“You Have Been Raised with Christ”
Psalm 27:3-5; Colossians 3:1-4
April 16, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF)
Congregation of Christ: Have you ever wondered why Good Friday, a commemoration of our Lord’s crucifixion, is called “Good”? Some say it originated from the English or German name for “God’s Friday.” As early as the 2nd century, Christians started commemorating the “Passover” of Crucifixion and Resurrection in a time of fasting, prayer, and penance. It is a celebration of our Holy God’s great love in Christ, so that in some parts of Europe, the day is called “Great” or “Holy,” not “Good.”
In the Philippines where 80 percent of the people are Roman Catholics, the commemoration is syncretistically mixed with many superstitions. Some people actually flog or crucify themselves on the cross. Some of you have probably seen pictures or videos of these in the news. They say that these forms of penance will wash away their sins of the last year. To them, salvation is not by faith alone in Christ alone, but by good works added to the perfect, finished work of our only Savior Jesus Christ.
This is the gospel that these people have never heard: that forgiveness of sins is not based on getting merits through good works, but on faith alone in Christ alone. In the writings of the apostle Paul, he frequently teaches that those who have faith in Christ have been crucified, resurrected and ascended to heaven with Christ. Why does he say this? Of course, he doesn’t mean that we have been literally crucified, resurrected and taken up to heaven with Christ. Rather, this is the spiritual, mystical and personal union with Christ when the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart that is able and willing to believe and trust in Christ.
The New Testament tells us that we believers are united to our Savior. We are the branches connected to Jesus the vine (John 15:5). We are the body connected to Christ our head (1 Cor 6:15-19). We are living stones and he is the foundation of the church, which is God’s holy temple (1 Pet 2:4–5). We are the Bride united to Christ our Bridegroom (Eph 5:25-31). Paul also frequently teaches that we are “in Christ,” a phrase that refers to our spiritual union with Christ.
Our text today is one of these “union with Christ” passages from Paul. He opens Colossians 3 with this exhortation, “If then you have been raised with Christ.” Then he gives three exhortations on how we are to live as people who have been raised with Christ.
“Seek the Things That are Above”
The first exhortation is “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” If someone asks you, “What things do you seek in this life,” what would your answer be? In a recent survey, Americans were asked what things are “very important” to them? The answers, in descending order are: having more free time, successful career, having children, being married, volunteering or donating to charity, living a religious life, and—surprisingly—wealth. But the last thing contradicts another survey which concluded that 51 percent of Americans would choose $1 million over finding true love!
Are these same things the “most important” in your life? Paul says that the most important thing for you as a Christian is the things that are above, things that are in heaven. Jesus tells you that unbelievers are concerned most with these three basic questions: “What shall we eat?” “What shall we drink?” “What shall we wear”? So he exhorts you, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:31-33). Christ our risen Lord is also the King of heaven and earth, so he is able to provide you with all things necessary for body—food, drink, clothes, a roof over your head—and soul—righteousness that he alone can give.
Jesus tells us two parables about the seeking the kingdom of God as the most important thing in life. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field which a man finds. In his joy, the man sells all that he has and buys that field. It is also like a pearl of great value that a merchant had been seeking, and after finding it, he sells all that he has and buys it. Is your joy and pleasure in passing earthly things, or in the most precious of all things—eternal heavenly things? Paul says since Jesus is seated in power and authority in heaven, we are to fix our gaze on him and his Word and his finished work for our salvation. Jesus says that our treasures are in heaven where they are never destroyed. In contrast, our treasures on earth will all be destroyed. Jesus and all his rich blessings in heaven are all the treasures we need.
“Your Life is Hidden with Christ”
Paul’s second exhortation arising out of being raised with Christ is that “your life is hidden with Christ.” What does he mean by this?
When the Holy Spirit gives us faith in Christ, we acknowledge our sin. So Paul says in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” You who have faith in Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who enables you to fight temptation and your sinful nature. You still have the sinful nature, but you do not continue in sin and live in sin. Not only have you died to sin as Christ died for your sin. You also have been raised with Christ in order that you “might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4).
