Colossians 3:3 Commentary and Bible Study

It is not just, reckon yourself as dead, as one modern translation puts it. It is ‘you are dead’ – your old interests are dead, your old life. You were completely swamped by worldly things. Don’t resuscitate the old nature and the old lusts; don’t go back to the old earth-bound priorities and sins.Now there is undoubtedly a seeming contradiction and yet the contradictory statements are so near to each other that it is obvious they are intended, and they have something to teach us. We are dead as Christians and yet we are to put to death our parts upon earth. Both things are true. Through Christ our spiritual status is that the old life is dead, that we are forgiven, that we are justified, not guilty before God. That spiritual status of the Christian is settled – there is no sin, there is nothing to face in the Day of Judgement. And yet it is equally true that we have to put to death, because our actual condition does not entirely correspond to the spiritual truth about us – forgiven, accepted in Christ, bound to be saved eternally. Why not? Because the old nature is still there within you: the fallen tendencies of sin. You are still subject to the law of sin, something that is running around inside you. The old nature is not dominant but it is there, and its motions, its expressions of sin, have to be put to death continually.‘Your life is hid with Christ in God.’ That is very profound and very wonderful. Your present life has a hidden source. The worldling cannot see it; you try to tell him; you want to bring him to Christ, but so much of your life is hidden. You have an infinite fountain of energy and assurance and power and blessing, but he cannot see it because it is hidden until he comes to Christ. So he does not believe what you say about where you are going. He cannot see that this is divine wisdom, the great source of knowledge. Your title deeds to your future, eternal home, they are with Christ, they are at his side. Your life and your future possessions are hidden with him and the world does not know you.