Summary:
Since the believers have been raised up with Christ, they are called to seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Their attention and desire should be directed toward heavenly things rather than earthly things.
Paul explains that they have died, and their life is now hidden with Christ in God. Their true life is no longer defined by what belongs to the earth, but by their union with Christ. Although this life is presently hidden, it will be revealed when Christ, who is their life, is revealed.
When Christ appears, the believers also will appear with Him in glory. The passage presents the Christian life as one that has died to the old earthly order, is now hidden with Christ in God, and is waiting for the future revelation of glory with Christ.
Teaching:
Jesus is above the world. This means that He rules over all things and has authority over everything. Therefore, we must look to Jesus and not be bound by the words we hear from people, by worldly knowledge, or by the atmosphere around us. We too are called to belong to the things above.
This does not mean that believers should ignore or reject the things of this world. Rather, while embracing the world in which we live, we must live within the hand of God, who rules over and governs all things. In order to do that, we must live above those things.
The Word is also above these things, and through the Word we must come to know Jesus more deeply. We are called to stand at the center of the world without being buried by the world, and to become salt and light that overcome the world.
In order to live this way, we must be with Christ.
Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, June 17, 2026
Colossians 3:1-4