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Colossians 3:1–17
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (vv. 1–2).
Personal growth in holiness, or progressive sanctification, is not optional for the Christian. It is essential to the application of salvation, and we will not see the Lord without it (Heb. 12:14). God is so pure that He cannot even look upon sin (Hab. 1:13), so only holy people are fit for His presence. Still, our practice of holiness does not secure our salvation, and our obedience to God does not merit our citizenship in His kingdom. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8–9). Therefore, while personal holiness does not earn us a place in heaven, it is the necessary fruit of Christ’s work in the believer. If we do not pursue holiness, however imperfectly, we do not belong to Christ.
We have seen that the first main part of sanctification consists in our putting sin to death. Yet depriving sin of what it needs to thrive in our lives alone is insufficient. We also need to engage in what theologians call vivification, which means encouraging our affections for God to grow and seeking to love and practice what He loves. In vivification or quickening, John Calvin writes that we feed “that desire of pious and holy living which springs from the new birth; as if it were said, that the man dies to himself that he may begin to live unto God.”
This requires us daily, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to “seek the things that are above,” setting our minds on Christ and putting on the holy virtues that are ours through Him. Paul tells us as much in Colossians 3:1–17. Much of our action in progressive sanctification consists in a continual looking to Jesus, what He has done, what He commands, and what He has promised to His people. As we do this, we will find ourselves obeying Him more gladly and quickly, desiring to honor Him by reflecting His character.
The Reformed theologian John Owen offers us sound counsel here. He writes, “Place your faith particularly upon the death, blood, and cross of Christ; that is, on Christ as crucified and slain.” Remembering that Christ died for us helps us know that this death has broken sin’s power over us, and it moves us to seek holiness out of deep gratitude toward Him for His work. Owen also says, “When you meditate upon the death of Christ, keep in mind the power available to us, and your desire to be conformed to Christ (Phil. 3:10; Col. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:18–19).” Let us think on the work of Christ and use those thoughts to motivate us to holiness.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The ordinary means of grace—the Word of God read and preached, prayer, and the sacraments—are the chief avenues through which we can think on Christ and all His benefits. As we attend to these, let us also recall that because of the work of Christ, we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower our sanctification. Then let us strive to obey the Lord in all things and to enflame our love for Him.
For further study
- Exodus 13:3–10
- Deuteronomy 6:20–25
- 2 Timothy 2:8
- Hebrews 12:1–2
The bible in a year
- Isaiah 56–58
- 1 Thessalonians 4