(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The Apostle begins with calling upon the Church, as the risen members of Christ's mystical body, to a suitable and corresponding frame. The Reader will do well to connect what Paul hath here said of being risen with Christ, with what he had before said of the Church' being complete in Christ, being quickened together with Christ, and having had forgiven to them all trespasses. See Colossians 2:13; Colossians 2:13. As such he now calls upon the members of Christ's body, who were once dead in their sins, but now brought forth into a new and spiritual life in Christ, their glorious Head, to manifest the reality of this new life, by living to Christ, and upon Christ, and causing their whole affections to center in Christ, as the members of the body live by the head. Let the Reader mark this; and he will then learn here, as in the other Epistles, that it is the Church to whom Paul writes, and not to the unawakened, ungodly, and carnal world. All exhortations of this kind are addressed to the living Church in Christ. And, indeed, common sense might plainly shew it, if men did but attend properly to the subject. For, until Christ be received, how can he be lived upon? What communion can an unawakened, unregerated sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, have with a living Savior? The object must be known before we can set our affections upon him. And, hence, when God quickens the sinner, then, and not before, those effects follow, 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 2:14
I hardly know where to begin in my observations on what the Apostle hath said of a life hid with Christ in God. Such deep mysteries are contained in the subject. And as to ending a Commentary upon the doctrine, this is impossible. I can only allow myself to glance at some few of the more prominent features, which appear here and there, in the contemplation of those deep things of God, and beg of the Almighty Author of his holy word, to guide both my heart and pen to offer no observations but what are in perfect conformity to his divine truth.
The Apostle begins with stating the situation of the Church, recovered from the Adam-fall of nature, For ye are dead. Not dead in sin, but dead to sin. Neither dead in body. For, as Adam in his transgression died, not in body, but in spirit, when he fell under the sentence of death, at the original transgression; so all his seed, while dead in trespasses and sins, are not dead in body, but in spirit. In neither sense, therefore, did Paul, in this place, mean the Church was dead. But the death here intended to be understood, is what Paul had before shewn. Dead with Christ in his death, having been crucified with him as the members of his body; buried with him by baptism into death; risen with him through the faith of the operation of God; and by means of which, having redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of all their sins, according to the riches of his grace.
And your life is hid with Christ in God. Here is a depth of subject which angels cannot explore. The life that is here said to be hid, cannot mean a natural life, for this, though derived at first from Christ, kept up and maintained in Christ, is not hidden. And the carnal and sinful life is too visible, from day to day, in the workings and breakings out of it, to be called hidden. But the life bid with Christ is spiritual. And blessedly so it is. For all, and every part of it is in, and from, Christ, from the first moment of regeneration, when a soul is quickened in Christ, until brought home to glory, all the communications are from Jesus. He is the life and breath, and food, and sustenance, and strength, and support; yea, the fountain of all life; All my springs, said one of old, are in thee, Psalms 87:7. These things are plain to be understood, though not describable in all their operations. But when the Apostle adds, that this life is not only hid with Christ, but with Christ in God; here we have a bottom of mystery unfathomable! Our Lord hath said the same in those memorable words of his prayer: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also maybe one with us, John 17:21. But this, though confirming the precious truth, doth not further explain it. Indeed to faculties merely created, it should seem it is impossible to convey adequate apprehension. All we can do, in subjects of this mysterious nature, (which are given to us for the acceptation of our faith, and not for our investigation), is to follow the command, compare spiritual things with spiritual,
1 Corinthians 2:13. In this before us, where our life is said to be in Christ, we are told that this life is hid with Christ in God. In that, by the same writer, where our reconciliation is made with God by Christ, the words are, God was in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:19. And what do we learn, from both viewed together, but that every blessing relating to the Church, is in Christ, and from our union with him, we are interested in all, and that Christ, as Christ, gives an everlasting security to all our blessings, because Christ is in God, and God in Christ. Here, if we rest, is enough to form the firmest assurance of faith. And what can any child of God want more, when he calls to remembrance, that all the three heavenly witnesses join in testimony to this precious record; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this lift is in his Son, 1 John 5:7-11
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye appear with him in glory. Here we come in to open day-light. And this sums up all, we need to know. One with Christ, and a life hid with Christ, and with Christ in God; assured of these great and glorious truths, we ground all that is blessed in the exercise of hope, for all we need in a life of faith, and grace, here below. But, when the testimony of these divine things closeth with an assurance, that when He who is now our life shall appear, we shall appear with him in glory; what can the utmost desire of the redeemed child of God figure to himself more blessed, to keep his expectation alive, and to have his affection always above, in the assured hope, of a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
I pray the Reader not to dismiss this precious portion of God's word, before that he hath taken with him some of the many very blessed things contained in it.
First. Let him pause, and consider the blessedness of a life in Christ. It is, to all intents, and purposes, being made a partaker of the divine nature. So the Holy Ghost, by his servant the Apostle, declares it. According (saith he) as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness. And he adds, being made partakers of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:3-4. Yea, the Lord Jesus, calls it eternal life. That 1 should give eternal life, to as many as thou hast given me,. John 17:2. And how should it be otherwise, when Christ declares, that there is an union between himself and people. I in them, and thou in me, John 17:23. Reader! ponder the thought well, for it is most blessed.
Secondly. Consider the security of this life. It is in Christ, and with Christ, in God. And what then shall ever arise, to make it liable to loss, or interruption? Paul saith it is hidden. Hence, it is not discoverable by any enemies; and if it be not within their knowledge to discover, how shall it be within their reach to take away? How sweetly Jesus speaks to this point. My sheep hear my voice: and I know them: and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are One, John 10:27-30. And elsewhere Jesus saith: because I live, ye shall live also, John 14:19
Thirdly. It's being hidden with Christ, which secures it from the ravages of the world; secures it no less, from their notice, and observation. It is blessed, yea, very blessed, to eat of that bread in secret, which Jesus himself hands to his people; and which none knoweth, saving, him that receiveth it. And who shall number up the many visits, and love-tokens of Jesus, to his people? See some of his promises, John 14:23; Revelation 3:20-21. And even when at any time we lose sight of him, Jesus never loseth sight of us. Hidden as our spiritual life in Christ may be, to our view; there is no remission or interruption with him. The Church thought her Lord had withdrawn, when she said: the Lord hath forsaken me 9 and my Lord hath forgotten me! But was it so? Read, and behold the reverse: Isaiah 49:14-17. Reader! if the Lord hath in mercy awakened you from the death of sin, to a life hidden with Christ in God; ponder over these unspeakable mercies. Life, and union with Christ; hidden, and secure; eternal, and everlasting. Neither is it a small sweetener of those mercies which are unspeakable and full of glory, that the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not, 1 John 3:1.