Colossians 2:20a – Signs of Life

Since you died with Christ …

Picture of a man standing in a doorway facing the light.

Summary: With five simple words, Paul opens the door to the mystery of salvation. 

Is Paul writing his letter to dead people? 

Considering the words Paul uses, you are right to wonder. To understand what Paul means by “Since you died with Christ,” we first have to understand life and death. 

When I was a child, I thought “dead” meant you ceased to exist. It was a terrifying thought. I kept trying to measure how alive I was by how much “living” I could do. I discovered that my thirst for being alive was never satisfied by having “things” or doing “things.” 

Somewhere along the line, I began to understand that what satisfied my hunger for living was knowing God. Part of that journey was understanding that knowing God in a very personal way is only possible by first knowing Jesus. 

When Paul writes, “Since you died with Christ,” he points to the transition between not knowing Jesus and knowing him. 

Imagine that the world is divided into two groups of people. One group believes in Jesus and knows God, and the other group does not accept Jesus or God. In between these two groups is a dividing wall, and in the wall is a door. Let’s call the group that knows God “Believers,” and the group that doesn’t know God the “World.” 

When a person lives in the World, the people of the World see that person as part of their world. In this sense, the person is “alive” to the World. When a person becomes a Believer they “die” to the world. It is as if they go through a door, and the World senses that they are no longer a part of them. 

Once on the other side of the door, the person is now a “Believer.” They have chosen between what the World offers and what Christ offers. You can’t have both. Once a Believer, the person is in a relationship with God and from God’s point of view is “alive” to God. 

The miracle of the cross is that just because Jesus is dead to the world does not mean he stops caring about the world. This is our challenge, too. As Believers, we are “dead” to the World’s values. The desires of the flesh that are offensive to God no longer control us. Instead, we are “alive” to God. This new life provides everything we need and want. Yet, because God loves the world (John 3:16), he desires that all people should be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-6). 

Application: Look for signs of life among the dead. 

Food for Thought: How do our relationships in the world change when we die with Christ? 

6 Replies to “Colossians 2:20a – Signs of Life”

  1. We no longer live for the world but for the One who died for us and gave us life. So our priorities, principles, practices, preferences and perspective all change.

    2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 17: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

  2. How do our relationships in the world change when we die with Christ? 

    We begin the transformation from citizens of this world into citizens of heaven. We no longer chase after the desires of our flesh but instead seek to bring God glory in all areas of our life.
    1 John 2:15-17

    We have security as our unseen eternal spirits receive life in Christ and the power over this visible body. Our temporary housing, is made dead, no longer has power over our life decisions. We remain on earth for a predetermined time as instruments, witnesses of Gods power to those around us. Romans 8:14-15

    We turn from self centered to Christ centered, experiencing great joy and pleasure as we submit to and experience Jesus Christ ministering to this world around us. We become increasingly separated from the power of this world as Christ grows in us. The power, attraction of this world decreases, Romans 14:5-8

    During times of suffering, we endure and walk confidently in Christ who has become our example and source of strength in every adversity we must face and endure. Romans 8:16-17

    1. Thank you, Ron!

      Being “Christ centered” is a radical change, isn’t it?

      Jesus put the wellbeing of all of us before his own life, and gave it all up for us. As we put that person at the center of our lives we are challenged to do the same.

  3. Good meditation, and I liked both R’s and R2D2’s responses.

    How do our relationships in the world change when we die with Christ?

    We seek the approval of God, not of man. Our decisions are based on the truth that Christ gives, not the relative truth that the world offers. We strive to be grounded in truth, and let truth be the foundation of our relationships.

    Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

    We strive to let the light of Christ live in us, and strive to reject the darkness of self-serving interactions with others.

    Ephesians 5:8-10 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

    We offer ourselves to God, and in doing so, freely give of ourselves to others in His service. The nature of our relationships change from transactional to graceful and loving.

    1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

    1. Thank you, Chris.

      We seek the approval of God, not of man.”

      Your statement captures the essence of the change. I might also add we see the approval of God even over the approval of ourselves (Matt 22:37-40).

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