Believers should set their affection on things above because they have been raised with Christ, are dead to the old Adam, and their life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 commands those who are risen with Christ to seek and set their affection on things above, where Christ sits at God's right hand. The reason is a completed change of position: the believer is dead to the old Adamic nature, and the new life in Christ is safely hidden in God. Therefore earthly things lose their first-place grip, and heaven becomes the believer's priority.
Colossians 3:1-3 — Paul directly commands believers who are risen with Christ to set their affection on things above, and gives the reason: they are dead and their life is hidden with Christ in God.
John 10:28-29 — Jesus promises the security of those who are in His hand, which connects to the 'hid with Christ' security Les Feldick emphasizes.
Colossians 3:1-3 is the core passage. It commands those who have been raised with Christ to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand, and to set their affection on things above rather than on things on the earth. The command is grounded in an accomplished fact: 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' Jesus also taught the same priority in Matthew 6:33, instructing His hearers to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, with the promise that their material needs would be added. John 10:28-29 adds the security side: those given eternal life by Christ can never perish, and no one can pluck them out of His or the Father's hand.
Les emphasizes that Colossians 3:1-3 is practical Christianity. Because believers have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and been raised with Him, their appetites and desires change. They naturally seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This does not mean living like a monk; God has given blessings to enjoy, but priority belongs to heaven. Les explains the security behind the command: the believer's life is hidden with Christ in God. He compares it to the meat inside a walnut—protected by a hard shell and an outer covering. Christ is the hard shell, and God surrounds the believer. Once God hides something, no one but Him can find it. He also points out that Christ is presently seated at the right hand of God, not on His earthly throne, so the believer's focus should be on His present heavenly position. And he contrasts the world's mindset: the world asks why give up the good times, but believers are not miserable because they have hope. Earthly things perish, and while anticipation of an earthly possession may outshine its realization, the eternal things above will be even greater when realized.
No. Les says you do not have to go into a monastery or become a monk. God has given us blessings to enjoy, and a believer can enjoy life to the full. The issue is priority: heaven should have our first interest, and earthly things should not take first place.
Paul's phrase 'where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God' locates the believer's focus. Les explains that Christ is not on His throne today; He is seated at the right hand of the Father. When He returns and sets up His kingdom, He will sit on His throne. Until then, our affection belongs on the things above, where He is.
Les compares the believer's position to an old walnut: the meat is protected by a hard shell and the outer covering. Christ is the hard shell, and God surrounds the believer. Since the God who created the universe hides us, no one but Him can ever find us. Romans 8:1 confirms there is no condemnation to those in Christ, and Jesus said no one can pluck His sheep from His hand.
According to Les, being risen with Christ brings a change in appetites and desires. The believer is dead to the old Adamic nature—the rebellious, sinful nature inherited from birth—and is alive to a new life in Christ. This new life is eternal life hidden in God, so the believer no longer lives for the earthly 'things' that perish.
A New Position in Christ
Les shows that after Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, the emphasis is on being 'in Christ,' which is the position that makes heavenly affections possible.
New Appetites and Priorities
Les teaches that being risen with Christ changes a believer's appetites and desires, so seeking the things above becomes the natural result—without having to become a monk.
Dead to the Old Adam
Les explains that setting affection on things above is grounded in being dead to the old Adamic nature—the rebellious, sinful nature inherited from birth.
Earthly Things Perish; Heavenly Things Are Greater
Les uses the contrast between anticipation and realization to show that earthly things are disappointing, but the realization of eternal things will be greater than the anticipation.
Christ at the Father's Right Hand
Les connects seeking things above to Christ's present position at the right hand of God, not on His earthly throne, so the believer's focus is on His heavenly position.
Hid with Christ in God
Les pictures the believer's security like the meat of a walnut: hidden with Christ in God, protected by the Almighty so that no one but God can find it.
No Condemnation, No Touching
Les links being hid with Christ in God to Romans 8:1 and John 10:28: the believer is wrapped up in the Godhead, so nothing can touch him and no one can pluck him out of Christ's hand.
The Believer's Hope vs. the World's Philosophy
Les answers the world's 'why give up the good times' with the fact that believers are not miserable because they have the hope of eternal things above.
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.
This verse commands the risen believer to seek the things above, where Christ now is.
Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The direct command to place affection on the heavenly rather than earthly.
Colossians 3:3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The reason believers are to look above: they are dead to the old life and their new life is secure in Christ and God.
Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus teaches the same priority: seeking God's kingdom first is the basis for receiving earthly provisions.
John 10:28-29: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Christ promises eternal security for those in His hand, which supports the 'hid with Christ' security Les emphasizes.
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.
Paul declares that those in Christ have no condemnation, which Les ties to being hidden in Christ and in God.
No. Les says it doesn't mean going into a monastery or becoming a monk. You can enjoy life to the full because God has given blessings to enjoy, but heaven must have the first interest. It is a matter of priorities.
Les compares it to the meat of an old walnut, protected by a hard shell and then an outer covering. Christ is the shell, and God surrounds the believer. Since God created the universe, if He hides something no one but Him will ever find it.
Paul says to seek things where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Les explains Christ is not on His throne tonight; He is seated at the Father's right hand. That is the present heavenly location believers are to focus on until He returns to set up His kingdom.
No. Les points to the world's argument that you should 'live it up' because death ends everything, but believers are not miserable because they have hope. The eternal things above are better than the perishing things on earth.
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