Colossians 3:1

“If ye then be risen with Christ, etc.] The apostle having observed in the former chapter, that the believing Colossians were dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, were buried with him in baptism, and were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, argues from hence how much it became them to regard a new and spiritual life, and to seek after superior and heavenly things, and treat with neglect and contempt carnal and earthly ones. For he does not here call in question their being risen with Christ, but takes it for granted that they were, and makes use of it as an argument for his present purpose. They were risen with Christ as their head, and as members in union…”

“EXHORTATIONS TO HEAVENLY AIMS, AS OPPOSED TO EARTHLY, ON THE GROUND OF UNION TO THE RISEN SAVIOUR; TO MORTIFY AND PUT OFF THE OLD MAN, AND TO PUT ON THE NEW; IN CHARITY, HUMILITY, WORDS OF EDIFICATION, THANKFULNESS; RELATIVE DUTIES. (Col. 3:1-25) If . . . then--The connection with Col 2:18, Col 2:23, is, he had condemned the "fleshly mind" and the "satiating to the full the flesh"; in contrast to this he now says, "If then ye have been once for all raised up (Greek, aorist tense) together with Christ" (namely, at your conversion and baptism, Rom 6:4). seek those things . . . above-- (Mat 6:33; Phi 3:20). sitteth--rather, as Greek, "Where Christ is, sitting on the right of God" (Eph 1:20).…”

“If ye then be risen with Christ - The apostle in this place evidently founds the argument on what he had said in Colossians 2:12; see the notes at that passage. The argument is, that there was such an union between Christ and his people, that in virtue of his death they become dead to sin; that in virtue of his resurrection they rise to spiritual life, and that, therefore, as Christ now lives in heaven, they should live for heaven, and fix their affections there. Seek those things which are above - That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them. Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God - Notes, Mark 16:19. The argument here is, that since Christ is…”

“If ye are risen, seek the things above - As Christ being risen, immediately went to heaven. Colossians 3:3”

“3:1-11 Paul summons the Colossians to a new way of thinking that results in a new lifestyle. 3:1 set your sights on the realities of heaven: Christians live on earth, but because they have been raised with Christ, their true being is oriented to the spiritual realm over which Christ rules. In contrast, the rules and regulations of the false teachers focused on the earthly realm (2:22).”

“risen: Col 2:12, Col 2:13, Col 2:20; Rom 6:4, Rom 6:5, Rom 6:9-11; Gal 2:19, Gal 2:20; Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20, Eph 2:5, Eph 2:6 seek: Col 3:2; Psa 16:11, Psa 17:14, Psa 17:15, Psa 73:25, Psa 73:26; Pro 15:24; Mat 6:20, Mat 6:33; Luk 12:33; Rom 8:6; Co2 4:18; Phi 3:20, Phi 3:21; Heb 11:13-16 where: Psa 110:1; Mat 22:44, Mat 26:64; Mar 12:36, Mar 14:62, Mar 16:19; Luk 20:42, Luk 22:69; Act 2:34, Act 7:55; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20, Eph 4:10; Heb 1:3, Heb 1:13, Heb 8:1, Heb 10:12, Heb 12:2; Pe1 3:22 Colossians 3:2”