hidden with Christ
“So, if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.”
That’s how Eugene Peterson interprets Colossians 3:1 in The Message. Like Paul, he implores us to live in the new resurrection life given to us. The first four verses are a concise summary of the gospel. I put the whole passage at the end of the post; take the time to read it slowly.
So, what is this resurrection life? And how is it different from the old life? Here is my attempt at a concise answer:
Living out the resurrection life comes down to what you depend on to feel OK about yourself.
There are lots of techniques (read “idolatries”) to depend on. But since I am a counselor, I’ll give you three common relational techniques that people depend on to feel OK about themselves, other than depending on Christ.
1) Pleasing Others
If others can make or break me, then Pleasing promises to tilt the odds in my favor. I find out what makes another take notice. Then I try supply those things. When they take notice of those things, then I feel noticed, too. It is an attempt to feel OK about myself by hiding behind the things I do.
I feel covered by what I do to gain notice.
2) Blaming Others
If others can make or break me, then Blaming promises to break them before they break me. Or, it promises to insulate me from accusation. This way of feeling OK about myself is as old as Adam blaming Eve. It is an attempt to feel OK about myself by hiding behind the faults (real or perceived) of others.
I feel covered by my ability to fend off accusation.
3) Distancing Others
If others can make or break me, then Distancing promises to eliminate at least one of the dangers. If I can get away from the critical other, then I might avoid their stinging words. If I can get away from the needy other, then maybe I won’t feel pressure or sense of failure. I even try distance from whom I desperately want approval. If I cut off the need for approval before they do, then I feel more in control. All these are an attempt to feel OK about myself by hiding away from them.
I feel covered by my safe distance.
Notice how all three of these are addressed by the resurrection life:
1) Christ took notice of us, making us Pleasing to God.
2) He took the Blame for us, bearing the penalty in Himself.
3) He took the Distance away, hiding our new life with Him in God.
In Christ, we died to the all the desperate pleasing, blaming, and distancing. We are covered from our fears, not by these old-life techniques but by our new life, hidden in Christ.
Because of Easter, we don’t have to live the old life. We don’t carry the old burden of covering ourselves. Jesus has done this for us. People don’t make or break us anymore. We’re already re-made.
Therefore, we can live a new life. We can seek other things. Because we’ve been noticed by Christ, we freely do things for others. Because we’ve been freed from ultimate blame by Christ, we are forgiving to others. Because we are hidden and beloved, close to Him, we can risk closeness with others.
“So, if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.”
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Put On the New Self
[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.–Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
Roger Edwards joined The Barnabas Center in 1991. He works with both individuals and couples, helping people confess their need and embrace their available choices to lead healthier lives. Roger also teaches and leads discussion groups and retreats applying the Gospel to everyday life. He is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC), holds a master’s degree in biblical counseling from Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is married to Jean; they have seven children and nine grandchildren.
