RAISED INTO HEAVENLY REALMS

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7, NKJV)

Devotion 9 of 16

RAISED UP TOGETHER WITH CHRIST

    " . . . made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together . . . "

      In order for anything or anyone to be received by God, it must be connected with Christ, His only begotten Son. There is no personal independence in the Kingdom of God, but everything DEPENDS upon the exalted Christ. Where He is not in the equation, there is no Divine recognition, acceptance, or blessing. The best of men--their "righteousnesses"--are nothing more than "filthy rags" (Isa 64:6). All of man's wisdom, regardless of its lofty appearance, has been reputed by God and counts for nothing (1 Cor 1:20; 3:19). Men could not extricate us from sin, and therefore nothing else they do in their own strength is honored by God. Were this to be unreservedly received by the professed church, it would have a staggering effect on what they do. Overnight there would be a mass purging of leaders presently held in high regard, and methods and techniques would be scrapped that are being successfully hawked by religious charlatans.

    Everything is contingent upon Jesus. When God made Him alive, raising Him from the dead, He also quickened, or made alive, all who are in Him. That is, the resurrected life of Christ was imputed to them, so that their life is really not their own, but that of Christ. As Paul confessed, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20). Our death in trespasses and sins was so thorough and extensive, that only unity with Christ could change our condition.  

    Furthermore, this could only be done by the grace of God. It could not be accomplished by a moral code, or by adherence to a law of commandments. Men could not be made alive by DOING something, anymore than the dead can be raised from their graves by following a procedure. The grace of God involves a desire on God's part as well as a need on ours. He raised us because He wanted to! But even then, He could only do this by uniting us with the Son IN His resurrection. God does not deal with us directly, but through His Son.

    Thus, the new birth is said to be accomplished by God begetting us again "to a living hope THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3). In fact, the resurrection of Christ is what validated our baptism, the point at which we are "born" (John 3:5). As it is written, "baptism doth also now save us . . . BY the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 3:21).

    Let it be clear: we are not saved by a procedure, but by the grace of God. That grace is made effectual in raising us up together with Christ out of the depths of death in trespasses and sins and alienation from God. Obedience is surely involved in obtaining this salvation, and faith is the engine that drives it. But in the end, God is the One who does the saving, and it is His marvelous grace and mercy that moves Him to do so. Even then, His resurrected Son remains supreme to Him. The explanation for our salvation is here traced to Divine activity. In its essence, salvation is initiated and culminated by the Living God. He begins the work, and He brings it to its intended culmination (Phil 1:6). Blessed be the name of the Lord, and all praise to him who does all things well!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, and with joy in my heart, I acknowledge that salvation belongs to You!

-- Tomorrow: MADE TO SIT WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES --