Introduction: The Truth That Changes Everything
In the chaos of everyday life, it’s easy to forget who we truly are in Christ. The world may try to define us by our accomplishments, our relationships or our material possessions, but the powerful truth for every believer is this: our lives are hidden in Christ alone. This truth brings peace, security, true joy and a sense of purpose. In this post, we’ll explore how to live up to this powerful reality and how it can transform our thoughts, actions, our way of life and indeed our very being.
Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV)
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.
What Does It Mean That Our Lives Are Hidden in Christ?
At its core, this truth reminds us that our identity is found in Jesus, not in anything the world offers. Our value, purpose, and security come from being united with Him. Let’s dive deeper into how being “hidden in Christ” means we are covered by His righteousness, protected by His love, and empowered by His Spirit.
When we received Jesus Christ in our lives and became born again, we became a new creation, scripture tells us that the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new! Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Therefore spiritually, we are totally different when we become born again because we have received a new nature, we have received Spirit of the Living God, and we are now the children of God who are born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, BUT OF GOD. (John 1:12-13). Yes you may look the same physically, nothing about you in the physical has changed but spiritually you are totally a new person, a new creation before God because you have received His Son Jesus Christ in you and now your life is hidden in Him alone.
The heart of this truth is that our identity is completely wrapped up in Christ alone. We no longer live for ourselves or seek validation from the world but we are to live and move and have our being in Christ Jesus. In this section, we’ll unpack how do it;
1) Renew your mind through studying the word of God and meditating on it day and night.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Consider this; if a totally new system is introduced at your work place with which work should done, you cannot start to operate the new system as you did the old one because it is totally different. The only option is learn how the new system is to be operated least you get sucked from your job for not being able to perform your tasks. The same thing is for us when we become born-again.
Now that we are new in Christ, we now have to learn how to operate in this new nature that we have received by the grace of God and the only way we can do that is by Renewing our minds through studying the word of God and meditating on it day and night. This is the only way we will know the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.
Scripture says; so then just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, being rooted and built up in Him and established in faith.(Colossians 2:6-7).
We have to learn how to lives as people in whom Christ dwells and this can only be learned from the bible. Once you study the word you will learn truth like “set your mind on things above not on earthly things, do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good manners, flee from fornication and sexual immorality, be watchful and pray always, you did not receive a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind… etc and then your mind will be renewed to the will of God and your life will start following suit.
The word of God is living and active, it is able to transform our lives should we continue in it daily. Jesus said the words that i speak to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63). This means the Word of God has life, the more you read it, the more you are transformed, the more your thinking is transformed.
Therefore the way for us to live as people whose lives are hidden in Christ alone is to give ourselves to studying the word of God, meditating on it continuously and let God transform us to be more and more like Jesus Christ.
2) Ask God for the grace to live out the word of God in your daily life.
1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
It’s one thing to study and meditate on the Word of God and understand it but it another thing to actually do it. Living out the God life is not something that you can do on your own, you need the grace of God, you need the enabling of God, you need the strengthening of God. God has to enable you and so then, what do you do..? You do not lean on your own understanding, you do not depend on your own strength and will power and most definitely do not be wise in your own ways, no! what you are supposed to do is; you humble yourself before God and go to Him in prayer and ask Him, “Father, this is what i have read in Your Word that i should live this way so please Father teach me, give me the grace to live out Your Word, enable me to live the way You intended me to live, i cannot do it on my own LORD, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. I need you Father, I need grace to enable me walk by Your Word.
Humble yourself before God and ask for His grace. The problem is most people want to live out the Christian life in their own strength, ability and will power. They determine that from today i am going to do this and that and that; they say from today i am not going to lie or steal or dishonor my parents and so on. They are only able to do it for a sometime till the zeal starts wearing off and they again wax cold in their obedience and way of holiness. Why? Because they were trying to do it by their own strength and no one can without the help of God. You need God.
Scriptures says; My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
3) Have a holy fear of God.
Proverbs 16:6 (NKJV)
In mercy and truth, Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
This too can only come from continuously reading and studying the Word of God.
You can only live a life that is totally submitted and yielded to God only and only when you have holy fear of God and you cannot have a holy fear of God apart from His Word. This is because, the more you read and study the word of God, the more you will see and know the nature of God, the more you will see His character, the more you will understand His holiness, the more you will understand His majesty, the more you will see and understand His splendour, then in your heart you will develop (not in of yourself but by the help of the Holy Spirit), you will develop a holy fear of God and then your heart’s desire will be to please your Heavenly Father, your desire will be to live a holy life.
I know this is not a popular teaching today but it is the truth, we have to have holy fear of God and we have to live holy lives for scripture says without holiness, no one will see God. (Hebrews 12:14) but you cannot do it without the grace of God and without knowledge. You need to have studied the word and continue therein and then the Holy Spirit will develop in your heart a holy fear of God and this will enable you work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Not negative fear, but holy reverent fear of God in that you are yearning to do His will and produce fruits of true repentance.
4) Always look forward, FORGET your past way of life.
Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
We have to forget the past. Avoid living in regret. Look forward, do not look back on your past life, do not even consider it. You are forgiven and made a new creation in Christ Jesus, now press forward, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
No matter how bad your life was, forget your past. Without Jesus Christ, all of us fall short of the grace of God. Without Christ we are totally nothing, our lives only have meaning because of Jesus Christ.
Everybody has a past life but let it not be the focus of your attention, Lay it back, keep it in the past and press forward to a live of obedience to God, a life of reverent fear of God.
Say; “no matter how i lived before, Father here i am at Your feet, i am pressing forward and by Your grace and by your strength in me, i will endeavour to walk and live by Your Word. And when you fall, refuse to go into despair but run back to the feet of God and repent of all your sin, inequities and transgression for scripture says; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all in righteousness. (1 John 1:9)
You have to press forward regardless, if you fall, you get up and keep pressing forward.
However the truth is this; if you continuously spend your time reading and studying the Word of God and developed a holy fear of God and you daily ask God for the grace to live out the Word, we will not purposefully or habitually life of sin. You will not want to live a life that is contrary to Christ. Your default setting will be to live a life of obedience to God and His word.
King David said; “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that i might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11)
Conclusion: Embark on living your life in Christ alone.
Living with the truth that our lives are hidden in Christ is not just a belief—it’s a way of life. By embracing this reality, we can walk in God’s will and intended purpose for our lives with confidence, peace, and joy knowing that our identity is secure in Him. When we live fully in this truth, we experience the freedom and joy that come from being truly known and loved by God.
Call to Action:
Take a moment today to reflect on this powerful truth—your life is hidden in Christ. Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you live out this identity with boldness and confidence.
Always Remember!
Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.