Colossians 3
King James Version
3 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.
I think we need to read all of the context in Colossians to see what is going on (Instead of just reading this portion of Scripture out of context).
We have to first keep in mind that this is talking to a body of believers at Colossae.
Paul does not know who in that church is risen with Christ and who is a slave to their sin (because of their trying to wrongfully keep the 613 Laws of Moses). At the end of Colossians 2, we see that Paul says this to the church:
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body
is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17) (KJB).
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as
though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? (Colossians 2:21-22) (NKJV).
“These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.” (Colossians 2:23) (NLT).
See, this is why Paul said that he struggled with sin as a Pharisee in Romans 7:14-24. When Paul was a Pharisee, he was under the Old regulations of the 613 laws of Moses like the Sabbaths, holy days, dietary laws, etcetera. Paul was unable to overcome sin in regards to keeping the moral laws (like do not steal, do not covet, etc.) because he was wrongfully under the 613 Laws of Moses. But this Old law is no more (Romans 6:14, Acts 13:39, Acts 15:1-24). We are under a New Covenant with new commands (For Paul says he is under the Law of Christ - 1 Corinthians 9:21; And Hebrews 7:12 says the law has changed).
Paul uses conditional IF words in Colossians here.
“…
if ye be dead with Christ” (Colossians 2:20).
“
If ye then be risen with Christ” (Colossians 3:3).
So when Paul says “
IF you then be risen with Christ” he is talking only to those who truly have been risen with Christ and not just any believer in Jesus Christ. How do we get a definition according to the Bible of those who are risen with Christ?
Lets turn to Romans 6.
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also
in the likeness of
his resurrection:”. (Romans 6:4-5).
So our water baptism is a LIKENESS of being baptized into Christ’s death. It is symbolic of His death. But what is interesting is that this passage says that Christ’s resurrection is compared to walking in newness of life. Meaning, if we walk in the New ways of the Spirit and of obeying the New Covenant ways according to NT Scripture (that was inspired by the Spirit), then we will be in the LIKENESS of the resurrection. So our walking uprightly (or in walking with a new risen or resurrected life that is changed) shows that our new life in conduct is symbolic of the resurrection.
So this is what it means to be…. IF you have been risen with Christ.
If one has been truly risen with Christ, their changed heart, mind, and life in Christ will help them to live a resurrected life as proof of that change.
These are the ones who have their life hidden in Christ and who are dead to themselves but alive unto Jesus and His good ways.
It’s not saying just any ole believer in Jesus as their Savior is going to have their life hid in Christ.
The context is talking about those who are risen with Christ.
Paul says IF you have then be risen with Christ.
So this is not proof for Eternal Security or a sin and still be saved type belief.
You said:
If here is the conditional better translated as "Since".
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Already you have failed the test of faith like many here. Because you don’t like what the Bible says at this point in the fact that it contradicts your theology, you seek to change what it says plainly. The Bible should not be changed to fit what we want it to say. To change the Bible to fit what we want to believe is simply cheating and it’s not being honest with what God’s Word says.
Mailmandan has also attempted to alter the Bible when it did not fit his theology within this thread. Dan said that Hebrews 11:17 is saying “
Out of faith” instead of “
By faith”. No actual dictionary has this kind of definition and no other translation says this. He only is seeking to change the Bible to suit his own theology and that is wrong.
The Bible should correct us and we should not correct the Bible.