For ye died, and your life is hid, with Christ, in God (Colossians 2:11-13, Colossians 2:20; Ephesians 4:22; Philippians 3:20; Romans 6:1-14; Romans 7:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:23; John 15:5; John 12:26; Revelation 3:21).
In this hidden life of the Christian lies the ground and the spring of the more outward life of thought and endeavour of Colossians 3:1, Colossians 3:2. And this life comes through death, from that "dying with Christ" out of which we "rose with him" (Colossians 3:1; Colossians 2:11-13, Colossians 2:20; Romans 6:3, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:8).
"The aorist ἀπεθάνετε ('ye died') denotes the past act; the perfect κέκρυπται ('hath been and is hid') the permanent effects" (Lightfoot). (On the nature of this death, see notes to Colossians 2:11-13.
) "Died—and your life!" this paradox is explained in Romans 6:10, Romans 6:11, and repeated in Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15. The Christian's life is lodged in the sphere of "the unseen and eternal."
It centres in Christ, and as he is hidden—withdrawn from the world of sense, yet with us always in his Spirit (John 14:16-20; John 16:16-22)—so our life with him. And if "with Christ," then "in God;" for "Christ is God's" (1 Corinthians 3:23); "lives to God" (Romans 6:10), and "is at God's right hand" (2 Corinthians 5:1), being "the Son of his love" (Colossians 1:13; John 1:18).
The apostle says, "in God" ("in heaven," Philippians 3:19), to emphasize the fact of the union of Christ with God, or perhaps to deepen the reader's sense of the sacredness of this life in Christ. "Is hid" (Colossians 1:26,Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:2, Colossians 2:3), another allusion to the fondness of the Colossian errorists for mysteries.
In Colossians 1:26 St. Paul spoke of the ancient mystery of a Christ for all the world; then of the new, perpetual mystery of a Christ dwelling within believing hearts. But this second mystery is equally that of our life in Christ as of Christ's life in us, lifting us to heaven while it brings him down to earth.
This mutual indwelling of the Head in heaven and the members upon earth is the most intimate and inscrutable of all secrets (John 14:20; John 15:1-7; John 17:22, John 17:23, John 17:26). "The world knows neither Christ nor Christians, and Christians do not even know themselves" (Bengel).