we are to be now that we are in Christ. What are the characteristics that we are told to remove (put off) from our lives? Define any word that you are not familiar with.
19. The reason that we “put off” the evil characteristics of the old man with his deeds is that we have ________ _____ ________ _________ __________. v 10
20. Once we are in Christ, what is necessary in order that we may learn how to put off those old ways? v 10
21. How is one “renewed in knowledge” after the image of him that created him (that is
after the image of Christ)
Romans 12:2
Psalm 119:9-11
Psalm 119:33-35
I Timothy 2:15-17
22. Explain why all who come to Christ and are in him, no matter what their place in life
are equal in his eyes. v 11