Colossians 3:1-2 1Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.2Think on the things above, not the things of the earth.
The letter makes a shift from theology to more direct application marked by therefore. This is typical of how Paul writes his letters. The first section of a letter tends to focus upon the message of ate gospel, understanding this message, and correcting any wrong ideas about it. The last part of his letters then shifts to application and how people should live out the gospel. The first clause of verse 1 shows this transition. The assumption is that the Colossians have indeed (Greek ei can mean since) been raised with Christ. This spiritual resurrection comes through faith and is the result of first dying to the old life of sin, rebellion, and ignorance. Paul uses one of his many special words that show identity and relationship “with Christ” prefaced with the preposition “with” (syn plus ēgerthēte). This construction shows the interrelationship and synergism of divine grace and human faith.
Since this assumption is true in the case of the Colossians, then they need to respond in certain ways. This becomes the topic of the rest of the letter. The most basic thing they must do is seek the things above. They need to be heavenly minded. They need to shift their focus and values from worldliness or humanism to the mind of Christ. This change happens through obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life (1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18). God’s part in the relationship is to give the power and leading to change. Our part is to follow this guidance in the submission of faith and worship.
The above must be heaven because that is where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This statement reminds the Colossians that the object of their faith, Jesus Christ, is at the honest place of honor and worthy of worship. It also adds significance to the statement of resurrection in the first part of the verse. Our destiny by being raised with Christ is to experience honor like Christ, not to the right hand of the throne of God but to be at least in the presence of the Holy God. Christ is our mediator and the one through whom we can approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
Paul emphasizes the thought of verse 1 again in verse 2. The verb shifts from seeking to thinking. This is really a matter of the mindset. The “mind” for Paul is the place of the will and where all decisions are made. It is the place of battle between the forces of evil that seek to deceive people and the Holy Spirit who seeks to teach people the mind of Christ. We are not passive and cannot claim, “The devil made me do it.” We are culpable and accountable for what happens in our thinking. We have the responsibility of thinking from heaven’s perspective and not the earth. Earthly thinking is usually what gets us in trouble. Earthly thinking is guided by human philosophies and religious, the things about which Paul warned in chapter 2. There needs to be fundamental recreation of values and thinking. This will show up in how we live. Some things of our life can change immediately when we come to Christ. Other changes take time, sometimes a long time to change. But change can happen with the grace of God.
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