Christ at the Heavenly Throne (Colossians 3:1–11)
Christ at the Heavenly Throne (Colossians 3:1–11) 8/17/2025
The Son of God, Christ, came to us, redeemed us, and gave us everything the Father has given Him. The life of faith is enjoying this in every problem and event I face on this earth while preparing for eternity.
Where is Christ now? To be precise, He is with us in the Holy Spirit, and as today’s passage says in verse 1, He is seated at the right hand of God’s throne in heaven. We must enjoy both blessings together.
First, we must enjoy the blessing of the Holy Spirit who is with us now. The moment we heard the gospel and accepted Christ, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3). As the Holy Spirit dwells with us, He gives us evidence. What kind of evidence? The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). He heals all our weaknesses and hidden scars (John 14:16). He teaches us the Word so that we can live according to God’s will, reminds us of the Word (John 14:26), and guides us on the path (journey) God has prepared for us (John 16:13). He fills us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that everything becomes evidence and makes us witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). All this is the work of the Holy Spirit, but in the place of Christ (Romans 8:9 “Spirit of Christ”), so that all of life may glorify Christ (John 16:14). This is the absolute reason we must enjoy the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
Second, as today’s passage says, we must enjoy the blessings that Christ Himself gives us from the heavenly throne (the meaning of the “7 bartizan prayer”).
- Why did Christ ascend to the heavenly throne? There are important biblical and theological reasons.
1) His ascension means He completed all His work of redemption on this earth.
This is what Jesus meant when He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He accomplished complete redemption. Calvin said Christ’s ascension was the completion of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His glorious reign as the eternal King.
2) He restored His original eternal ministry of ruling over all creation from the throne.
On the day He returns and renews all things, all creation will submit to His reign (Philippians 2:10). At that time, the power of darkness will be completely broken and brought under His feet (Psalm 110:1). There will be no more darkness, and the people of the Lord will reign with Him over all things (Revelation 22:5).
Until that day, who represents Christ on this earth? The Holy Spirit.
3) When Christ went to the throne, the blessing of the Holy Spirit began. That is our benefit and blessing (John 16:7). While He was in the flesh, He was limited by time and space. Now, through the Holy Spirit, He helps us without limitation of time and space.
While the Holy Spirit helps us on earth, what does Christ do at the heavenly throne?
4) He serves as our intercessor at the right hand of God. He mediates for us when we are weak, when we fall, and especially when we pray. He intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:34), and He helps us receive answers to our prayers. This is why our prayers reach the throne (Revelation 8:3–4).
5) When He ascended, the church was established on earth through the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–47). He became the head of the church, ruling and protecting it (Ephesians 1:22). Through the pulpit, He blesses the believers, unites them, and connects them to the authority and power of the throne (Acts 2:42). Calvin said the church is the system that connects believers to the heavenly throne, not by human power but by the Word. When we accurately hold onto and believe the Word that flows from the pulpit as God’s Word, His work takes place (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
- Now, what must we do?
1) Look to the throne, experience, and enjoy its blessings and answers. Without this, we remain oppressed by the world and Satan, with no answers or blessings. World evangelization becomes impossible. At best, we just survive in the world. At worst, believers suffer from depression, panic disorder, and mental problems.
① Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above (verse 1).
The Greek word “seek” (Zeteo) means to set your priorities on Him (Matthew 6:33). This is why we begin the day with the Word and prayer. It also means to search for what was once ours but has been lost (Luke 15:8). Having lost what is most precious, search eagerly. From there comes our spirituality and the blessing of spiritual summit. Desire it and pray for it (John 5:44).
② Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (verse 2). The Greek word “set your minds” (Phroneo) doesn’t just mean “to think”, but to fix your heart and mind on it continually. It means making the throne the standard of what is precious (your values) and aligning your thoughts and heart to it daily. Make the conclusion that nothing is more valuable than the authority, power, and eternal blessings of the throne. Then everything else follows.
This is the believer’s perspective on life. It is a blessing we must build throughout our lifetime (present tense, imperative form).
2) From that point these things follow. Healing and restoration come to your life that is precious before God. As you are filled with God’s things, all earthly things, hidden scars, greed, and failures are healed. As you wait for this blessing, there are challenges to face (the word “challenge” means “to fight, to attempt something new”).
① Put to death what belongs to your earthly nature(verse 5-6). Keep fighting spiritually (against yourself, the world, and Satan behind it). These endlessly arise from our old selves (impurity, lust, evil desires, greed). These cause us to fail and bring shame. Because of them, God’s wrath (discipline) comes (verse 6).
② Rid yourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lies (verse 8–11).
This means continuously training yourself to put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24, “re-habituation”). Controlling the heart and the tongue is truly difficult. It can either curse us or bless us (1 Peter 3:10, Psalm 109:17, Matthew 7:2). What we choose and sow will determine what we reap (Galatians 6:7).
③ Toward everyone going through this process, be gentle, patient, forgiving, and loving (verse 12–14). Love is the belt that makes everything complete. Christ died for us in this love (atonement). In this same love He waits, and by this love He makes us complete (1 Corinthianss 13:1–7).
3) As we live this life, we give life to others.
① I live, my spouse lives, my parents and children live, and everyone I meet at work lives (verse 18–25).
② To this end, Scripture emphasizes something. As you enjoy th blessing of the throne, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (verse17). Do everything in Christ’s name and give Him glory.
Conclusion – The blessings of the throne I enjoy, and the blessings that heal and restore me lead to true evangelism and happy missions (Colossians 4).
8.17.25 Christ at the Heavenly Throne