IF YE THEN BE RISEN IN CHRIST

By Jay Pearson

 

In the book of Proverbs it is written:

Proverbs 2:4
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

This is in reference to Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God. We find that to fully know the word God it requires a little digging and revelation from Him. You can’t grab a verse and be full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. There are requirements following the “IF’s” in this section of scripture. It holds true for the rest of God’s Word. You have to dig a little deeper to get to the bottom of the well. In the case of God’s Word, it is a fountain that never runs dry.

Psalm 36:7-9
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Let’s do a little digging now. I have chosen this section of scripture to examine. Let us cry out for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and search for her as hid treasure. Grab a spiritual shovel.

Colossians 3:1-5
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:

Colossians 3:1 starts with a question that is followed by a directive. Let’s look at the question first: If ye then be risen with Christ,

Ephesians 2:4-6
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That is the answer to the question "if ye then be risen is Christ." We are risen in Christ as born-again-Christians, so the directive refers to us: Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Matthew 6:31-33
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Let’s take a closer look at the next verse: Colossians 3:2: Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. We are to set our affections, that is, our mind, the things that we care about. The things we mind are most important to us.

Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

When I was young my mom used to say, Mind your dad, and my dad would say mind your mama. When we stay our mind on the Lord and mind him, it is easier to stay the course. Now, the next verse:

Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Wow this is my favorite verse in this section of scripture. You may have another, but I hope this comforts you.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

There’s a further directive in verse 5 of Colossians 3: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.

This was us THEN:

Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

This is us NOW:

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  

We did those things then but not now:

Colossians 3:8-10
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:

How can we possibly do this?

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God was the potter to Israel and he is the potter to the Church.

Jeremiah 18:6
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

In closing remember who God made you to be. And by his power, the Lord is not finished.

Hebrews 13:20-21
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I hope you have enjoyed our closer look and dig into Colossians 3 and If ye be risen in Christ. Keep your spiritual shovel handy. There are many treasures in the Holy Word of God. The Lord is waiting to open them up to you as you SEEK.

 

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Presented October 1, 2023 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana