“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1
The whole of Christianity hinges on one statement that Jesus made on Calvary: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) The work which Jesus accomplished was a complete, and perfect work, whereby, by the sacrifice of Himself, He dealt entirely with sin in its multiple facets. He dealt with the wrath that is associated with the sinner’s sin, in defiance of God. He dealt with the guilt and condemnation that accompanies sin before God. He also dealt with the sinner himself, dealing a death blow to all that was of the old creation, specifically declaring that the “old man” had been crucified, and is now dead and buried in the sight of God. But Jesus did not stop there. All that He deal with on the cross with regard to sin, death, and Satan, was perfectly accomplished to set us free from the “law of sin and death,” being held captive to do the will of the “prince of the air.” When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion, He accomplished a work that will take eternity to grasp. In taking the sinner with Him to the cross to deal with all that was associated with sin, He also took the believing sinner with Him to heaven. Paul offers a wonderful description of this by the Spirit: “Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened (…or made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;), AND hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (2:5-6) Just as real as the fact that Christ tasted death for all men, and dealt completely and perfectly with all pertaining to sin, and the sinner, so the sinner is raised up with Christ, by the same power of God, and seated with and in Christ, in heavenly places. THIS is now the dwelling place of a saved man, IN CHRIST, seated with Him, in heavenly places, far above “all principality and power.” One more thing to consider when this is clearly seen is that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, that place of total authority and power. The believer needs to understand this. The same power and authority that Christ received from the Father, is communicated to all His servants.
How then is the knowledge of our position in Christ to be practically used, implemented in the life, and lived by? How are we to appropriate all that is in Christ from this vantage point? The first thing the Apostle Paul tells us is to, “…SEEK those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1) What are these “things above?” There is not doubt that they are those specific aspects, resources, and provisions in Christ Himself, which belong to the believer because of the blessed union with Christ. By being “in the Vine,” the branches attached to Him, we live by the very LIFE of the Vine. His life is ours, specifically as we appropriate Him by faith. The word “things” directs our attention to those specific aspects of the nature of Christ, which respond to our heart’s needs. For example, when one comes to Christ, the believer must receive power to believe. All through Scripture, we find that this matter of power and strength are essential to walk by faith in this fallen world. It is essential for the believer to see that his strength and power are IN CHRIST, readily available to him to seek and find, receiving all that is needful for the moment. A second “thing” above is wisdom, that very wisdom of Christ. According to Paul, Christ has been MADE unto us wisdom. Our response to such knowledge, is to seek, and receive by faith, this wisdom. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the love and compassion of Christ, are highest on the list of things to be sought, and found, “above,” to be known on earth as in heaven.
Dear Father, Strengthen us thoroughly to derive all, specifically from Christ by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.