Question:
“Things above” is mentioned twice in Colossians 3:1 & 2.

My question is: Other than “Christ [sitting] on the right hand of God” (v. 1), what are some of the “things above” found in the Scriptures?

Answer:
The most important of those “things above” is a Person: “Christ [sitting] on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1) who John describes for us in Revelation 1:13-16: “…one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, etc.”

And since He is there, there are also the “wounds in [His] hands” (Zechariah 13:6), which represent the work He finished on the cross to save our souls.
Christ’s character is also there: compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and love. Christians are told to “put on” these characteristics in their lives now (Colossians 3:12-14)!
God’s holy Word, the Bible is part of the “things above.” “Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
The heavenly city which Abraham looked for (Hebrews 11:10) is there, and we are told about it in Revelation 21:10 through 22:6. It is called “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,” and we are told “ye are come unto” it (Hebrews 12:22).These are just a few of the wonderful “things above” that we have the privilege to “seek” and “set” our minds and affections on.

Question:

Editor’s: “Things above” is mentioned twice in Colossians 3:1,2. Other than “Christ [sitting] on the right hand of God” (v. 1), what are some of the “things above” found in the Scriptures?

Answer:

Editor’s:

The most important of those “things above” is a Person: “Christ [sitting] on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1) who John describes for us in Revelation 1:13-16: “…one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, etc.”

And since He is there, there are also the “wounds in [His] hands” (Zechariah 13:6), which represent the work He finished on the cross to save our souls.

Christ’s character is also there: compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and love. Christians are told to “put on” these characteristics in their lives now (Colossians 3:12-14)!

God’s holy Word, the Bible is part of the “things above.” “Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

The heavenly city which Abraham looked for (Hebrews 11:10) is there, and we are told about it in Revelation 21:10 through 22:6. It is called “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,” and we are told “ye are come unto” it (Hebrews 12:22).

These are just a few of the “things above.” We would welcome hearing of any more of the wonderful “things above” that we have the privilege to “seek” and “set” our minds and affections on.

Question:

38.2–Why do people judge one another on the way people are on the outside, or on what people do? I know my family obviously isn’t perfect, but we live our life and we live God’s Word and I think that’s what should count, it shouldn’t be that people judge on the stuff of what they heard or what they think. It’s between them and God on what they do. We shouldn’t be discriminated because we’re young. Some people might do stupid stuff sometime in their life, but again it is between them and God and God will decide how to punish them.

Answer:

38.2–Hmmm…..that’s a question that I thought about a lot too, but of course the 2 answers are sin and Satan. The main verse I found was Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful and above all things desperately wicked.” I guess you can say it is “human nature” to pre-judge people and nit-pick every fault a person has. I mean it just comes automatic if we see a person walking down the street in dirty clothes to think he is some dirty old bum, or if we are in a bad neighborhood to think everyone is a gangster and will shoot you. I should know, I used to be like that (I still am, I guess) but I’m saying, what does it do if you are mean and make fun of people? It makes you look mean and hurts someone’s feelings, but if you are nice it makes you look nice and will get you a new friend. But even Christians can be mean and vulgar, I mean, what example are you setting for your non-Christian friends if you are cussing and just being plain mean? Well, that’s all I have to say.

Question:

38.2–Why do people judge one another on the way people are on the outside, or on what people do? I know my family obviously isn’t perfect, but we live our life and we live God’s Word and I think that’s what should count, it shouldn’t be that people judge on the stuff of what they heard or what they think. It’s between them and God on what they do. We shouldn’t be discriminated because we’re young. Some people might do stupid stuff sometime in their life, but again it is between them and God and God will decide how to punish them.

Answer:

38.2—At times, it is quite hard to determine WHY people do the things they do (in your question, you cited judging), but we will try to give you the best answer we can!  As humans, our old nature tends to look on outward appearances, and we often make a judgment by what we see or hear.  We are not called to judge (Matthew 7), yet we are called to treat one another with love.  This problem certainly is not new!  In James 2:1-13, we read of a group of people who would treat some better than others simply because they dressed better!  How silly is that!  Yet today, we often do the exact same thing in a different way.  Often, we will gossip about things based solely on what we see, and that can tear down our witness.  Sadly, man looks on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), but that verse continues:  God looks on the heart–and that’s wonderful news!

Now, if we happen to be the subject of judging, what should our reaction be?  Naturally, we could become very bitter towards the judgmental people.  Yet, God tells us what to do in Ephesians 4:31,32 and 5:1,2.  He calls us to be kind, forgiving, and loving among other things.  Sure, it’s an odd reaction, but it’s definitely one that Jesus would have!  Again, we hope this will help you.

Question:

38.1 – In Galatians 6:9 it states, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  I’ve heard this verse used to attempt to prove that one’s salvation can indeed be lost if they “lose heart”.  Anyone have any thoughts on this verse?

Answer:

38.1 – In response to Josh LaMarche’s question concerning Galatians 6:9, we deduced the following.  First off, we know that this letter IS written to Christians, as Paul starts off this chapter with the word “brethren.”  Paul’s purpose in writing this particular section was to encourage his fellow Christians to do good works, which will result in benefits.  Now, we MAY never actually see or realize these benefits here on earth, but we will certainly be storing treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20) if our motivations are correct.  These benefits as well as any future sorrows make up a “harvest.”  The believer’s work is likened unto a harvest (John 4:34,35), in that, what we sow in our life determines what may come out of it.  In accordance with Galatians 6:9, if we ARE weary in well doing, we may lose out on heavenly rewards, but we can never lose our salvation.  Salvation comes from God, and is not dependent on anything that WE’VE done…as seen in Ephesians 2:8,9.  One example of a negative example of reaping seems to occur in I Corinthians 5.  There, a brother is involved in moral sin, yet verse 5 clearly states that he may lose his life, but his soul will still belong to the Lord.  We hope this helps a bit, Josh!