And this is what others see in you. Your new life of godly and righteous words and deeds. Your different perspective in life. Your hope even in the face of trials and sufferings. Your unbelieving family and friends see your life, so Peter warns you, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12).
If unbelievers can see a different life in you, why does Paul say, “your life is hidden with Christ”? What the world can’t see is the Spirit who indwells you. They can’t see your spiritual union with Christ. They can’t see the eternal life that you possess. They can’t see the heavenly inheritance that you look forward to. In short, they can’t see Christ.
The other reason why Paul says “your life is hidden with Christ” is that you are secure and sheltered in God’s protection. Not that you will always be healthy and wealthy, as televangelists teach, but that your faith in God and Christ will be steadfast and firm through your afflictions and temptations in this life. The Scriptures promise us that God and Christ are our shelter, “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock” (Psa 27:5). You who are in the “house of the Lord” are in his “tent.” The church is your shelter from the storms of life.
The psalmist also assures you with these verses, “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance” (Psa 32:7). And “In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues” (Psa 31:20). God is your shelter from his enemies. The prophet Isaiah also is secure in God’s mighty hand, “in the shadow of his hand he hid me” (Isa 49:2).
Last Palm Sunday, Islamic terrorists bombed two churches in Egypt during their services. Dozens were killed and scores wounded. This was a repeat of another terrorist attack last Christmas when 25 were killed and dozens wounded. Many of you probably saw videos of these brothers and sisters of ours defiant and steadfast in reciting one of the ancient creeds of the church of Christ, the Nicene Creed. What gives them this hope and perseverance? It is the promise of God that he will be their shelter, their refuge, their rock, amid persecution, death, burned houses and churches. Their faith will not be shaken. Their eternal life is the hands of their Father in heaven because they are “in Christ.”
Let us continue to pray for them; to grab opportunities to help them in their needs; and to make known to our civil authorities that they need to accept more Christian refugees from Syria, Iraq, and other Muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East and Africa. Did you know that out of almost 11,000 refugees from Syria in 2016, only 56 were Christians? And yet, Christians are the majority among persecuted groups in the Middle East.
“You Will Also Appear with Him in Glory”
There is another aspect to the perseverance of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East: their blessed hope of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the third exhortation of Paul arising out of the resurrection of our Lord, “When Christ who is your life appears, you will also appear with him in glory.”
Because you are united to Christ by faith, you are united to him in his death for your sin. Not only that, you are united to him in his resurrection from the grave. In our Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 45, we read of the benefits we receive from our Lord’s resurrection:
First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of the righteousness which He has obtained for us by His death. Second, by His power we are also now raised up to a new life. Third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.
The first benefit is that by his resurrection, we have been declared righteous by God. Christ lived a perfectly righteous life, and we are united to him also in his righteous life. Therefore, by faith in him, we are also declared righteous by God, forgiven of our sins. This is what Paul refers to in Romans 4:25, “[Christ] was raised for our justification.” Without his resurrection, we are still in our sins, we have no hope, we believe and preach a lie, and we are the most pitiable people in this world (1 Cor 15:14-19).
We have already looked at the second benefit, that is, we have been raised with Christ to a new, righteous and godly life.
And the third benefit is this: “the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.” How comforting is this? When Christ appears a second time on the last day, we will see him in person, in all his majesty, beauty and splendor. But we will also reflect his majesty, beauty and splendor! In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul says that when Christ appears, he “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” Can you imagine this? Our frail body, with all kinds of defects, aches and pains, and disabilities will be glorious and perfect. No more daily medicines and supplements. No more gadgets to carry around to maintain our health. No more doctor’s appointments, lab tests, and hospitals. Can you imagine this? I can’t.
This is why Paul promises in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” For him, our 60, 70, 80 or even 90 years on this earth is a “light momentary affliction [that is] preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17). “Beyond all comparison”: can you imagine this?
Dear Friends: The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our great comfort in life and in death. Because he lives forever in heaven, set your mind on him, on heavenly things that are eternal, not on earthly things that are passing away. Be secure that he is your hiding place, your shelter, your rock, in the midst of sufferings and trials and temptations. And hope in the eternal glory that awaits you when he returns from heaven.
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. Praise and thanksgiving and glory to God and Christ alone!
