Colossians 3:3-4

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.

Translation and Paraphrase

3. (It is necessary that you seek the heavenly things,) for you died (both in your sins and unto your sins), and your life is now hidden with Christ in God, (that is, it is kept laid up in heaven by God alongside Christ; you are raised with him).
4. When Christ (he who is) our life shall be manifested (at his second coming), then shall you also be manifested with him in glory. (You will be raised in glorious immortal bodies like his.)

Notes

1.

Colossians 3:3-4 gives some reasons why we should seek the things above, and set our minds sincerely upon them. The reasons are: (1) We are dead to the world; (2) Our life is hid with Christ in God; (3) We shall share openly in Christ's magnificent glory when He comes back.

2.

Ye died! Yes, we died to sin and to the world on that day when we truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and truly repented. We died when we said, Lord, I-'ll do whatever you want me to do, and I-'ll quit doing what you do not want me to do. Having made that decision, we were baptized, buried with Him by baptism; and in that same act we were raised with Christ. (Colossians 2:21; Romans 6:2-5).

Have you died unto sin and the world, and been buried with Christ?

3.

Our life is not hid with Christ in God, that is, it is kept laid up with God in heaven. It is hidden only to the world, which does not comprehend that we are truly children of God himself. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that when he shall be manifested, we shall be like him, for we shall see him even as he is. (1 John 3:1-2).

4.

The fact that our lives are hidden with Christ brings to our minds the fact that we are spiritually secure in Christ. No one can take us out of God's hands. Jesus said about His sheep, I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28-29). Many other Scriptures testify to the security of the child of God. (See Jude 1:24). Christ will not cast us out (John 6:37). No one can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38-39).

We are keenly aware that it is possible for us to depart from the living God and be lost. (Hebrews 3:12). But we are persuaded from the scriptures that this never needs to happen. God will do His part to see that it does not take place. We need only hold fast to Him.

5.

Paul's observation that our life is hid with Christ is possibly an allusion to the Gnostic claims that they had found the hidden wisdom. What they thought they had found apart from Jesus Christ, is all concentrated in Him.

6.

When Christ comes back, our bodies are instantly going to be changed, to become powerful, glorious, immortal. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Philippians 3:20-21). This hope is so marvelous that the earnest expectation of the (whole) creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Creation waits, as it were breathlessly, for your revealing! (Romans 8:19).

At that time many a lady with crippled limbs and wrinkled features will be revealed for what she isa soul more beautiful than the fairest and strongest of earth's daughters.

7.

The second coming of Christ is a motive to cause us to seek the things above and set our hearts upon them.

8.

The words Christ. our life bring a full glory to our emotions and hopes. Our life is not only hid in Christ. It is Christ. (Galatians 2:20).

Study and Review

7.

When did we die? How? (Colossians 3:3)

8.

Where is the Christian's life now?

9.

Explain the statement that our life is hid with Christ in God? (Colossians 3:3)

10.

What is Christ to the Christian, according to Colossians 3:4?

11.

When shall Christ be manifested (appear)?

12.

What shall happen to us when Christ is manifested? (Colossians 3:4)