Text: Corinthians 6:16-17.
We might miss the ultimate purpose and blessing of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension if we remotely regard it as historical event. If all that we know and believe is that Christ died for our transgressions, rose up for our justification, and He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us, then we are too shallow in our understanding and revelation of the spiritual significance and implication of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. From God’s viewpoint, Christ did not just die and rose up for us, but we also died and rose up with Him.
For “we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4). As far as God is concerned, the believers were crucified and buried with Christ, and were made alive together with Christ, and raised up together with Christ and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 2: 4-6). If we miss this truth, we have missed God’s best for our lives and the whole of essence of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension. In a way we might never comprehend fully, God has placed us in Christ. The Scripture testifies: “But God has given you a place in Christ Jesus, through whom God has given us wisdom and righteousness and salvation, and made us holy.” (1 Cor. 1:30).
As in a marriage relationship, when two become one flesh, through our repentance and surrender and faith in Christ, we are perfectly joined to the Lord Jesus and have become one with Him. “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For"the two,"He says,"shall become one flesh."But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:16-17). While we might never understand fully the mystery of our spiritual union with Christ, it is however clear that since we were in Christ and perfectly joined together to Him, we experienced the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension with Him. The Scripture testifies: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3).
“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Rom. 6:5). “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:4-6). As far as God is concerned, the believers were crucified and buried with Christ, and were made alive together with Christ, and raised up together with Christ and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ. Our natural and sinful life was terminated at the Cross where Christ was crucified for we were in Him.
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Rom. 6:6). Our sinful desires, passions, and inclinations were crucified with Christ on the Cross. That is why the Scripture declares: “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal. 5:24). Likewise, our new and spiritual life begins at the Cross. “For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” (Rom. 6:7-8). When Christ was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God, we also were raised together with Him to walk in newness of life, with new and godly passions and desires.
Hallelujah! Beloved, it is so crucial to your spiritual walk and fruitfulness to walk in the understanding of the truth that Christ did not only die for you but that you died with Him and you were also raised up together with Him, because in His wisdom, God has placed you in Christ and made you one with Him. Like Apostle Paul, you also can boldly declare:"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20). Friend, as a result of your spiritual union with Christ – your death and resurrection together with Him, you are now a brand new creation in Christ, the old things have passed away because your old life was terminated at the Cross, and all things have now become new. (2 Cor. 5:17).
It takes revelation knowledge of your spiritual union with Christ both in His death and resurrection to walk in newness of life. It is no longer you who live but Christ now lives in you, and you are now seated in Christ in the heavenly places. Praise God! My Heavenly Father, thank You for placing me in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and for making me one with Him in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. I declare today that I am one with Christ – dead, buried, and raised together with Christ, and I am now seated together in Christ in the heavenly places, in Jesus’ name. Amen
