Paul reminds the Ephesians of where they are “in
Christ”
Ephesians
2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus: KJVPaul twice (2) within the first five (5) verses of this second (2) chapter has used the phrase “hath quickened” to describe what God the Father has done for these Ephesians and us today in making us alive spiritually to Him through our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Now Paul reminds these Ephesians and us today where the quickening Power of God has placed us. Paul uses the phrase “hath raised us up together” (Ephesians 2:6) and this English phrase is translated by one Greek word sunegeiro meaning to rouse or awaken from death; to give new life to one by reviving, repairing, and recreating them spiritually, that is, in company with, by association, companionship, resemblance, process, possession, and instrumentality with Jesus Christ the Messiah; it denotes union with Christ, including completeness.
In other words, Paul declares to these Ephesians and to us that we are raised up or elevated “spiritually” instantly upon trusting Jesus Christ the Messiah because of our union or being joined spiritually into His Mystical Body as Paul wrote in this manner to the Corinthian believers, “For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) also as Paul declared in this manner to the Colossian believers, “[Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead. And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions” (Colossians 2:12-13).
It is the quickening Power of God through the Holy Spirit that makes our spirit alive to God the Father and lifts us up from the drowning death of our sin into a new life hungering and thirsting after and for righteousness being flooded with a desire to please God the Father by following His Word and mourning and grieving when we displease Him in rebellion and disobedience. This was never our desire before being quickened (Ephesians 2:2-3). Paul informs these Ephesians and us today that God the Father sees us “in Christ” and seated or that is, in the same ascended position Christ Jesus is right now seated at the Right Hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1 & Hebrews 10:12). Paul declares these Ephesians and us today who truly are “in Christ” to be triumphantly victorious despite our trials, test, and tribulations down here in the earth realm because God the Father has “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
Paul wants these Ephesians and us today to see ourselves always and at all times from the Father’s perspective or point of view, for He already sees us glorified in His Presence as Paul wrote in this manner to the believers in Rome, “And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].” (Romans 8:30). Paul wants these Ephesians and us today to never take for granted, or treat lightly the reality that we are eternally exalted and united with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ right now as Paul declared with these words to the Philippian believers, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21). Paul wants these Ephesians and us today to be in constant expectation of the real world the eternal world where we sit with Christ Jesus our Lord continually looking for the high calling in Christ (Philippians 3:14) that will be the consummation, culmination, and completion of our salvation when we will see Him (Christ Jesus) face to face, therefore, we should look for, long for, and live for this final call “in Christ” in such a way that we will not be ashamed in His Presence.
My own Personal Note: Those who are dead regard nothing. They are unaffected by the cares, pleasures, and amusements of the world. They hear neither the voice of happiness nor any of the “living” going on over or around their graves. That is how it was with me while I was under Satan’s authority. I was unmoved with the things of Christ. I could not hear the voice of God, nor did I see His majesty, splendor, and loveliness. I was unmoved and unconcerned by His threatening. Nevertheless, Christ is “life.” I now live my life with God. I feel and act as if God is all that matters (which, of course is true). The happiness of Heaven is living for God, being sensible of His presence, glory, and power, and rejoicing in that. My conduct and behavior now gives me the life and happiness that shall be everlasting. It is life begun, expanded, ripening toward Heaven! I have already entered into my inheritance, that inheritance that is everlasting. God destroyed Satan’s authority in my life. John 12:31 (AMP): “Now is the judgment of this world: Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” Excerpt from my Book entitled, “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs
“How wonderful to have witnessed a resurrection: to see the pale cheek of the little maid, Jairus’ daughter, flush again with the tints of life, and the still frame begin to stir, and the eyes softly open-and she looks upon the face of Jesus! or to watch Lazarus, four days dead, coming out of his tomb, slowly, and as one dreaming, with hands and feet bound in the grave-clothes. Still more marvelous to have beheld the Prince of Life at the dawn of the third day issue from Joseph’s grave, bursting His prison-gates and stepping forth in new-risen glory as one refreshed from slumber. But there are things no less divine, had we eyes for their marvel, that take place upon this earth day by day. When a human soul awakes from its trespasses and sins, when the love of God is poured into a heart that was cold and empty, when the Spirit of God breathes into a spirit lying powerless and buried in the flesh, there is as true a rising from the dead as when Jesus our Lord came out from His sepulcher. It was of this spiritual resurrection that He said: ‘The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.’” Expositor’s Bible Commentary
“Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Ephesians 2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the Risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so.” F. B. Meyer
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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