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COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3
Col_3:1-4 The apostle exhorteth to be heavenly-minded,
Col_3:5-11 to mortify carnal lusts, and to put away all malice
and ill dealing in respect of one another, as
becometh Christians.
Col_3:12-17 He recommendeth brotherly kindness, charity, and other
general duties,
Col_3:18 the relative duties of wives,
Col_3:19 and husbands,
Col_3:20 of children,
Col_3:21 and parents,
Col_3:22-25 and of servants towards their masters.
If ye then be risen with Christ: having refuted superstitious observances placed in things earthly and perishing, and called them off from shadows to mind the substance; he doth, upon supposition of what he had asserted before, Col_2:12,13, here infer that, since they were risen again with Christ, it did behove them to set about the duties required of those in that state: not of the proper resurrection of the body, which, while here below, can only be in our Head by virtue of the mystical union, as in regard of right the members of Christ are said to sit with him in heavenly places, Eph_2:6, signified and sealed by baptism: but the metaphorical and spiritual resurrection from spiritual death, which is regeneration, Rom_6:4 Tit_3:5, wrought by the same Spirit which raised Christ, and whereby renewed Christians live in certain hope of that proper resurrection of their bodies, which Christ hath procured.
Seek those things which are above: hereupon he urgeth them, (in the same sense our Saviour doth command to seek his kingdom, Mat_6:33), with diligence to pursue heaven and happiness as the end, and holiness as the means to the attaining of it; to have their conversation in heaven, Phi_3:20.
Where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God: while the apostle speaks of God after the manner of men, we must take heed of the gross error of the Anthropomorphites, who did imagine God to sit in heaven in the shape of a man. Some indeed, who abhor such a gross imagination, yet conceive that because more generally the heaven is God’s throne, and shall be so for ever, Jer_17:12 Lam_5:19 Mat_5:34, that he hath a particular throne in heaven, whereon he doth show himself specially present, as in his temple, 1Ki_22:19 Psa_11:4; and so, though Christ is set properly on the right hand of this throne, Heb_1:3 8:1 12:2 Rev_3:21; but because the conception of such a particular material throne, with extension of parts and proper dimensions, may (besides other inconveniences) misguide our apprehensions, and occasion adoration to the creature, which should be terminated on God alone, who is a pure Spirit; and whereas sitting is not taken properly, since Stephen saw Christ standing, Act_7:55, and is opposed to the ministration of angels, which have no bodies or bodily parts, Heb_1:13; by most it is taken metaphorically, importing that Christ hath all real power and dominion put into his hands, connoting his authority and security from his enemies, who are put under his feet, Mat_28:18 1Co_15:25, is crowned with majesty, glory, and honour, Heb_1:3 2:9, enjoying all blessedness in a most transcendent way, Psa_16:11 110:1 Act_2:33,36; having the human nature filled with abilities to execute all when he entered into glory, Isa_16:5 Luk_22:29,30 24:26 1Co_15:43 Rev_19:6; where he resides possessed of all in safety, Act_3:21 Rev_3:21. It was above whither Christ ascended by a local motion from a certain where here below into a certain where above; so that whatever the Lutherans argue from Christ’s glorious ascension and session, to prove Christ’s body a ubiquitary, or every where present, is inconsequent, since it is in heaven where he wills that believers should be to behold the glory that his Father hath given him, Joh_17:24: wherefore,