Understand the basics that Jesus Christ actually died. More than that, He was raised to life. Our hope as believers is that our savior was raised to life. Last week, we established that through faith, we are partakers of Christ’s death and by that same faith, we are also partakers of His resurrection. We have died with Christ and have been made alive in Him.
We were dead in sin but God in His mercy made us alive with Christ (Eph. 2:5). A dead man has no free will. Whatever position you place him in is where he will be till you move him again. You may think you are experiencing freedom but we know with the help of scriptures that sin is a bondage. We were once dead in sin, unable to express free will, unable to break free from addictions, and held captive to sinful desires (Jn. 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19). But now, we have died to sin and its desires and have been made alive with Christ Jesus. No more slavery to sin, just freedom to serve God. (Eph. 2:5; Gal. 5:1)
This tells us about the newness of life we receive. Being alive with Christ means being given a new life, a new opportunity. God says He will no longer remember your iniquity (Heb. 10:17; Isa. 43:25).
Remember, the whole essence of the crucifixion and identifying with it is that sin be rendered powerless. And when He was raised we were also raised to a new life and reality. (Rom. 6:6)
To be made alive in Christ means we live for God (Rom. 6: 8, 10-11). There is this falsehood about salvation that once you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus, you’re good to go and whatever you do afterward doesn’t matter. The scriptures beg to differ. Though we receive salvation through faith alone (works do not save us), we ought to also live a life that proves we are saved.
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”. Ephesians 5:8 ESV
We are admonished to remember that we are now alive with Christ and that the life we live is for God. Until we are living for God, living by His precepts and commandments, we have not yet come into the reality of what it means to be alive with Christ. Living your life to God means living a purposeful life. It means being concerned about the matters of God and His kingdom. He was so concerned about you that He chose to die for your sins. It shouldn’t be that hard to reciprocate it. (Rom. 6:8-11; Jn. 14:15)
By faith, we have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless, we live and it is Christ that is alive in us (Gal. 2:20). For every believer, this should be the standard; that Christ is alive in them. By implication, we live lives that give glory to Him.
Another thing about being made alive with Christ is that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Since He dwells in us, we are not just made alive spiritually but even our mortal bodies are given life:
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11
This concept tells us about our eternity. In Christ, we are made alive. We are given a life that goes beyond the physical. I dare say, it is more about the spiritual than the physical. We are given life eternal, such that after we leave this world, we have hope of eternal rest. In Christ, all are made alive. He gives life more abundantly. A life so abundant it lasts through eternity. (Jn. 3:16; Jn. 10:10)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
John 11:25 ESV
“…because I live, ye shall live also”.
John 14:19
It is only by faith that we become partakers of the death of Christ and inheritors of the life He gives. Today presents you with an opportunity to be a partaker. If you will, say this prayer: dear Jesus, I thank you for your sacrifice of love for me. I believe and accept that sacrifice. By faith, I partake in your death, and by faith, I declare that I am made alive in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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