If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (4) When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(5) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:  fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

(9)Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, (10) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (11) where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians primarily to discourage the faithful in Colosse from returning to the observation of man made regulations and rituals and to focus them on the cosmic – read universal – centricity of Jesus Christ as son of God and redeemer of man from his sinful nature.  The redemptive works of Christ, arising out ot the will of God, made believing man right with God and opened the way to salvation.

Paul has dealt with doctrine regarding the suffiency, mystery and supremacy of Christ in chapters 1 and 2 of this letter.  Now in chapter 2 Paul attends to the practical application of these truths.  Paul exhorts the believer to seek the things that are above as by our union with Christ.  All who believe are risen with Christ.  Christ’s was a physical resurrection from the dead – the believer’s is a spiritual resurrection from a spiritual death.  This new life becomes actual when we believe.  We must now become in expression and experience what we already are by God’s grace.  Our true citizenship is in heaven and our true identity should show us as that citizen.

How we live is determined by how we believe and think.  Paul deals with holiness in relation to ourselves and then moves to our relationships with others.  When we receive Christ by faith we are beginning an ongoing daily process of sanctification.  Paul challenges the believer to be what he or she is:  to be in practice what we are in position in Christ.  In faith we have died to sin with Christ; died to the guilt, the claim of sin, but not to evil deeds.

What I am when I am alone in the presence of God is what i really am.  This should be our goal when we are with other people.  Right belief needs right behaviour and depends on God’s grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit.