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Hidden In Christ

For you have died and your life is hidden together of Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)

We have died with Christ, "you also have died to the law through the body of Christ that you might belong to another, the one raised from the dead" (Romans 7:1-6). We were buried with him through baptism so also as Christ was raised we would walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-5). But what does it mean that we are hidden together with Christ? Is it related to our being raised with Christ? This word for hidden κέκρυπται (kekryptai) is only found in this verse. It has mostly been translated as "your life has been hidden with Christ" but also as "kept or laid up together with Christ." Let us look at why the latter seems more fitting.

therefore, if raised with Christ seek that above where Christ exists seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1)

When we look at the word hidden in context we see Paul say something amazing, "if you have been raised with Christ, mindful of that above, not that of the earth." If I have been raised with Christ? Are we raised with Christ when we still exist in bodily form on this earth? Does not the resurrection come after I die or Christ returns? Yes, we will be raised in bodily form  (1 Corinthians 15:35). But Paul writes we were once dead, not physically dead as we walked the earth, but then we were made alive and raised and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5-6). When we take this in light of other scriptures we equate being made alive with being born anew of the Spirit and being a new creation in Christ, and we see what was made alive and raised and seated with Christ was our spirit. 

for you have died and your life is laid up, together in Christ in God, when Christ your life is made known then you also will made known together with him in glory (Colossians 3:3-4)

One day Christ will appear and the glory of who we are in Christ will be made known. We don't quite see the fullness of who we are in Christ. Paul writes, in the present, we only know in part, as though looking at an enigma or a foggy mirror,  but at that time, face to face, it will be made known fully who we are in Christ. Until then, remains faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these being love (1 Corinthians 13:9-13). This scripture also speaks to maturity in Christ, as we look into his face we are being transformed from glory to glory, and as we grow in the knowledge of him we see clearer and put away childish things. 

... your life is laid up, together in Christ...

The scriptures speak of us being spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12). We await the fullness of our salvation, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). We await fully righteousness, "for we spiritually from faith await the hope of righteousness" (Galatians 5:5). This makes sense because though we receive righteousness as a gift in Christ we live in a body in which sin dwells. Peter writes the goal of faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9). This part of our salvation God is working out for our good. Spiritually we have been raised and seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Our salvation in regards to our spirit is complete because we are hidden together or we are laid up together in the heavenlies with Christ. It is amazing an thing to be hidden together with Christ. 


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