Colossians 3:3

For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

Ye died ... your life is hid ... See Barclay's comment on this under Colossians 3:1. Also see comment by Bruce.

When Christ ... shall be manifested ... Each of the significant clauses in this verse is actually related to the thought of the Christian's life being "hid with Christ." True it is hidden now, but at the Second Advent, when the heavens shall be ablaze with the glory of Christ, lo, all of his saints shall likewise appear "with him" in the glory of eternal life which shall be given to them "at that time."

Christ, who is our life ... The thought here is parallel to that of Galatians 2:20. Significantly, the consummation of all the Christian's hope shall be achieved "at the coming of Christ, which will be a personal and visible appearing of himself."[15]

Another wonderful thought on being "hid with Christ" was also given by Bruce in reply to a question, "How is our life hid with Christ in God?" He wrote:

Here is J. B. Lightfoot's answer: "The apostle's argument is this: `When you sank under the baptismal water, you disappeared forever to the world. You rose again, it is true, but you rose only to God. The world henceforth knows nothing of your life, and (as a consequence) your new life must know nothing of the world'." Since Christians live "in Christ," and Christ indeed is their true life, it is inevitable that their life should be securely preserved where he is.[16]

Manifested ... The Greek word here is [@faneroo].[17] Other New Testament passages where it is used of the Second Advent are: 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:2. One of the major New Testament doctrines is that of the Second Advent of Christ. It is usually understood as the occasion when the dead shall all be raised, the general judgment of all people shall occur, and every person shall be assigned his eternal reward.

[15] Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings from Paul (Chicago: Moody Press, 1967), p. 334.

[16] F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), p. 109.

[17] E. Earle Ellis, op. cit., p. 796.