To be 'hid with Christ in God' means the believer's eternal life is safely concealed in Christ, who is in God, so that nothing can touch them apart from God's permission.
Les Feldick teaches that at the moment of faith the believer is placed into the body of Christ, and that body is hidden in God (Clip 2). This positional truth means the believer is wrapped up in the Godhead, where no one can get at them (Clips 1, 2).
Colossians 3:3 — This is the exact verse that answers the question: the believer's life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-2 — These verses give the immediate context: because believers are risen with Christ, they are to seek and set their affection on things above.
Romans 8:1 — This verse reinforces the security of those who are in Christ: there is no condemnation.
Colossians 3:3 states plainly, 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' Paul is writing to Gentile believers (Colossians 3:1), telling them that because they have been risen with Christ, they are to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). He also tells them to set their affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). Romans 8:1 adds the promise that there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Together these verses show that the believer's life is placed in Christ and in God, not left exposed on the earth.
Les Feldick teaches that being 'hid with Christ in God' describes the believer's secure position from the moment of faith. He says the moment we believe, we are placed into the body of Christ, and that body is hid in God, so no one can get at us there (Clip 2). He uses the old black walnut as a picture: God surrounds us like the outer covering, Christ is the hard shell, and the believer is the meat deep in the crevices—so nothing can touch us unless it goes past God and past Christ (Clips 3, 5). Les emphasizes that this is not a promise of ease; God can permit suffering, but the believer is positionally safe (Clip 5). He also stresses that our position in Christ is far more than escaping hellfire—it means we are Christ's inheritance, and He is ours (Clip 6). Because we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us: 'We're in Him, He's in us' (Clip 7).
Les uses the old black walnut to show how thoroughly hidden the believer is. The walnut has a great big outer covering, a hard shell, and inside the little crevices is the meat. He says the meat is where we are, with God all around us and Christ as the hard shell that is hard to break. 'You can't get it any better than that. We are hid in God, in Christ.' Nothing can touch the believer unless it goes past God and past Christ.
No. Les Feldick immediately adds, 'Oh, sure, He can permit it. Absolutely. I've always told believers, don't think for a minute that this book promises you a rose-petaled pathway. We aren't promised riches.' So being hid with Christ is a positional truth about safety and security, not a guarantee against difficulty.
Les connects being 'in Christ' to the indwelling Holy Spirit. He says the Christ of resurrection power is seated in the heavenlies, and if we are in Christ, then the Holy Spirit is in us. 'Oh, I mean this is mind boggling. We're in Him, He's in us.'
Colossians 3:1-3 says that those who are risen with Christ are to seek things above, set their affection on things above, and are told, 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. The Bible itself presents this hidden position as a fact rather than a feeling.
Risen with Christ — Seek Things Above
Les sets the context for Colossians 3: he tells Gentile believers to seek things above because Christ is seated at God's right hand, not on an earthly throne tonight.
Wrapped Up in the Godhead
Les teaches that the believer is dead in the old Adamic state and that his life is hid with Christ in God, making him wrapped up in the Godhead so that nothing can touch him.
Placed into the Body of Christ Hidden in God
Les explains that at the moment of belief we are placed into the Body of Christ, which is hid in God; no one can get at us there.
The Black Walnut Picture
Les introduces the old black walnut: the believer is in the inner crevices, with God all around and Christ as the hard shell—so we are hid in Christ, in God.
Our Position Is in Christ, in God
Les repeats that we are hid in Christ and Christ is in God, and calls this our position that cannot be made any tighter.
Nothing Touches Us Without God's Permission
Les explains the walnut illustration: God surrounds us and Christ is the hard shell, so nothing can touch us unless it goes past God and past Christ; God may permit difficulties.
A Glorious Position Beyond Escaping Hellfire
Les teaches that our position in Christ puts us on an even keel with Christ—He is our inheritance and we are His inheritance; we are not saved only to escape hellfire.
In Him and He in Us
Les links being in Christ to the indwelling Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit is in us because we are in Christ—'We're in Him, He's in us.'
Colossians 3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Shows the command that leads into the 'hid with Christ' statement.
Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Companion instruction to seeking things above.
Colossians 3:3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The direct verse answering the question.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Reinforces that being in Christ means no condemnation.
No. Les Feldick says the Bible does not promise a rose-petal pathway. Nothing can touch a believer unless it passes God and Christ, but God can permit suffering (Clip 5). The security is positional, not a promise of ease.
Colossians 3:3 states, 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' Paul's preceding verses (Colossians 3:1-2) tell believers to seek things above.
Les Feldick teaches that if we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us; we are in Him and He is in us (Clip 7).
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17