Friday, 5 May 2017
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3
“For you died” is correct. Some older versions say, “For you are dead.” Without an accompanying explanation, that makes no sense. A dead person cannot read or respond to a letter. But for someone who has died, there can be the possibility of something new involved in that dying. The verb is in the aorist tense, and it denotes “death accomplished.” This is what Paul is now conveying. It builds upon what he said in Colossians 2:20 –
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world,”
There was a death “to the basic principles of the world which now results in something new. Paul explains that with the words, “and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Jesus literally died. As the fulfillment of the law, the law died with Him. It was nailed to the cross (verse 2:14). But we also died with Him to the law. In His resurrection (a literal, bodily resurrection), our lives are now hidden with Him in God. The word “hid” is in the perfect tense. It is hidden once and forever. Thus the “life” is a continuous fact. In essence, “Your life was hidden, it is hidden, and it will remain hidden forever.” There is assurance in the salvation of Jesus Christ, not doubt.
As Jesus said in Matthew 22:32, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” As we spiritually died to the basic principles of the world, the world has no dominion over us. But as we are alive to Christ, we are hidden with Christ in God. In other words, we are spiritually alive, and we are kept safe in Christ – who can never die again – and therefore, we are eternally alive with Him in this mystical union which is “in God.” As Christ is eternally in the Father, and as we are eternally in Christ, we are thus eternally in God. The fellowship is complete, and it is eternal.
Life application: Words have meaning. Paul writes in specific tenses in order to fully explain what has occurred for the believer in Christ. There is to be no doubt concerning our continued salvation. When we err, let us speak to the Lord about it and move on. He has saved us, and we are saved. Hallelujah to Christ Jesus who has delivered us from the body of death, which is the law!
Heavenly Father, Your word shows that one who is saved can never lose that gift. We have died to the basic principles of the world, and our lives are hidden with Christ in You. As Christ is in You forever, and as we are hidden in Him forever, then we can be certain that we are forever reconciled to You. The pressure is off! The burden is lifted! We have peace and reconciliation once again! Thank You, O heavenly Father, for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.