Colossians 3:1-2

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Colossians 3:1. Seek those things that are above.—Our Lord says that as He was “from above,” so His disbelieving hearers were “from beneath,” which He interprets as “of this world” (John 8:23). The apostle in like manner in the next verse opposes the “things above” to “things on earth.”

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Colossians 3:1

The Higher Aspirations of the Soul.

You have seen the clouds gather in the sky and settle on the hills. The thunder mutters, the rain falls, and the scene is one of storm, confusion, and darkness. Suddenly the whole aspect of the heavens is changed. A blaze of light springs up among the hills; the storm ceases; the gloom is swept away; and the outlook is one of tranquillity, of triumph, and of splendour. Similar to this is the striking change between the close of the last chapter of this epistle and the beginning of the present one. The grave warnings against the sombre errors of a false philosophy, and the supposed meritorious torturings of the body, which occupy a considerable part of the second chapter, give place in the opening of the third chapter to a luminous and inspiring picture of the glorious privileges and lofty destiny of the believing soul. These verses teach that, being raised by Christ into newness of life, the soul should aspire to the attainment of the highest blessings.
I. The distinguished relation in which the believing soul stands to Christ.—“Risen with Christ” (Colossians 3:1).

1. This relation implies the living union of the soul with Christ.—The apostle had spoken of the soul as dying with Christ, as buried with Him, as quickened with Him; and now he advances another step, and declares that it is also raised with Him. The union between the believer and Christ was so complete that he participates with Christ in all He has done. “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). As the dead body of the man cast into the sepulchre of Elisha revived and stood up the moment it touched the bones of the prophet (2 Kings 13:21), so the soul, dead in trespasses and sins, is quickened by believing contact with Christ, and rises into a higher and more glorious life.

2. This relation indicates the nature and tendencies of the soul.—“Risen with Christ: … set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1). The change involved in union with Christ affects man’s whole nature. It affects not only his practical conduct, but also his intellectual conceptions. He is translated from earth to heaven; and with this translation his point of view is altered, his standard of judgment wholly changed. His aspirations spurn the earthly and transitory, and soar towards the heavenly and eternal. The flies that sport upon the summer stream, while they plunge their bodies in the water, are careful not to wet their wings, so that they may fly again into the sunny air. So, while we are necessarily immersed in “things on the earth,” we should take heed that the wings of our soul are not so clogged as to retard our flight to heaven.

II. The sublime objects of the soul’s higher aspirations.—“Things above” (Colossians 3:2).

1. Christ is above.—“Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:2). This indicates that Christ is exalted to the highest dignity. He is above all angelic powers, whatever their position or rank. The right hand of God also indicates the right hand of power. Thence Christ wields all the authority and power of universal government. “Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour.” He reigns on high in order to carry out to a glorious consummation the work He accomplished on the cross. To Him all hearts turn for love and blessedness, as the flowers turn to the sun. The rudiments of the world have no longer any power to satisfy. The soul ascends to heaven, for where the treasure is there will be the heart also; and the flow of time is rapidly hurrying us on to the moment when we shall be

“Caught up to share

The triumph of our Lord.”

2. The source of the greatest spiritual blessings is above.—When Christ ascended into the heavens He received gifts for men; and from His lofty throne He delights to distribute those gifts to the needy sons of men. Thence we receive pardon, the conscious favour of God, holiness of character, comfort in every time of distress, and hope to light the pathway of the future. Of all the blessings laid up for us above, the highest and the best is that which in itself includes all others—the gift of the Holy Ghost. All, all we want is there.

3. The heavenly home is above.—There is the abode of peace and purity; there temptation has no power, and suffering and sorrow can never enter; there the Saviour reveals His glories and diffuses the joy of His radiant presence; there all the members of the Father’s family assemble from every part of the globe, never more to separate. The soul, burdened with the cares of life, and troubled with multiplied disappointments, yearns for the rest of the heavenly home. The things on the earth can never satisfy the wants of the soul; they are unsuited to it; they are beneath it; and, liberated from their trammels by the resurrection power of Christ, it seeks its true happiness above the stars.

III. The paramount duty of the soul to aspire to the highest good.—Seek, set “your affections on things above” (Colossians 3:1). A similar expression repeated for the emphasis. You are not only to seek heaven, but also to think heaven. The understanding must be engaged in duly estimating the value of heavenly things, the will in preferring them above all things earthly, the affections in embracing them as the objects to be most evidently desired and loved; in fact, all the powers of the soul must be constantly exercised in the search. The soul, raised from the death of sin, is ever responding to the attractive influence of its risen Lord. “Being thus already risen, every motion of grace is the struggle of the soul for the final consummation—the bird is caged, but the wings are free to flutter within their prison.” The soul is now willing, cheerfully and faithfully, to follow the call of duty, whatever it may entail.

“Oft where she leads, thy blood must mark thy footsteps;
Oft where she leads, thy head must bear the storm,
And thy shrunk form endure heat, cold, and hunger;
But she will guide thee up to noble heights,
Which he who gains seems native of the sky;
While earthly things lie stretched beneath his feet,
Diminished, shrunk, and valueless.”

Lessons.—

1. The soul is endowed with vast powers and capable of the highest destiny.

2. It is sad to witness thousands whose souls rise no higher than the things on the earth.

3. The soul can realise its highest aspirations only as it is risen with Christ.

GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES

Colossians 3:1. Seeking the Things Above.

I. Contemplate the sublime object—the state of future blessedness of believers.

1. The perfection of character they exhibit.

2. The exercises in which they shall be engaged.

3. The happiness in which they participate.

4. The friendships they share.

II. The conduct enjoined upon us.—“Seek those things.”

1. Implies belief in their existence.

2. That attention is directed much towards them.

3. Set our attachment upon them.

4. Use diligent and persevering exertions to obtain them.

III. Motives to this conduct—

1. A regard to consistency.

2. The reasonableness of the duty.

3. Present advantages.

4. Because they are the scene in which are displayed Christ’s personal presence and glory.

Risen with Christ.

I. Christianity begins where everything else ends: it begins with death.

II. After dying to sin we are to begin to live in good earnest.

III. The Christian toils, labours, and tasks his mind for the glory of God and the good of others.

IV. The true Christian seeks the things which are above.—

1. Holiness.

2. Love.

3. Peace.

4. Truth.—A. W. Hare.

The New Life.

I. There is a great difference between the new life and the old.—

1. In our feelings.

2. Principles.

3. Aims.

4. Methods.

5. Conduct.

6. Thoughts.

7. Company.

8. Influence.

II. This difference should lead us to think much of heaven and to seek after heavenly things.—

1. To know all we can about heaven.

2. To prepare all we can for heaven.

3. To take all we can with us to heaven.—Preacher’s Magazine.