Seek Those Things Above

Good morning, everyone. It is good to see you all again. I do send greetings from Sovereign Grace Chapel, but specifically, Paula has told me to let everybody know that she misses being here. She wished she could be with me, but she had to watch those dogs.

So I'm going to go ahead and get started. So if you would, turn with me to Colossians 3. And Paula, when she's here, when I don't speak very loud, she's doing like this. So if I don't speak loud enough, just do this, and I'll try to speak up. Colossians 3. Colossians 3, and I'm going to read the first three verses.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on those things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. It says here, if ye then be risen with Christ. Turn back to Colossians 2 a minute, and we'll see this. Colossians 2 and 8 through 13 I want to read. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with him in baptism were in wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses That's what it means to be risen with Christ He, that is Christ, is God and man. He is the God-man. In Him we are complete. And the word means full to the top.

And here is a circumcision that we need and we want. There are those back then, you can see it in several of Paul's epistles, that taught, yes, you're saved by Christ, but you must be circumcised, and that by man's hands. That's what they would teach a lot of them. Some still do this today. It may not be circumcision, but they do it today because they tell you to keep the law.

It's Christ and something else. If we are complete in Him, we don't need anything else. They teach these things as if we gain some kind of favor before God by doing them. But here we see there is a circumcision, but this circumcision is made without man's hands. We are buried with him in baptism, it says, and that is him dying for us. And that's the picture we also get when we are baptized, when we confess Christ in baptism.

What does Paul say in Romans 7 verses 4 through 6? Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

When Christ died, we died with Him. It even says it in our text. When Christ arose to life again, we rose with Him. Now we see why Paul wrote, if ye then be risen with Christ. And it's not said in doubt of them, whether they believe Christ or not, or whether they're in Christ or not, but it's in reference to what he just got through saying. Seeing that we are complete in Christ, him being the fullness and fullness of God bodily, him dying for us and raising again, there are some things to see. And that's good medicine that we hear in Colossians 1. This is good medicine.

Seek or desire, think about those things which are above. We don't have to get our Bible out. You know, a long time ago, I couldn't figure out, well, what's those things above? But we don't have to get our search program out or anything like that to see what it is. Paul tells us those things above, doesn't he? He says, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, those are the things that are above. And I pray God enable me to seek those things, don't you? We see here Christ. God and His throne and Christ sits there reigning over all.

And there's a passage that comes to my mind. It may not come to yours, but it does mine when I read about this kind of thing. If you would turn with me to Matthew 26. Matthew 26. We usually, you know, kind of hear this maybe when we're taking the Lord's table. But I just always think about this passage and it's a comfort to me. Matthew 26, verses 27 through 29. Matthew 26, verse 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But here it is. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of a vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom."

He sits on his throne. He says that one day he will drink that cup with us. We do it now in remembrance of him and what he did. But we will be right there with him and he's drinking that cup with us one day. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, the scripture says, being with Christ is real. One day we will be with him, even though it says, and it's glorious that we are seated with him now in glory. And that is true now. If it weren't, we wouldn't see him later, but we cannot see him physically. Now we see him by faith now. But there will come a day that he will gather all things unto himself. We will partake of him, of that fruit of the vine.

That's heaven right there with me. Being where Christ is. No matter what we're doing. Just like Moses and Elias was with Christ. Remember that on the mount? They spake of his decease. That's what we'll do one day. Glorifying Jesus Christ right there with him. Does that not comfort your soul? We will actually get to see and touch the God who saved us. I like to think on those things.

I preached a message at chapel last week on the passage that speaks of Christ walking on water, and where Peter asked Christ to bid him come, and Christ did bid him to come to him. It actually says Peter walked on the water. How many steps? I don't know. It doesn't say that. But he did. It says he walked on the water. But it was not of his own doing. It was the faith of Christ which did this. But Peter began to look and to think about something else rather than at Christ and thinking on Him. He began to look at the storm. When he did, He began to think about his ability and not Christ's ability. So what do you think happened then?

He began to sink, which we will do every time when God, as we've said before, takes his hand off of us, we'll begin a downward spiral immediately. Christ caused him though, that is Peter, to go through this so that Peter would learn what? to look to Christ for salvation because salvation is completely in Him. What did Christ cause him to do? To cry out, Lord, save me.

And guess what happened? Christ saved him. It says there in Matthew 14, right after Peter cried out to Jesus Christ, they were immediately on the ship. And guess what? The storm ceased. That's what it means to be with Christ. And that's what I want to talk about today. I heard one time some, I think Henry said this and don't hold me to it. I don't know for sure.

