THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE -- Tomorrow:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col 3:1-4)
Devotion 3 of 25
" . . . be risen with Christ . . . "
The point from which the reasoning begins relates to our identity with Christ Jesus. The emphasis will be placed upon what the Lord Himself has done, with a particular reference to WHEN that action took place. There is a precision in this language that lends itself to sound spiritual thought. It forbids us to think of being in Christ only in terms of what we ourselves have done.
The word "risen" does not refer to something we did, but to the working of the Lord Himself. Although it is associated with our baptism – i.e. "WHEREIN" – the accent is not upon our baptism itself, but upon WHAT GOD DID at that time -- "also ye WERE RISEN with Him" (Col 2:12). Not only is the One who raised us emphasized, but the place to which we were raised is specified: "And HATH RAISED US up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6).
GOD HIMSELF RAISED JESUS
God is the One who raised us. This is not something we accomplished. It is God who "raised us up together" with Christ. Again it is written, "ye ARE RISEN with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead" (Col 2:12). This resurrection is said to be "in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom 6:5).
Being "risen" is the same as being "quickened." As it is written, "And you hath HE QUICKENED, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). And again, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, HATH QUICKENED US together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)" (Eph 2:5). And again, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath HE QUICKENED together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col 2:13).
Those who have been "raised," or "quickened" by God are said to now be "alive." They are "alive unto God" (Rom 6:11), and "alive from the dead" (Rom 6:13).
The issue before us is simply this: Has God raised us? Has He quickened us? Have we been made alive? At the point the individual is interested enough to pursue the answer to that question, it will be found. If God has, in fact, raised us, then we will be able to do what is now required of us. If we have been quickened by God, what is now enjoined upon us will be "doable." If we have been made alive, the word of Christ can dwell richly in us, and be joyously fulfilled by us. We are thus able to do the will of God.
GOD RAISED US WITH CHRIST
Just has surely as the dead man thrown into Elisha's grave was raised to life when he touched the prophet's bones (2 Kgs 13:21), so the person who is joined to Christ becomes alive unto God. From the standpoint of Divine purpose, God did not raise Jesus alone, but raised His spiritual body, the church, with Him. From the standpoint of human experience, when we were "baptized into Christ," the result was spiritual life. Paul referred to this result when he said, "Christ liveth in me" (Gal 2:20).
Some people would be satisfied to say, "If , then, you are baptized." However, the Spirit says, "If ye then be risen with Christ." This does not demean baptism. Rather, it gets to the heart of what occurs in real baptism. It addresses the matter of the faith that was expressed in baptism – "faith in the operation of God" (Col 2:12). The Apostles recognize no act as being valid that did not result in the individual being joined to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor, indeed, did they represent being joined to the Lord independently of obedience to His Word.
Within the Christian community there is far too much assumption when it comes to being "saved" – being part of the body of Christ, or being acceptable to God. Sound doctrine presents the truth in such a manner as promotes introspection, or self examination. It is only as we "judge ourselves" that godly conclusions can be reached, and the judgment of God avoided (1 Cor 11:31). The exhortation that follows assumes this action is being taken.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for raising me with Christ – from death with Jesus to being seated with Him in the heavenly places.