Alive with Christ

Romans 6:8-9 “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”

I read how the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead both guarantees the future bodily resurrection of the believer and associates us positionally with Him now. Since He died for our sins, we, in effect, were “dead with Christ.” Therefore, when He defeated death and hell, and revived His own dead body in immortal power, He broke any dominion of death over Him or over those who were, positionally, with Him.

Colossians 2:11-14 “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

One devotional proclaims that this is one of the grandest scriptural themes of the Christian life. We were dead with Christ, but now God “hath quickened us together with Christ”. 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” Not only have we been “made alive” with Him, but we have also been “raised” with Him up from the grave. But if all this is only true in position, what meaning does His resurrection life have on our daily lives now?

Colossians 3:1-3 “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.”

Knowing these truths gives us the incentive and power to live them. Galatians 2:19-20 “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Sin is paid in Christ’s atoning death on the Cross, Death has been defeated in the Resurrection of Jesus, and Hell has lost another by faith. Live as a child of God, a citizen of Heaven, walking now in paths of righteousness and holiness, in the fruit of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:4 “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” Dead to sin / alive with Christ.

In Christ, Brian