Colossians 3: Raised to Seek Things Above
Because they were raised with Christ, the Colossians are to set their minds above, put off the old self, and put on a new life clothed in love.
Colossians 3 (WEB)
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossians 3 (KJV)
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:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
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:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Colossians 3 (ASV)
1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.
3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6 for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:
7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;
8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:
9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:
14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:
23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;
24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Summary
Since the Colossians have been raised with Christ, Paul calls them to seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand, and to set their minds there rather than on earthly things. For they have died, and their life is now hidden with Christ in God; when Christ, who is their life, appears, they too will appear with him in glory. On this basis Paul calls them to put to death what belongs to the earthly self: sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, things that bring God's wrath. They are to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy speech, and not to lie to one another, since they have put off the old self and put on the new self, being renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator, where Christ is all and in all. As God's chosen, holy and beloved, they are to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with and forgiving one another as the Lord forgave them, and above all to put on love, the bond of perfection. The peace of Christ is to rule their hearts, the word of Christ to dwell in them richly as they teach one another and sing with gratitude, and whatever they do in word or deed is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving. Finally Paul addresses the household: wives and husbands, children and fathers, servants and masters, calling each to live out the lordship of Christ, working heartily as for the Lord, knowing they serve the Lord Christ.
Key Figures
- Christ — The risen and exalted Lord, seated at God's right hand, who is the believer's hidden life and will appear in glory with his people.
- The Colossian believers — God's chosen, holy and beloved, called to put off the old self and put on the new, clothed above all in love.
- The Christian household — Wives and husbands, children and fathers, servants and masters, whose ordinary relationships are reshaped by the lordship of Christ.
Key Verse
Colossians 3:14 (WEB)
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Lessons Learned
- Because we have been raised with Christ, our minds and desires are to be set on things above.
- The new life means deliberately putting to death the sins of the old self.
- We are to clothe ourselves in compassion, humility, and forgiveness, with love binding all together.
- The lordship of Christ reaches into the home and workplace, so that all is done for him.
- Resurrection life looks upward. “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1, WEB). A heart raised with Christ is drawn toward him.
- Our true life is hidden with Christ. “You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, WEB). Our identity is secure in him, awaiting full revelation in glory.
- Forgiveness flows from being forgiven. We forgive “even as Christ forgave you, so you also do” (Colossians 3:13, WEB). Grace received becomes grace shared.
- Everything is done in Jesus' name. “Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17, WEB). No ordinary task lies outside his lordship.
- What reason does Paul give for seeking the things above, and what does it mean that our life is “hidden with Christ in God”?
- Paul speaks of both “putting to death” and “putting on.” Why are both necessary in the Christian life?
- Which of the virtues in verses 12-14 do you find most challenging to “put on,” and why does love hold them together?
- How are the peace of Christ and the word of Christ meant to function in the life of a community?
- How does the lordship of Christ change the way you approach your home, your work, and your ordinary tasks?
- Because we were raised with Christ, our affections belong with him above (3:1-3). To say our life is hidden with Christ means our true identity is secure in him, not in earthly status, and will be fully revealed when he appears. Help the group anchor their sense of self there.
- The old self must be put to death and the new self put on (3:5-10); the Christian life is both turning from sin and actively cultivating Christlike character. Neither alone is enough. Encourage members to name one thing to lay aside and one virtue to take up.
- The virtues—compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness—culminate in love, “the bond of perfection” (3:14). Love is the belt that holds the rest in place. Invite honest reflection without pressure, and point to Christ's love as the source of ours.
- The peace of Christ is to “rule” the heart and the community (3:15), and the word of Christ is to “dwell in you richly” as believers teach and sing together (3:16). Together they make a healthy, grateful church. Discuss practical ways to let both shape your group.
- This is a personal-application question. Paul insists even servants “serve the Lord Christ” (3:24), dignifying ordinary work. Invite members to identify one routine area they can begin to do consciously for the Lord. As leader, keep the tone hopeful and freeing.