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.

1) Who is the command in verse 1 directed to?
The phrase “you have been raised with Christ” tells us to whom this passage is directed. Those who have been raised with Christ are those who have put their faith in Jesus as their Savior. This command is directed at believers.

2) What is the command that is given in these verses?
The command is to “seek the things that are above” and “set your mind on things that are above.” The idea here is to be heavenly minded—to think about the eternal, rather than the temporal (earthly things). The things of this world will pass away, and only the Word of God and the souls of people will endure. Therefore, Paul urges believers not to be caught up in the temporary, earthly things.

3) What is the reason behind the command?
The word “for” at the beginning of verse 3 indicated that Paul is about to give a reason for the command in the previous verses. Paul says that “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” This means that a Christian has died to sin, died to her former way of living that was controlled by a sinful nature. She is now secure in her reconciled relationship to God, through the work of Jesus Christ. This changes everything, including what we focus on.

4) What is the future result?
Verse 4 is talking about the future, when Christ returns at His second coming. When Christ appears, believers will also appear with Him, in our sinless, glorified state. This is the unbelievable future that we have to look forward to!

1) Who is the command in verse 1 directed to?
So many promises and commands in the Bible are given, not to everyone, but to believers. It is worth examining your heart to determine if this is really you. Have you truly trusted in Christ alone for your salvation? Have you confessed your need for someone to save you from your sins, and have you professed that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has done all the work that is needed to satisfy God’s wrath and bring you into right relationship with Him? If not, do not delay, but give your heart to Him!

2) What is the command that is given in these verses?
What does it look like to set your minds on things above? Think about what things consume your thoughts. Are they temporal or lasting? Of course, some of our time and attention must be given to the mundane—that’s just how life works. But we should remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6, where he told us not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear, but to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first. Pray and ask God to help you discern what earthly things you are setting your mind on, and ask Him to help you shift your focus to things above.

3) What is the reason behind the command?
Dear Christian, you must remember who you are! Remember, you are a sinner who has been redeemed! You are hidden with Christ in God, and this changes everything. As your new identity sinks deep into your soul, you are changed from the inside out, and you are able to carry out the command to set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

4) What is the future result?
The nature of life in a fallen world means that we will stumble and falter, even in our best efforts to be true to how God has called us to live. But there is hope, unfading hope. Our identity as God’s child is secure, and our future in Him is secure. We can know that one day, when Christ returns or calls us home, we will be freed from the presence of sin and will be with Christ in glory. Hallelujah!

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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