Hidden in Christ
Colossians 3:1-4 serves as a crucial transition point in Paul's letter. This passage acts as a hinge between two major sections of the letter.
The first two chapters focus on vertical Indicatives—the objective facts about what God in Christ has done for believers and what's now true of their identity because of His work. Starting in chapter 3, verse 5, Paul shifts to horizontal Imperatives—practical instructions on how believers should live in light of who they are in Christ.
Before launching into the practical section, Paul uses these four verses to wrap up his doctrinal teaching and propel his readers forward. What he writes here has the power to completely transform how we understand and live the Christian life.
The Context: Jesus + Nothing = Everything
To understand this passage, we need to remember what Paul had just addressed at the end of chapter 2. He was confronting false teachers who were promoting a "Jesus Plus” gospel. They were teaching that believers needed Jesus plus Old Testament Law, or Jesus plus special experiences, or Jesus plus ascetic discipline to have everything they needed.
Paul called them out for false humility, having lost connection with Jesus, and practicing self-imposed worship that only had an appearance of wisdom. He was so direct because the true gospel is a "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" gospel. Paul had gone to great lengths to show the Colossians the supremacy of Christ and how they are rooted in Him, complete in Him, and have everything they could ever need in Him alone.
The Two Commands
Let's look at the passage:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
Paul gives believers two imperatives: "set your hearts on things above" and "set your minds on things above." But notice what he's commanding us to do—focus on the vertical indicatives, on who God is and who we are in Christ. Paul is setting us up for how to live (horizontal imperatives), but he makes clear that the way to live the Christian life is to focus on what is already true of us in Christ.
The Foundation: Already Raised with Christ
Paul grounds these commands in a stunning reality: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ..." This is past tense. It's already happened. Throughout his letter, Paul has reminded the Colossians of what Christ's death accomplished for them—complete forgiveness, the death of their old self, and being raised with Him.
He told them God "has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" (1:13-14). He reminded them that though they "were alienated from God and were enemies," God "has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (1:21-22). He declared, "When you were dead in your sins...God made you alive with Christ" (2:13).
Seated with Christ Now
Here's the incredible image Paul presents: Jesus is seated at the right hand of God—a position symbolizing power and privilege. But if you've put your faith in Jesus for salvation, you are seated right there with Him! Your life is "hidden with Christ in God."
This isn't about God being "up there" and us being "down here." We are in union with God—close, intimate, and already spiritually seated in heaven. We're able to experience eternal life with Christ now, not just someday in the future.
As F.F. Bruce writes in his commentary: "Instead of waiting until the last day to receive the resurrection life, those who have been raised with Christ possess it here and now. The new creation—the regeneration—has already begun in you. Spiritually, that is to say, 'in Christ,' you belong already to the age to come and enjoy its life."
So the question is: Are you enjoying your eternal life in Christ now, or have you been living the Christian life waiting for something you already possess?
Two Realms, One Reality
Paul helps us understand this in 2 Corinthians 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Think of it this way: There's an eternal realm and a temporal realm. In the eternal realm—the unseen reality—you are spirit, complete, changeless, and timeless. You exist in union with God. As 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, "He who is united to the Lord is one spirit with Him!" You are a new creation, spiritually born again, raised with Christ. This is your true identity. You are complete, whole, holy, righteous, and good in Christ.
But you also exist in the temporal realm—the visible, material world. Here, your body is changing. Your mind, emotions, and choices are being transformed. You are both whole and complete (in your spirit) and in process (in your soul and body).
Here's what happened at salvation: You were once spiritually dead because of sin, separated from God with a sin nature. But Jesus came to earth, died for your sins on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father. When you placed your faith in Jesus, you were forgiven. But it's more than just forgiveness—the Holy Spirit came to dwell in your spirit, uniting you with God in the eternal realm. Your identity fundamentally changed.
You are no longer a sinner; you are a saint! You may feel like sinning, you may think about sinning, and you might even choose to sin, but that doesn't change who you are in Christ. The more you set your heart and mind on things above—on your true identity—the more you'll experience the Spirit influencing your mind, emotions, and choices. You'll begin to see Him using your words and actions to express your eternal life in this world.
Focus on What's Already True
Paul's instruction is clear: Set your hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. Too often we look at our feelings, thoughts, and circumstances to determine who we are and who we need to become. But Paul says to switch that up. Fix your hearts and minds on what God has already done and what that says about your feelings, thoughts, and circumstances.
The more you understand who you are in Christ in the eternal realm, the more you'll be able to walk out who you already are in this world. You'll be able to live from the eternal realm in this temporal realm.
The Future Revelation
Paul ends with a glimpse of the future: "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." There's a day coming when our bodies and souls will be united with Him in glory in the same way we are spiritually united with Him now. What is currently hidden will be on full display. Everyone will see what is already true of us now.
Living From Jesus, Not For Jesus
The biggest takeaway is this: grasp what is true of you now! Many Christians miss out on who they already are and the eternal life they possess now and can enjoy now. Most Christians are trying to become someone God has already made them into. No wonder the Christian life is met with frustration and failure.
Don't let that be you. Set your hearts and minds on things above. Quit looking to your thoughts, emotions, and actions to determine what that says about you and where you need to get someday. Instead, look to where you already are and who you already are, and allow those truths to speak to what you are feeling, thinking, and doing in this world.
One approach is trying to live for Jesus and get where you think He wants you to be. The other is living from Jesus and who you already are in Him. May we live from Jesus and who we already are as we set our hearts and minds on things above—hidden in Christ.
