risen WITH Christ?
Right smack in the middle of the exhortation that we call Colossians, Paul makes this statement, “If ye then be risen with Christ, see those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” That’s quite a statement. “IF”, starting out with the conditional clause “if” sure does add some emphasis on the following statement doesn’t it. Just think about the teenager saying to his parents, “IF you love me, you’ll get me a cell phone like everyone else.” Now, don’t let the absurdity of that statement throw you from the emphasis for which the “if” is used. Paul used it too, just like a pre-teen would, but with proper motives I assure you.
So then, “IF” what? Well, “IF ye then be RISEN WITH CHRIST.” Yet another HUGE statement. “RISEN WITH CHRIST”, could he have made a scribal error? Surely he didn’t mean that we are actually risen with Christ. I mean, those people reading his letter may not have even been alive when Christ resurrected, little on those of us reading today. So, how is someone RISEN WITH CHRIST? It seems to be the exchanged life theory that he introduced in Gal 2.20. Although we live, we do not, He does. And even though He lives, we still live somehow. If we read a little further He clarifies. As he continues to write the epistle, he stops to make an aside comment… in verse 3 he is talking about Christ and pauses to add the parenthesise, “who is our life…” Quite a statement. Christ IS OUR LIFE. Now, I know many of you have heard that before, but I doubt Paul meant it in the overly devotional lovey way that you probably heard it. He meant it literally. Christ…IS…OUR…LIFE…He is the actual life we life.
Remember, when we were redeemed, we were reconciled to God. That’s because we needed reconciliation. There was a problem at hand, and God was the one with the problem. (I don’t know where we get the idea that we are the ones with the problem and God has gone out of his way to help us with our problems. No, God had the problem with us! And then being the sovereign glory seeking God he is, he redeemed us to himself because there was no way we were going to do that ourselves. ) So, when we were brought back to God, how was that possible. We know that flesh and blood cannot enter into the presence of God (I Cor 15.50). So how are we “seated in heavenly places” at this time???(Eph 2.6 – note the tense of this verse is past) It’s because we have become one with Christ. He is our righteousness, he is our identity, we took his name, his identity, and became one with him just as a bride always does with her groom.
So, with this new-found identity, what are we doing with it??? IF WE ARE RISEN WITH CHRIST…how are we seeking things that are opposing him? I cannot be a devoted Marine, Soldier, or Sailor and pursue those things which come against my country. I cannot be a Father and seek those things that oppose my family. I cannot be Aaron Farley and seek those things that fight against the very existence of Aaron Farley. So if I am “with Christ” and “in Christ” how could I seek those things of the earth (where moth and dust doth corrupt – Matt 6.19). I can’t.
Let’s not forget, that friendship with the world is truly ENMITY with God. (James 4.4)
Looking Forward to Wednesday with You Guys.