And I may not get the story exactly right, but someone heard a black preacher preaching one, a message one time, and they really liked the message. And they asked him, how do you, how do you do your messages? How you come up with your message? And the preacher told him, I'm going to tell him what I'm going to tell him, I'm going to tell him, and then I'm going to tell him what I told him. So now I'd like to, I just got through telling you what I'm going to tell you. And now I'm going to tell you, and I'm going to do it in this way. Where are your affections? Being dead is not being gay. And Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. So where are your affections? Verse two, we read that in three. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Where do you exercise your mind and what do you interest yourself in in your mind?

Most of us have, if you are like me, I'm pretty sure you are, but we have things to do. We have bills to pay. You have to do these things, right? And it takes thought to do those things. But for God's people, even while we are doing these things, He causes us to think on Him. And it's a comfort while you're having to deal with those things in this world. But there might be times where you might say or think, and it may be true, but you might say, I've not given much thought about God today.

But He always brings us back to thinking to Him, doesn't He? He puts us in those situations just like He did Peter where we begin to fear and we are forced to cry out to Him, Lord, save me. And in those times where we feel miserable knowing by us, by our own might, we will fall. He calls us to look to Him once again.

Those times where my affections go somewhere else but to Christ and those things above, I don't find strength there, and I don't find comfort there. But when I see Him and what He has done, I am comforted, and rest comes. Why are we told to seek those things above?

Because we don't do it very often. We are looking at the storm most of the time, and our affections are toward things on the earth, and that causes fear. The only place where there is safety and comfort is where Jesus Christ is. If Sunday's the only time you think about seeking those things, I'm afraid you're, one, you might be pretty miserable the rest of the week, or you're not seeking, you're not really seeking those things above, but rather things on the earth. This flesh will pull us into things of this earth. All of that is going to pass away. We will pass away one day. We will lay this body down at some point, even if it is when Christ comes, this body will be laid down.

James 4.14 says this, whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanishes away.

What is important? It is where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. And we sit right there with Him if we're one of His, if we believe Him, if we be risen with Christ. Verse 3 says this, for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. So next, being dead is not the end game. This flesh, and it says it in Romans 7, the being dead there is good, though, because it's this old man being dead, crucified with Christ. We are dead to the law. This flesh has been crucified with Christ so that now we have no condemnation. God's law says we are condemned because we are dead in trespasses and in sins. But Jesus Christ has exempted us from that law because He died and we died with Him and in Him. But He did not stay dead. If you're not in Christ apart from Him, you will not see life. But thank God we read words like we read there in Colossians 3, 3, for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Have you all ever, do you all know about those, what are they called, Russian nesting dolls, I think is what it is? You look at it and you got one big one, then you take it apart and you got another one inside and another one inside. One fits right into the other until, you know, when we're all together, you just see one.

And I think I've showed this to you all before, That verse that says, we are hid with Christ in God. So, I'll get it here in a minute. Christ, this is us. Hid with Christ in God. All you see is God. All you see is God. We are hid. Our life is hid. No one can get to it.

It is safe in Christ and is God's God the father loves his son and nothing is ever going to happen to him that would put us in jeopardy We are absolutely safe in him secure as brother Matthew saying secure. It's a secure salvation He is the head we are the body and we are members in particular Christ has placed us and we are part of the body that He was pleased to make us. The everlasting God manifest in the flesh died.

How could such a thing happen? It happened because of the grace of God and His favor towards His Son. He purposed to give His Son a people for His name. But man, that big lump, were those who commit whoredoms against God, the scripture says. They were, we are, by nature, as we're born in Adam, we commit whoredoms against God all the time. We do not deserve favor from God. But in order for him to be able to do this, that people, purpose to the Son, had to be redeemed. We have fallen to where we cannot stand before God and live. So the Son was given to redeem and save those who were chosen in Him. Jesus Christ is the elect. And we are elected in Him who is favored by God because He does deserve it.

Hosea 1.2 says, The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea, and the Lord said to Hosea, go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms, for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

It doesn't have to be immoral things. I know what comes to our mind when we see this. It doesn't have to be immoral. In fact, a lot of times it will be religious things that are whoredoms against God. But right there in Hosea, that is a picture of Christ. Hosea is told to take unto himself a wife of Hortens. Jesus Christ took himself a wife of Hortens. It's not a very nice thought about man, is it? It's not a very nice thought about us, is it? But it's true. It's true.

There are no nice things to say about us when it comes toward God and being born in Adam. Before God does something for us, we are nothing but dead rotting carcasses. But then the operation of God takes place, that circumcision made without hands. That all happens because Jesus Christ died and we dying with him. But then, he arose again. He arose again.

