Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

'WHO IS OUR LIFE' -

Points to Note:

1. Unfortunately, at times Christians will say that something else 'is their life'. We say things like, 'Music is his life...Sports are his life..He lives for his work.' Barclay says, 'Such. man finds life and all that is means in music, in sport, in work,...For the Christian, Christ is his life.' (p. 149)

2. Christ is our life: (a) He delivered us from eternal destruction--Without Christ, each one of us would live knowing that we are simply one breath anyway from eternal damnation at any moment. (b) He gave real meaning and purpose to our lives. He delivered us from the mundane, or living on the level of animals (Matthew 6:32). (c) With Him we have eternal life. (d) He has given us hope, no matter how bad the physical circumstances may be (Romans 8:18). (e) He has taught us how to treat others, and put new life in our relationships (Matthew 7:12). (f) He has shown us that "life" is much more than simply working, eating, sleeping, etc...

3. Before Christ came along--we were simply "existing". Now we have "life".

4. Now think about it. If Christ is my life, than. need to: (a) Be completely sold on His cause. (b) Eat, breathe and sleep His will. (c) Be constantly preoccupied with Him and His cause. (d) Be eager to do something for Him today. (e) Can't wait to worship Him and be with other Christians. Brethren, listen up, obviously if something is "your life", then you make every effort to get as much of it as possible. (f) Study His will with great enthusiasm--talk to others about Him constantly (Acts 17:17). (g) Proclaim His message with great confidence and without embarrassment or apology (2 Timothy 4:2). (h) Putting tremendous amounts of time and energy into serving Him.

'SHALL BE MANIFESTED' -'is revealed' (NASV). i.e. at His second coming (1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:2).

'THEN SHALL YE ALSO WITH HIM BE MANIFESTED IN GLORY' -'The followers of Christ shall surround Him in triumph,. dense and glorious retinue.' (Eadie p. 215)

'IN GLORY' -When Christ comes Christians shall be immediately changed, their physical bodies will be transformed into glorious heavenly bodies (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 3:20; 1 John 3:1)

Points to Note:

1. The Christian greatly gains by giving over their life to Christ. Carefully note, that when the Christian gives up "self", they give up something very small, very unimportant in the long run. In giving up "self", we gain "life" and we will eventually gain eternal glory (Matthew 16:24).

2. To the world, and sadly, even some members of the Church, the selfless Christian is viewed as missing out,. weakling and the accusation often made, 'Nobody can be happy living like that.' But the true reality of such. life will be completely revealed and manifested at the end of time--such. life is glorious, such. life was well lived, such. life pleased God. God has already revealed to us that selfishness even leads to present misery (Titus 3:3).

3. Note that Paul doesn't set. date for this coming. Neither does he give us, what many men say will surround this event, i.e. impending signs. (1 Thessalonians 5:1)

MORAL/ETHICAL APPLICATIONS:

In view of our glorious future (Colossians 3:4). And the fact that we died with Christ to the old way of living and thinking, we cannot allow anything to draw us back into bondage. We have gained too much to squander it away. Not only are to we reject the bondage caused by doctrinal error (Colossians 2:16ff); but we are to reject the bondage caused by the works of the flesh.

Bruce notes, 'But Paul emphasizes the logical connection between theology and practice. He does not inculcate Christian doctrine simply in order that his readers may have. firm intellectual grasp of it; he insists that it must find expression in Christian living.' (Bruce p. 138)