What reason does Paul give for the Christian to set aside worldly pursuits?
The need to set aside the things of this world, and to focus on spiritual things is a matter of ownership. We were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:19-20), even the blood of Jesus Christ (Ac 20:28). Having been purchased by the Lord, we are not longer our own. Paul bluntly declares, "...you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God..." Further to that, we are told that we await the appearance of Christ, for then we shall appear with Him in glory.
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COLOSSIANS 3:1-11
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all."
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