“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4 NASB1995)

The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned this letter (the book of Colossians, 4 chapters in all) “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae” (see Colossians 1:2).

So, these words are being addressed to the church, to all who profess to be of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And yet Paul begins his remarks here in chapter 3 with an “IF” statement, i.e. with “If you have been raised up with Christ..” And the word “If” introduces a conditional clause, such as if you do that, then this will be the result. So, why did he say it that way? Because not everyone who claims to be of faith in Jesus Christ has died to sin and is obeying our Lord’s commands, in practice.

Not everyone who claims to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection is a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. Many give lip service to God only, but they have not died to sin and so they were not raised up with Christ to newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as servants of righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands (see Romans 6:1-23). So, not everyone who calls him “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God (see Matthew 7:21-23).

Throughout the New Testament we have language such as this which gets us to question whether or not our faith in Jesus Christ is of the flesh or of the Spirit, the first of which is not of God, so it is not biblical faith (Romans 8:1-14). So we are to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). For “when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness” (Romans 6:16).

IF Statements: [Matthew 10:22; John 8:31-32; John 15:1-12; Romans 11:17-24; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 2:10-13; Hebrews 3:6,14-15; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 2:24-25]

So, once we examine our lives against the teachings of the New Testament Scriptures, taught in the correct biblical context, we can determine between us and God “IF” we are in the faith, in truth. Then we are to keep seeking after what is of God, and what his will is for our lives, and what he has called us to do as his followers. And we are to set our minds on the things of God, and not on the sinful and worldly pleasures this world has to offer us. For if our lives are hidden with Christ in God, his will for our lives should be tops!

And one day Jesus Christ is going to return to judge and to take his faithful bride to be with him for eternity. And we will be judged by God according to our deeds, not according to who said, “I believe in Jesus,” and who did not.

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:6-8 ESV)

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

The Peace of Christ

Based off of Colossians 3:1-17; Ephesians 5:19-20
An Original Work / October 31, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
As you teach with all wisdom,
Teaching one another to not
Think on earthly things;
Think instead on things above,
Where Christ sits with God, in love,
Saving us from all of our sins,
Cleansing us; made new within.

Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts,
As you sing songs unto Him;
Speak to one another with psalms,
Hymns, and spir’tual songs;
Always giving thanks to God,
In the name of Christ, His Son,
Who gave His life up for us all,
And gave us eternal life.

Let the love of Christ within you
Rule in your hearts; grace within,
Purifying you from your sin,
Make you whole within.
Forgive as the Lord forgave.
Show His kindness ev’ry day.
In word or deed, whate’er you do,
Glory give to Jesus Christ.

The “IF” Statements
An Original Work / March 16, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love