5caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ–it is by grace that you have been saved–
6raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:4-6)Christ died for our sins. We rejoice in this marvelous fact. The love demonstrated in His sacrificial death will always, and should always, cause us to marvel. While we were yet sinners He laid down His life for us.
But if we carefully examine Paul’s epistles, we will discover that His death is but the beginning of our great Salvation. In Ephesians two, Paul tells us that we were made alive, raised up and enthroned in and with Him. While ever rejoicing in His death for us, we must, if we believe Paul carried the fullness of revelation of the meaning of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, press on to enter into His full sacrifice.
We have been made alive with HimWhen we were made alive with Him we left the realm of our death in trespasses and sins, and became partakers of His resurrection Life. This Life in us is destined to overcome death if we remain unto the coming of the Lord. Paul tells us it can make alive our mortal bodies as well and our spirits (Rom. 8:11). If we were reconciled by His death, Paul tells us, then much more shall we be saved (healed or delivered) in His Life (Rom. 5:10). The sinless, sickles, deathless Life of the Son of God is in us now!
Raised with HimAfter we were made alive with the Uncreated Life of God, we were raised with Him. He was raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25) so when He was raised we came into perfect Right-Standing with God. We can stand in His presence uncondemned. The blood of Christ continually cleanses us from all unrighteousness and sin (1 John 1:7,9). We are raised far above the principalities and power and they, therefore, have no legitimate authority over us.
Jesus had been made sin for us. He took upon Himself the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). All the judgment that we deserved fell upon Him. When the Father’s glory raised Him from the dead, we were in Him. His resurrection was our resurrection. His throwing off the forces of Hades, was our deliverance from their torment of us as well. We were raised with Him.
Enthroned with HimBut the climax of His Finished Work on our behalf is the fact that we were enthroned with Him at the Father’s right hand. Jesus has overcome all things and been enthroned in the highest position in the Universe. And we are enthroned there with Him. He was given all authority in heaven and earth and He invites us to share in that authority. We are to go forth in His name and do the works that Jesus did. This isn’t something that we earn by our striving and sweating. This is Father’s Grace Gift to us. You don’t have to wait until you reach a certain point of holiness to walk in this Truth, rather taking your place in His Throne with Him is a key to being delivered from the remaining remnants of fleshly conduct. From your place enthroned with Christ, you “put to death” the deeds of the body (See Col. 3:1-3). Walking in the realm of these great spiritual Realities we are free to no longer walk in the unhealthy desires of the flesh.
Received by FaithMany think if they suffer enough, or try hard enough, or repent deeply enough they may enter into these Realities. They are yours now. Not by your works, but by Jesus’ works. They are freely offered to us by the Grace of God. They are received by the hand of Faith. Faith receives what the Grace of God Freely offers. Just as you are you are accepted in the Beloved. Don’t struggle don’t strive. Just in humility and a joyful appreciation of the Father’s tremendous love expressed through His Son, receive your enthroning with His Son and all the benefits that came to Him. Receive it by Faith, Praise Him for it by Faith, and exercise this awesome Dominion over the enemies of Righteousness that assail you by Faith. You may use His name and cause His enemies to bow to His name in your lips.
Bring Him glory by honoring all the Jesus has done for you. You’ll be amazed at the authority He will release through you.