Living in the Freedom of Christ's Resurrection
Summary
I'm delighted to share with you today about the profound freedom we have in Christ, a freedom that calls us to live and think as resurrected people. This journey begins with understanding our identity in Christ, as Paul outlines in Colossians 3:1-4. We are not like birds trapped in cages, unaware of the open door before us. Instead, we are called to embrace the reality of our resurrection with Christ, living in the newness of life that His resurrection affords us.
Paul's message is clear: if we have been raised with Christ, we should live and think like it. This means seeking the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. It's not merely about avoiding sin or detaching from the world, but about aligning our lives with Christ's rule here and now. Our lives should reflect the kingdom of heaven, living under Christ's authority and displaying His reign in our daily actions.
Moreover, living like resurrected people involves a transformation of our minds. We are in a battle for our thoughts, as the enemy seeks to deceive us with lies that distort our understanding of God's truth. We must set our minds on things above, allowing God's promises to reshape our thinking and combat the lies of the enemy. This involves recognizing that our life is hidden with Christ, secure and protected, and that Christ's rule will one day be fully revealed.
As we navigate this spiritual battle, we hold fast to the truth that our future is secure in Christ and that His kingdom is coming. This assurance empowers us to live confidently in our salvation and committed to Jesus as our King. By embracing these truths, we can resist the enemy's deception and live as the resurrected people we are called to be.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace Your Identity in Christ: Recognize that being raised with Christ is a completed action with ongoing effects. This spiritual resurrection calls us to live in the newness of life, not just in the future, but today. Our old life is gone, and we are now defined by Christ's resurrection power. [51:30]
2. Seek the Things Above: Living like resurrected people means actively pursuing the things of God, not just avoiding sin. It's about aligning our lives with Christ's rule and representing His kingdom here on earth. This pursuit is not about escaping the world but living under Christ's authority within it. [55:05]
3. Transform Your Mind: Our thoughts shape our actions, and we are in a spiritual battle for our minds. Setting our minds on things above involves engaging in this battle, combating the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's promises. This transformation is essential for living like resurrected people. [01:04:33]
4. Rest in Christ's Finished Work: Christ's work of redemption is complete, and we are fully forgiven and accepted. We must resist the temptation to prove ourselves to God and instead rest in the freedom of His grace. This truth liberates us from guilt and shame, allowing us to live confidently in our salvation. [01:01:18]
5. Anticipate Christ's Return: Our future is secure, and Christ's rule will one day be fully revealed. This hope empowers us to live faithfully now, knowing that we will share in His glory. By fixing our eyes on eternity, we can resist the temporary temptations of the world and live in the light of Christ's coming kingdom. [01:17:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Bird Watching
- [03:45] - The Pigeon Story
- [07:20] - Bird Watching and Spiritual Insights
- [10:15] - The Bird in the Cage Analogy
- [13:00] - Colossians 3:1-4 Overview
- [16:45] - Living as Resurrected People
- [20:30] - Seeking Things Above
- [24:00] - Transforming Our Minds
- [28:15] - The Battle for Our Minds
- [32:00] - Resting in Christ's Finished Work
- [36:45] - Anticipating Christ's Return
- [40:30] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Colossians 3:1-4
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "If then you have been raised with Christ"? How does this statement set the tone for the rest of the passage? [51:30]
2. In Colossians 3:1, Paul instructs believers to "seek the things that are above." What does this command imply about the focus of a believer's life? [55:05]
3. How does the analogy of a bird in a cage relate to the spiritual freedom Paul describes in Colossians 3:1-4? [13:00]
4. What does it mean for our life to be "hidden with Christ in God," and how does this provide security for believers? [01:14:59]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding our identity as "raised with Christ" influence the way we live our daily lives? Consider the implications of this identity on personal decision-making and priorities. [51:30]
2. What are some practical ways believers can "seek the things that are above" while still engaging with the world around them? How does this balance look in everyday life? [55:05]
