If you then be risen with Christ.

 

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.  Set your affection on things above and not on this earth, for you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:1-3

 

There are so many great truths in the word of God but having recently celebrated His Resurrection, I am mindful of Romans six where it states “sin no longer has dominion over you”.  Jesus’ purpose was fulfilled through His death and resurrection. Through His finished work, we have the privilege to enter into His life.

 

According to Romans 6:4, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we may also live new lives. Galatians reminds us our old man has to be put off and this becomes a matter of renewing our minds to His word.  Once I was, but now I am.  Old things are passed away, all things have become new.  His blood has not just washed us, but it has purified.  There is no remembrance of the old in Christ, just this precious new life in Christ. And now we live with Him by the power of God.

 

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.  Set your affection on things above and not on this earth, for you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

 

My mind holds the memories of the old.  Satan, as the accuser of the brethren reminds us of all our faults and weaknesses.  The Father chooses not to remember our sins and we must do the same ~ choose to no longer fix our minds and attentions on the things of the past. Paul said this one thing I do, forgetting the things which lie behind and reaching forth to things that are before… Philippians 3:13. 

 

The wonderful thing about this truth is that we don’t do any of this in our own power.  It is all accomplished through abiding in Him.  Jesus said, I won’t leave you comfortless.  I will send you another (just like me) helper.  He will abide with you forever.  The Holy Spirit now lives in each and every one of us providing us with every thing we have need of.  Because He is Spirit, His work is spirit.  The Father is a Spirit.  We are spirit.  His words are Spirit and life.  When we feed on Jesus, abide in His word, our minds begin to think like He thinks. We begin to hold the mind of God in whatever area we are attending to.

 

The gospels reveal the nature of our Father through the expression of Jesus.  The epistles show us who we are and what we have been given in Christ.  As we set our affections on all things Spiritual, we are strengthened, we are enabled, to walk in the ways that please Him. 

 

Jesus is the resurrection and the Life, the author and giver of all life.  His light dispelled darkness.  He provided you and I a redemption that met every need we could ever face. We that believe in Him, though we are dead (crucified with Him, dying daily) yet shall we live, in His victory, in His life. 

 

If you then be risen with Christ……