Reflections based on Colossians 3:1–17.

In recent weeks we have looked at what it means to have new life in Christ, and how we should live as a result. We’ve seen the importance, both individually and corporately, of truly comprehending our standing in Christ as it is the key to our holiness.

As we’ve read in many other places, this passage continues to use the word ‘therefore’: because we are now alive in Christ there are things we need to ‘put to death’ (or destroy the power of) – things that belong to our sinful nature. We are also instructed to clothe ourselves in virtues – the one that binds them all together is love. I love the image of dressing ourselves with such items and in fact wrote a previous post about this, which I hope you might find helpful.

We are given a picture of how the individuals in a church can come together too, to praise God but also encourage and teach one another – and to do it all in Jesus’ name with an attitude of thanksgiving. 

I just want to focus briefly on the small phrase ‘hidden with Christ in God’. I love this phrase, and it reminds me of when Moses asked to see God’s glory (see Exodus 33:12–23). He was told God would hide him in a cleft in the rock as He passed by because he couldn’t look on God’s face and live due to His holiness. Similarly, we are now hidden in the rock of Jesus, safe and secure.

Optional further reading: Ephesians 4:1–16.