How Can We Already Be Raised With Christ? (Ephesians 2:6-7)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in 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 through Christ Jesus.

Can you imagine trying to describe a beautiful sunset to someone born blind? That would be almost impossible because there would be no common point of reference. In the same way, Paul probably struggled to express the truths in these verses, and we certainly have trouble understanding them. They go far beyond our experience and, therefore, our ability to comprehend. But let’s try anyway.

Reading these verses, it sounds as if a believer was raised with Jesus two thousand years ago and is now relaxing in heaven with Christ. What is Paul even talking about? I mean, we’re on earth in the twenty-first century!

To understand, we must remember that God isn’t limited by time and space. I picture him standing outside of our universe and observing the whole course of history all at once. Therefore, he treats the future as if it has already happened because he sees it at the same time as the present and the past.

Paul emphasizes the bond between believers and Christ. They are so united with Jesus that, in a spiritual sense, what happened to Jesus has already happened to them. God raised them with Jesus when he resurrected from the dead and seated them with him in heaven. Let’s look at both aspects in turn.

Thanks to the risen Christ, his followers are also raised by receiving new life. For now, this new life is limited to the spiritual, but the day will come when it will encompass the physical body as well. As to being seated with Jesus in heaven, Paul is communicating that the believers’ position is so secure that they already share in Christ’s victory and, in a limited way, in his dignity and honor. However, the full manifestation of all of this is still in the future. So we see how the past, present, and future are all rolled up into one.

The expression “in Christ” points out one important condition. This new life and future glorification come only from a relationship with Jesus.

Why has God done all this? Paul goes on to give us a glimpse of what our future with God will be like. The Lord will pour out his grace and kindness on those who believed. They will enjoy God completely, and he will take delight in them. Remember that the Gospel is ultimately a love story between God and mankind. In our present world, many obstacles keep us from fully experiencing God’s love. In eternity, those hurdles will be gone, and God’s love will flow unhindered.

Picture: Carol Schlorff