How to Fight While Hiding

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3).

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In 2 Peter 1:3,4 Peter writes,“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

In the rest of the chapter, Peter gives a list of qualities that belong to the believer, but mentions the issue of those professing Christians who lack these qualities. Ultimately they had forgotten the Gospel. They forgot the Work of Christ on their behalf; they forgot that through repentance and faith in Jesus their sins had been covered, they forgot that they had been cleansed from their former sins (2 Peter 1:9).

Being raised with Christ is having your sins cleansed. His death, burial, and resurrection seals the deal for sinners who turn to Him in repentance and faith. Christ died to sin to never die again, and the life He lives He lives to God (Romans 6:9,10).

The gospel is not just about someone coming to pay for our sin. It is about the complete work of God in Christ on our behalf. Through faith, His death becomes our death (Colossians 3:3), His resurrection becomes our resurrection (Colossians 3:1), and His ascension becomes our hope that we must continually seek while we hide and fight (Colossians 3:1)!

Why is this important for the believer? This is important because we still have to fight sin, we still have an enemy, we still have to fight for our joy in Christ, and we still live in this decaying world that loves sin. What better way to fight sin than to fight it within the perfect hiding place... in Jesus.

When Jesus rose and ascended, He not only secured a hiding place for us (Colossians 3:3), but He also gave us a place to look while hiding within Him, “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”(Colossians 3:1). Believers have been given the tools to fight (2 Peter 1:3,4,), we’ve been given a place to hide (Colossians 3:3), and we’ve been given the Captain of our souls... Jesus. “In Him are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2,3).

A born again Christian can only put off what is earthly in them (sin) by putting on what has been given to them in Christ (all the things that pertain to life and godliness).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

What about you? Are you born again? Are you able to hide in Christ? Once you place your hope and trust in Him you will be saved. You must turn from your sin and turn in trust in Jesus. Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus to save you from God’s wrath to come. Repent and come join us in faith while we gather in Christ; our hope is in Him. Look to Jesus and be saved today. Amen