Hidden in Christ

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.

In Sunday School yesterday, John taught on Colossians 3:2 in a way that really brought it into focus. He emphasized that the earthly things that Paul is referring to are specifically the ceremonies and "good works" that a Pharisee would do to "earn" his right standing before God. The heavenly things, specifically, would be your identity in Christ. Setting your mind on heavenly things, on being "hidden in Christ" means grasping what it means to be justifed before God in Christ, totally accepted, given His righteousness that is outside of yourself. Hilda brought up the biblical metaphor of adoption and John jumped on it, saying that was exactly right. We are adopted by God, given His name, His righteousness, His lineage, even when we have not yet lived up to it -- just as an adoptive parent gives all that to the child. Then you live like a "Rabe" or a "James" because of that, because you remember that. Your identity yields your behavior. You do what you do, because you are what you are. But you are already, unconditionally "in" and that is what you focus on. Setting your mind on "doing good things" (earthly things) will only lead to Phariseeism and exhaustion, and doesn't please God. It leads to self-righteousness. Of course, Paul is very concerned for us to do good things--but he always makes that behavior the outcome of our new identity, not the basis of it, and in Paul's flow of thought, our focus on the theology of who God is, who we are, and what God has done for us will then yield the changed life and behavior. Setting your mind on what He has already done leads to humility and gratitude, rest and sanctification and greater faith in future grace. So the fight is in the mind, to be vigilant to keep thinking correctly. I so needed to hear that again and in this fresh way -- and it has given me such joy today.