QT 13 May 2011

Col 3:1-4 (NIV)  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

NOTE: Now, we move from the doctrinal portion of a letter to a group that Paul had never met, to the practical portion of a letter to a group that Paul had never met.  This is significant, because Paul is not highlighting things he said in the past, or filling in holes of things he left out.  There is no known verbal communication between Paul and the Colossians -- they never met.  Rather, this is Paul's explanation of the practical and moral requirements of the New Covenant.  If Paul meant for them to follow the law, why does he not say it here?  If Paul is just highlighting laws from the Old Covenant, why does he not highlight ceremony or dietary laws (of note -- neither he nor any of the NT authors ever do highlight those laws).  In fact, he seems to go out of the way to do just the opposite (chapter 2).  He has just told them not to judge anyone on food or drink or special days.  In the verses that follow these, he will give specific rules to judge a believer .  But his first point, has nothing to do with laws, in fact his emphasis is on our focus.  Christ should be the focus of our heart.  Our mind should be focused on spiritual things and not upon earthly things.  We have a new life with Christ, to be revealed when we are caught up to heaven.  So the New Covenant reward is in heaven, not on earth, as opposed to the Old Covenant.  Under the Mosaic law, obedience to the law resulted in defined blessings, both individually and nationally.  And disobedience resulted in very specific curses, both individually and nationally.  Under the law of Christ, our reward is in heaven and from it we await our savior.  We obey out of love for an undeserved salvation.  Yes, there is a reward, but it is a heavenly reward and not an earthly reward.  The New Covenant is very different from the Old Covenant.