Scripture: Ephesians 2 v 6 and Galatians 2 v 20
"And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus."
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
There seems to be some confusion among Christians as to
the exact meaning of these two verses. We are spirit beings originally who now
have a soul (emotions; intellect; will) and a fleshly body. We were born
sinners because Satan held us hostage before the earth was formed.
We were dead in sin from birth. Our spirit had died.
Jesus came and drew the dead spirits of all humans to Himself on the Cross and
took our death away, took our sin away, and gave us His life, sinless and pure
and holy.
This life of Christ in us begins when we are born again
and baptised in water. We are buried with Jesus when we go under the water and
resurrected with Him when we come up again. Our spirits are then seated with
Christ Jesus in Heaven and His Spirit fills us.
We can say I am dead to this world but alive in Heaven
and Jesus now lives in me. We have the task of conquering the demands of our
soul and flesh, with Jesus' help, and bringing them into subjection to the will
of God. The pleasures of sin are very insistent and we need to conquer every
area where we fall into compromise.
Our flesh or selfish life must be crucified. If we don't
overcome the soul and flesh we risk having our names blotted out of the Lamb's
Book of Life and on the Day of Judgment hearing His say "I Never Knew
You". But Lord we prayed and prophesied and preached and did miracles. We
cast out demons in Your name. He shakes His head and says you never did the
will of My Father.
We have to live our life by faith in Jesus Christ, not
relying on our own talents and cleverness but bowing to His knowledge and
wisdom. Then He will say Well done good and faithful servant and your eternal
life is secure.
Prayer: Heavenly Father its hard to reckon yourself dead
when your senses and soul is alive. Help us to renew our minds and discipline
our flesh so that our spirit that is in Christ can be fully alive. In Jesus'
name. Amen.