DEVOTION – DAY 128

Ephesians 2:4-6 “Alive With Christ”

 

Ephesians 2:4-6 “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

 

As I look at the cross, I am filled with wonder that God out of His great love for us sought sinners out to redeem them from punishment for their sins. None of us did anything to deserve His love but He loved us anyway and He sent Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf so that we can be spared judgment for our sins. That is how much He loved us and that is why Paul tells us that it is by grace that we have been saved.

Saving us from our sins was just the start. Once we are spared judgment, God does three things: 1) He made us alive with Christ; 2) He raised us up with Christ; 3) He seats us with Christ. We were spiritually dead in our sins but God redeemed us and made us spiritually alive by giving us the Holy Spirit – we are spiritually alive now with Christ. We have been raised up with Christ to enjoy an eternal relationship with Him, the living Son of God. We share the same inheritance that God gives to His Son, that is what seated with Christ means. All this points to the fact that when we become a Christian, we are intimately joined to the Lord Jesus. In John 15:5a, Jesus said “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Is it possible to tell where the grapevine ends and the branches begin? It is not possible because the vine seamlessly extends to all its branches. They are all joined together and form the whole plant. Once we are Christians, we are no longer individual people but new creations linked to the life of Jesus Christ.

I know someone who saw life as a struggle and she would do everything possible to try to get ahead in life even if it means stepping over other people. She would cheat, lie and borrow if she thought it would help her get an advantage. Although she tried hard to succeed, she met with disappointments and heartbreaks. She realized she could not continue the way she lived. She turned to Jesus. She humbled herself and followed Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The Lord is gracious and merciful. His Spirit has begun the life-long process of changing her to be more like Christ. She had been made alive with Christ, raised up with Christ and seated with Him.

Let us pray: Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy showered upon all who call the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Please help us all to willingly submit to the work of the Holy Spirit to mold us to be more Christ-like and for your glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Questions

  1. Why do people choose to live lives apart from God? Discuss.
  2. When and how were you raised to life with Christ? Share.
  3. How have you been changed since your conversion?
  4. How can you thank God for His grace and love shown to you?