3. In what ways does the transformation of our minds play a role in living as resurrected people? How can believers actively participate in this transformation? [01:04:33]
4. How does the assurance of Christ's return and the promise of sharing in His glory impact a believer's perspective on current struggles and challenges? [01:17:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of your identity in Christ. How does this understanding affect your daily actions and decisions? Are there areas where you struggle to embrace this identity? [51:30]
2. Identify one specific area in your life where you can more intentionally "seek the things that are above." What practical steps can you take this week to align this area with Christ's rule? [55:05]
3. Consider the thoughts that dominate your mind throughout the day. Are there any recurring thoughts that need to be transformed by setting your mind on things above? How can you begin this transformation process? [01:04:33]
4. In what ways do you find yourself trying to prove your worth to God or others? How can you rest more fully in the finished work of Christ and the freedom of His grace? [01:01:18]
5. Think about a recent situation where you felt tempted to doubt Christ's rule or His finished work. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future by holding onto the truths of Colossians 3:1-4? [01:14:59]
6. How does the promise of Christ's return and the future glory you will share with Him influence your current priorities and decisions? What changes might you need to make to live more in light of this promise? [01:17:16]
7. Identify a specific lie or deception that the enemy has used to challenge your identity in Christ. What truth from God's Word can you use to combat this lie and renew your mind? [01:08:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Your New Identity in Christ
In Christ, you have been given a new identity, one that is rooted in His resurrection power. This transformation is not just a future promise but a present reality. Your old life, with its limitations and failures, is gone, and you are now defined by the life of Christ within you. This new identity calls you to live in the freedom and power of His resurrection, embracing the newness of life that He offers. As you recognize this profound truth, you are invited to step into a life that reflects His love, grace, and authority. [51:30]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: What old habits or mindsets do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ today?
Day 2: Seek the Things Above
Living as resurrected people means actively pursuing the things of God. This pursuit is not about escaping the world but about living under Christ's authority within it. It involves aligning your life with His rule and representing His kingdom here on earth. By seeking the things above, you are called to reflect the values and priorities of heaven in your daily life. This alignment with Christ's rule transforms how you interact with the world, inviting you to be a beacon of His love and truth. [55:05]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your priorities with the values of God's kingdom?
Day 3: Transform Your Mind
The battle for your mind is a crucial aspect of living as a resurrected person. Your thoughts shape your actions, and the enemy seeks to deceive you with lies that distort your understanding of God's truth. By setting your mind on things above, you engage in this spiritual battle, allowing God's promises to reshape your thinking. This transformation is essential for living in the freedom and power of Christ's resurrection, enabling you to resist the enemy's deception and embrace the truth of who you are in Him. [01:04:33]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: Identify a lie you have believed about yourself. How can you replace it with a truth from God's Word today?
Day 4: Rest in Christ's Finished Work
Christ's work of redemption is complete, and you are fully forgiven and accepted. This truth liberates you from the need to prove yourself to God, allowing you to rest in the freedom of His grace. By embracing this reality, you can live confidently in your salvation, free from guilt and shame. This rest in Christ's finished work empowers you to live out your faith with joy and assurance, knowing that you are secure in His love and grace. [01:01:18]
Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you striving to earn God's approval? How can you rest in His grace today?
Day 5: Anticipate Christ's Return
Your future is secure in Christ, and His rule will one day be fully revealed. This hope empowers you to live faithfully now, knowing that you will share in His glory. By fixing your eyes on eternity, you can resist the temporary temptations of the world and live in the light of Christ's coming kingdom. This anticipation of His return invites you to live with purpose and intentionality, reflecting His love and truth in all you do. [01:17:16]
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief."
Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Quotes
If then you've been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. So Paul, he's moved into this section of the letter where he's starting to give a number of different challenges, a number of different commands, based on the things that we've seen so far. That was much of what I shared with you the last time that I was here. But here, Paul doesn't actually begin with the command. He starts with something a little bit different. It's this statement about our identity and it's a statement about a reality that we need to embrace. [00:49:07] (30 seconds)
This phrase is really interesting. It's in, I'm a little bit of a Bible language nerd, so in the Greek, grammatically, it's in the aorist tense, which basically just means that it's a word that's a completed action. It's something that happened in the past, but it has continuous and ongoing effects for your life today. And so the idea is that something definitive happened to you in the past, but it's such a defining reality, a defining moment for you, that it actually is continuing to shape your present and continuing to shape even your future as well. [00:49:52] (34 seconds)
As people who no longer belong to our old life of sin and death. It's this current spiritual resurrection, and that's what guarantees our future bodily resurrection. And so that's why Paul speaks of our resurrection as something that's already happened. It's not really something that we're waiting for. It's a present spiritual reality that we're living in right now. And that's what guarantees the future that we can expect, a future of a physical resurrection with Christ as well. [00:51:41] (29 seconds)
And so here's the simple truth. People who have been raised with Christ live like resurrected people, all right? People who've been raised with Christ live like resurrected people. And I wanna explore what that means. For Paul, it means one thing in particular here in verse one. This is what we're doing on that point. It means that we seek the things that are above. We seek the things that are above. [00:53:15] (21 seconds)
It's this active and intentional pursuit that's characterizing the resurrected life. Because we've been raised with Christ, we live as resurrected people by continuously seeking the things that are above. Now, I think that idea, seeking the things that are above, it's a common one that most of us have heard before. And many Christians, you know, if you've been around a church before, you've heard the idea that you ought to be seeking the things that are above. [00:53:54] (26 seconds)
Seeking the things above isn't about escaping this world. It's about aligning our lives with Christ's rule in this world. It's aligning our lives with Christ's rule in this world. Think about like a U.S. embassy that's in another country. Well, the embassy is in a foreign land, but everything inside of that embassy is operating under the rule of the United States. So the ambassador, the staff, they're all living according to the laws of their home country, even though they're surrounded by a completely different culture. [00:55:58] (31 seconds)
Paul's challenging us to actually live like that's true in light of that reality, the resurrected life where Christ is our king. The question is, are we truly living under his rule today? If Christ is king, his word should be governing our decisions. Or if Christ is king, his mission should be shaping all of our priorities. Or if Christ is king, then we should be submitting every area of our lives to his authority. [00:57:56] (32 seconds)
Christ's work of redemption is finished. In Hebrews 10 verse 12, I love this passage. It says, when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Now, in the Old Testament, there were priests who would offer sacrifices for sins to enable people to be in the presence of God and to be in a relationship with him, but they never were able to offer a sufficient sacrifice for all time. [01:00:01] (31 seconds)
Some of us say we believe in grace, but we're living like we have to prove ourselves to God. Some of us are carrying guilt and shame, but it's something that Jesus has already paid for. Some of us believe we're forgiven, but we still think God is holding our past sins against us. Imagine somebody who's working a stressful job for years and they're constantly under pressure. And then one day their boss calls him in and says, hey, I've actually finished all of the work that needs to be done. [01:01:12] (29 seconds)
The word for set your mind in Greek, it's not just like, you know, occasionally thinking about something. It refers to this deep and this intentional focus that completely reshapes how we see the world and the way that we're gonna make decisions. And so in other words, when we adopt this resurrected way of life, life, it reshapes our way of thinking. It changes our, our pursuit changes our perspective. [01:03:52] (28 seconds)
We're transformed and we're changed as people when we hear the promises of God and believe them in faith. It's this call to combat Satan's lies with God's truth. And so Paul ends this passage actually by giving us two great truths, two promises. Two promises. And these are promises that can break through the lies of the enemy and ultimately reshape the way that we think. They're not just theological ideas. They're weapons for us in spiritual warfare. [01:12:14] (34 seconds)
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