Life in Christ

Sep 20, 2025

Thoughts on dying to self and living for Christ

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for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

Colossians 3:3-4 (NET)

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What does it mean for our lives to be hidden with Christ?

I’m not really sure, but let’s explore it.

I guess it has something to do with our spiritual state before the Resurrection. Context clues help me with that. The appearance of Christ is obviously that. Plus the fact that we would be revealed in glory (that is, we will be living in our perfect, resurrected bodies).

With all this resurrection talk, what about the “dying?”

While we’re still here on the earth, this must be about dying to our old way of life. Sometimes called the flesh, this is the sinful nature that’s broken and drives a wedge between us and God.

Thankfully, the work that Christ did on the cross — where He physically died — serves as substitution for our punishment of sin.

Now our death to sin is also life in Christ.

I think that’s the main message of this verse.

That we can be “dead people walking” — dead to sin — and alive with the very Spirit of God living inside of us.

That’s a whole lot of life and death.

Practically, this means that we no longer have to sin. We can choose to avoid sin and be obedient to God. More than just choosing, we have the very power of God helping us — empowering us — to make this positive choice.

I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful God gives me this power.

I need all the help I can get… and then some.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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