The law confirms that we've done this. The law confirms we committed whoredoms. We have not loved the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We loved other things that are on the earth. The law says guilty. Those are the kind of people Jesus Christ had to bring himself to. The crimes we have committed have brought the judgment of death against us. Like it or not, believe it or not, we've been judged and found wanting. But God, the scripture says, Ephesians 2, 4, but God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved, Paul adds quickly.

The law condemned us, but Christ does not. Because for his people, he took their place and died in their stead. He died in our stead. We died right there along with him. So that now we are exempt from that law, as I've said, while others who hate God are not exempt. That law is still there. It's still in force, full force. But He paid that price for us so that we do not have to pay the debt of sin.

What does it say in Romans 4, Romans 4.25? Who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.

Jesus Christ made us right before God. We are absolutely righteous before God in Christ. There is no guilt there anymore. We have all, if we be risen with Christ, we are all right before God. We have nothing to do with that other than being recipients of His grace because God the Father loves the Son.

He sent Him to be the propitiation for our sin. And this world does not see that life because they don't see Christ. But our life is hid in Christ, is what it says. Now he sits at the right hand of God, so next, Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. We are encouraged here to look where Christ is. And I mentioned the Lord's table. And it says when we partake of the Lord's table, we do it in remembrance of Him. This is my body which is given for you, it says. His flesh He gave for us. He was numbered with the transgressors.

His flesh was cursed because He hung on that tree, Galatians 3.13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. His flesh hung there on that accursed tree, and He was made that.

And He was made that Because he was absolutely perfect. He did not deserve to be there. But he had to be made that, and he was. But yet he was numbered with the transgressors. But that's not all. It says he was made sin. And he had to be made sin. Because he knew no sin. He did not commit sins. He was not made sins. It said he was made sin. The word also means this, missed the mark. He was made that, made to miss the mark. He was made what I am, and that is sin. After that transaction, though, what happened? He raised to life again.

And then he ascended to the Father. John 20, 16 and 17, we read this. This is when Mary was in the garden and she was trying to find her Lord. Jesus saith unto her, Mary, and she turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is the same master, and Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my father and your father and unto my God and your God. Christ ascended right then. Sometime after he spoke to Mary he ascended and we know this because what do we read later?

And this is where Thomas doubting Thomas we call him John 20 20 25 through 27 the other disciples therefore said unto him we have seen the Lord But he said unto them except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy hands, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it in my side, and be not faithless, but believing. Now he had ascended and returned with his glorified body, that same body which we will have one day. And he told Thomas to touch me, touch my hands.

But again, we also read this and if you would turn over to Acts, Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1, I'm going to begin in verse 7. Very familiar to you all. Acts chapter 1, verse 7, and he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which your father hath put in his own power, but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up, and the cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus Christ has ascended to his throne, which is at the right hand of God. And that we read in our text. He is there glorified. He has done all to merit being given all the glory. That is where the king sits. Being in total absolute control of everything. And as I've said before, like Scott Richardson said, that's like calling water wet three times. So now I've told you what I would tell you. And I've told you. So now let me tell you what I told you.

We are told, if we be risen in Christ, to look to those things which are above. Those things are Christ, God, and His throne, where He sits reigning and is in control of all things. He has taken care of His people by dying in their stead and we dying with Him. He redeemed us. Having redeemed His people, us, He sits on His throne and we with Him. Our affections should be set right there on Him where He is, and that is sitting on His throne. Things of this earth, including us, will all perish one day, and all things will become new. One day we'll be brought to where Jesus Christ is, by Christ.

Ephesians 1.10 says this, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him. We will one day sit down with Christ and we will drink that fruit of the vine with him.

I just love that thought. I love it. It's a glorious thought. We have life, although we might not fully see it right now because we see through a glass darkly. But we have that life. and it is protected to where no one will take it away from us. It is hid with Christ in God. And I've got one more passage that I want to read, and you all can turn to it if you want. I've got it in my notes here, and I'm just going to read it, and you're very familiar with it. Romans 8. Romans 8, 31 through 39. What shall we say then to these things?

If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted for sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor three things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

What comes from seeking those things above? What comes from putting our affection to those things? Salvation and rest. Think on those things above. He deserves it, and it is comforting. Doing this will get us through by His grace, and one day we will be with Him, having all things in Christ. And no one can take that away from us, because our life is hid with Christ in God. Amen. Thank you very much.

Seek Those Things Above

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Seek Those Things Above

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