Living the New Life in Christ
As followers of Jesus, you and I are not who we once were—we have been raised with Christ, hidden with Him in God, and called to live out a brand‑new, resurrection identity right here in the middle of ordinary life. This article is an invitation to lift your eyes, reset your heart, and step into the freedom of “the new life in Christ” described in Colossians 3:1‑4.
Paul writes to a small, pressured church in Colossae and reminds them that something decisive has already happened: “you have been raised with Christ.” Their story—and ours—is no longer defined by Rome, culture, status, failure, or shame, but by union with the risen Jesus.
This is why Colossians 3:1‑4 is such a pivot point in the letter. Paul moves from rich theology (who Christ is and what He has done) to everyday practice (how that changes Monday morning), tying identity and lifestyle together in one seamless call to “live the new life in Christ.”
A New Identity: Raised and Hidden
Paul says two stunning things about every believer: you “have been raised with Christ” and your life “is hidden with Christ in God.” “Raised” is resurrection language—it means the old self is truly gone and a new life has begun, with ongoing implications for how we think, feel, and live.
“Hidden with Christ” speaks of security, mystery, and belonging. The world may not fully see who you are in Christ yet, but heaven does—and one day, when Christ is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory. That future unveiling gives deep assurance in present struggles, reminding you that your truest life is wrapped up in Jesus, not in your performance or circumstances.
A New Focus: Seeking the Things Above
Because you have been raised, Paul says, “keep seeking the things above… set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” “Seek” and “set” are strong, ongoing imperatives—this is a lifestyle posture, not a one‑time decision.
In practical terms, “things above” are not vague religious feelings but the realities of Christ’s rule, values, priorities, and promises. To seek them means deliberately reshaping your habits, calendars, and heart‑commitments around Jesus rather than around career, comparison, or comfort.
Some simple ways to do this in weekly rhythm include:
- Beginning the day with Scripture and prayer that center your heart on who Christ is and who you are in Him.
- Evaluating big decisions—work, finances, relationships—through the lens of, “Does this reflect my new identity in Christ?”
- Choosing practices (silence, service, worship, generosity) that train your mind to look up rather than be swallowed by the urgent and the temporary.
Between the Old Self and the New Life
Colossians 3:1‑4 sets up what Paul will say next: because you’ve been raised, you must “put to death” what belongs to the old life and “put on” the new. The indicative (what is already true of you) grounds the imperative (how you now live).
That means spiritual growth is not you trying to earn an identity; it is you learning to live out the identity you already have in Christ. The old patterns—sin, self‑reliance, worldly measures of worth—no longer fit the person you now are, even if they still feel familiar.
In our cultural moment, identity is often tied to achievement, image, sexuality, or status, which leaves many exhausted and unsure who they really are. Paul’s message cuts through that noise: in Christ, you are given a new, secure, eternal identity that frees you from chasing validation in all the wrong places.
Hope That Shapes Today
Verse 4 lifts our eyes beyond today’s pressures: “When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” The Jesus who is now your life will one day be your visible, undeniable future, and you will share in His glory.
That future hope fuels present perseverance. When you feel unseen, misunderstood, or worn thin by temptation and trials, remembering where your story is headed helps you keep seeking things above instead of giving in to despair.
Walking This Out Together
This passage was written to a community, not just isolated individuals. The Colossian church was a diverse mix of backgrounds and social classes learning to live as one new people in Christ in the middle of a complex Roman world.
In the same way, the Christian life is meant to be lived together—helping one another remember who we are, lifting each other’s gaze when it drops back to the merely earthly, and practicing this new identity in real relationships. Small groups, shared worship, confession, encouragement, and service are all ways the church helps each member “set their minds on things above.”
This Sunday: Let’s Go Deeper Together
Friend, you really do have a new identity in Christ: raised with Him, hidden in Him, and destined to be revealed with Him in glory. The question is not whether that is true—it is how deeply you and I are willing to let that truth reshape our priorities, relationships, and daily choices.
This Sunday, we’ll open Colossians 3:1‑4 together and walk slowly through what it means to seek the things above in a world that pulls us in every other direction. If your heart is hungry for something deeper and more stable than the labels and pressures of this culture, you are warmly invited to join us as we learn to live the new life in Christ side by side.
