Walking in Newness of Life

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:1 (NIV)

You and I—and, truth be told, the entire world along with us—should, by now, be dead and buried because of our sins. Yet, God saw fit not to let things come to that for us. Although we were unworthy of salvation, He decided to deliver us from the just condemnation that awaited us by placing the burden of our sins upon Jesus, who willingly accepted to die in our place. Through His death, Christ bore away the sins that prevented us from entering into God’s presence—sins that even barred us from being able to ask Him for forgiveness. For, even had He forgiven us, we would have hastened to fall back into sin without the slightest hesitation.

When Paul asserts that we have been raised with Christ, he is referring to what God sees when He looks down upon us from His throne; for Christ’s resurrection has changed everything for us in God’s eyes. It is an entirely new life that He has given us. It is in this sense that Paul asks us to seek the things above—namely, what God offers us in Jesus Christ. This new life in Christ entails a new way of behaving, a new attitude, and perspectives radically different from the old ones—the very ones that once kept us enslaved to the things of this world. In verses 5 through 10, Paul describes the things we must renounce in order to embrace this newness of life in Christ.

The "things above" are those that God has reserved for us; they are the things that please God, and they are the things that enable us to lead a life filled with the Spirit. Paul does not say that you must renounce your earthly life, but rather that you should turn away from anything that does not strengthen your faith—from anything that prevents you from living a life of worship before God or that does not edify your soul. One of the most important things you should seek is sanctification; for, in Jesus Christ, God has declared you holy. He expects you to be holy in everything you undertake—whether in your private life or in your relationships with others. This is what demonstrates that, through your resurrection with Christ, you continue to walk in newness of life.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.