Ephesians 2:4–7 is instructive for us about the relation between Christ’s ascension to the Father and His provision for us to experience victorious Christian living.
In previous weeks we have noted that Christ’s exaltation was in three stages. This passage uses verbs that would describe those stages: “made alive” (resurrection), “raised up” (ascension), and “seated” (enthronement). However, the striking force of these references is that this passage uses these verbs in reference to us as believing and forgiven sinners, who with Christ have been made alive, raised up and seated in the heavenly places.
To say that believers are made alive together with Christ is to say that we are in possession of His kind of life — resurrection life! Our new life in Christ is the life of heaven and eternity. We might even think of this as God’s kind of life. Although at one time all of us were dead in trespasses and sins (2:1), we can experience victorious living.
Heavenly citizenship
Not only do Christians possess “resurrection life,” we also possess “ascension life.” Joined to Christ by faith, we even now enjoy heavenly citizenship (Phil. 3:20) with our names enrolled in the Book of Life, unlike those who are outside of Christ (Rev. 20:12–15). Such benefits as these are due altogether to our union with Christ.
Furthermore, we share with Christ a position of spiritual authority and security, since He has carried us with Him all the way to the Father’s right hand. He has won for us the final victory — victory over sin, death and Satan. No safer place in the universe can be found than being at the right hand of the throne of God.
What are we to do with such exalted statements? They take us back to where this week’s study began — an abundant, overflowing, victorious life made possible here and now through our spiritual association with Christ.
Inseparably joined
From God’s point of view, we are co-raised, co-ascended and co-enthroned with Christ. Not only can we know our citizenship is in heaven since we are inseparably joined with Christ, but we can also live in this present world with the certainty that our lives are “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).
Our challenge is to live out daily on earth the eternal life already possessed by virtue of our spiritual union with Christ — made alive with Him, raised up with Him and seated with Him, so that we are living not just toward heaven but also from heaven — living out of the realities of a life already anchored above, where Christ is ascended and enthroned.
Share with others: