“We were made alive together
with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5).
The newness of life we
received, as Christians is a spiritual life imparted
through our identification with Christ in His death
and resurrection. This identification with Him in
His death broke the power of indwelling sin.
Moreover, our identification with Christ in His
resurrection resulted in the impartation of divine
life (Romans 6:3, 4).
You have been completely saved
by grace and the present result is that you are in a
saved state of being.
The apostle Paul could not have
stated in stronger and clearer terms the unending
state of the believer in salvation. Our past,
present and future state of salvation is dependent
upon one thing alone, our appropriation by faith of
Jesus Christ as our Savior the day we first believed
on Him. We received salvation by that initial act of
faith in Christ.
When we were born again we were
made alive spiritually. The Holy Spirit imparted
life to us just like raising the dead. Christ
communicates life to us like He did to the dead man
Lazarus (cf. Rom. 6:6-8; 8:11; Gal. 2:19-20; 2 Cor.
5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22-23; Col. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:11ff).
Because of our vital union with
Christ, His death is our death, His life is our
life, and His exaltation is ours. Our physical
position may be on earth, but our spiritual position
is “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
All of the verbs in regard to
our vital union in Christ are in the past tense. The
apostle Paul is stating what has already taken
place, not what is future. The resurrection, the
quickening and raising up of Christ’s people were in
an important sense accomplished when He rose from
the dead and sat down at the right hand of God.
The believer is vitally related
to the body whose head is Christ. The life of the
whole body is in the head, and therefore when the
head rose, the body rose. The first to rise from the
dead was Christ. Then we who are in Christ
positionally rose and are seated with Him.
Paul describes this new life in
Christ as being “raised up with Him.” We now have
this life in a present spiritual sense, and we also
look forward to the future bodily resurrection.
Christ made us alive, even when we were dead in
trespasses and sins. He accomplished this spiritual
resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our spiritual resurrection
places us in union with Christ. God made us alive
together with Christ. We are now united together
with Him (Eph. 1:22-23), and we now share His
resurrection life and power (vv. 19–20).
“Raised up with Him,” and
“seated” enthroned with Christ in heaven. The
glorified body of Jesus Christ is now in heaven in
the presence of God the Father. It is also the state
into which believers are introduced by our new
birth. We now enjoy, even in this life, a state of
purity, exaltation and favor with God. The opposite
state is called "the kingdom of Satan."
We are even now described as
citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Because we are in
Christ we have a right to the privileges, blessings,
and responsibilities of citizens of the kingdom of
God. Even now, spiritually we occupy the heavenly
city. We have a foretaste of what it shall be like
in glory with Christ.
Allow the greatness of this new
life in Christ to become a part of your thinking. We
have been “freed from the condemnation of the law,
the dominion of Satan, the lethargy and pollution of
spiritual death. We have been “reconciled to God,"
made partakers in His Spirit, as the principle of
everlasting life. We have been “adopted" into His
family and have a right to all the privileges of the
sons of God both in this life and the one to come in
glory. This is a change worthy of being expressed by
saying; “he has quickened us, and raised us up and
made us to sit together with Christ in heavenly
places.”
The apostle Paul tells us that
this has been accomplished “in Christ.” Believers
share in His life because of their union with
Christ. Moreover, we share in His exaltation because
we are to reign with Him.
But Paul tells us we already
have these blessings. We enjoy the now and the yet
to be. We already enjoy to some degree these
blessings of salvation. Moreover, our vital union
with Christ guarantees “the continuation and
fulfillment” of all of these blessings in the future
with Christ. In Jesus Christ we “are already raised
from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.”
John Calvin said the Christian
by virtue of Christ’s conquest of sin and death and
by His exaltation to heaven is lifted “from the
deepest hell to heaven itself.”
Claim your inheritance today.
These are the great truths that give us hope of
tomorrow and assurance for today.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
Bible word studies for sermon preparation, messages, devotions and personal Bible studies with abiding principles and practical applications.
Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
Study the master theme of the Bible with these prophecies and types in the Old Testament of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Free Sermons and Bible studies indexed by Scripture reference and doctrinal studies .
