When Christ Appears Colossians 3:4

Paul the apostle directed the Colossian church members to seek things which are above and to set their affection upon them as well. He let them know they were “dead” to the temporary things of the world, and their lives were “hid with Christ in God”. In chapter three and verse four of his letter to them, Paul gave the Colossians another reason why they should be seeking and setting their affections upon eternal things as he wrote of the coming of Christ. We read:

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.

The verse begins, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,” Let us notice first that Paul used the word “When” which means “whenever, as long as, and as soon as”, and his presumption is not “if” but rather that it will really occur even though the exact timing is not known. He adds, “Christ, who is our life” as he refers to Jesus, whom he knew was the “absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, and that which belongs to God”. He continued, “shall appear” or “make actual and visible, and realized”. Paul knew Jesus Christ was coming again, and although he didn't know the exact timing, the expectancy of His return was upon Paul's mind as he motivated the Colossians.

The verse goes on to say, “then shall you also appear with him in glory.” As an incentive to seeking and setting their affection upon things above and not on things on the earth, Paul included the Colossians in the appearance of Christ. He wrote, “then shall you also appear” or “make actual and visible, and realized” along “with him” or “with Jesus” “in glory” which refers to “splendor, brightness and majesty”.

The Greek phrase Paul employs is “phaneroō tote phaneroō hymis kai phaneroō” which in English is interpreted “shall appear, then shall you also appear”, and his emphasis upon the word “phaneroo” which means “shall appear” should demonstrate for us Paul's strong belief that Jesus would indeed return to the Earth. The wonderful inclusion of believers in Christ with Him should excite all of us who believe in Jesus' return. Believers in Jesus from all over the world will “appear with him in glory”, and this should be an incentive to seek the things which are eternal in the heavens and not to “strive for” the temporary things on the Earth. As we ponder these words of Paul, let us allow the Lord to help us to always keep His return preeminent in our hearts and minds, and may we set our affections upon things above as we do.

Next time Paul tells the Colossians to “mortify” their “members which are upon earth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.