Alive, Raised, and Seated
Too many times Christians make the mistake of looking at themselves through their own eyes and not the eyes of God. Feelings of guilt, shame, and unworthiness will destroy a believer’s confidence before the Lord. Remember it is what God has done for us through Christ that provides the victory. Let’s take God’s view and look at our redeemed lives as He does.
The Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but it is Christ that lives in me…” (NIV) Did Paul actually get nailed to a cross and die next to Jesus? No he didn’t. How could Paul say that he was crucified with Christ? The answer is this: When Jesus, our representative, was hanging on the cross God legally saw it as if we all were being crucified. That happens in the legal system in our country. You can “go to court” without even being there. If your lawyer appears in court for you then the legal system views it as if you were actually there. The same is true with Christ and the Heavenly Father. As far as God is concerned you were crucified with Jesus.
You were more than crucified with Jesus. In the mind of God you came alive with Him as well. Ephesians 2:5-6 says, “Even when you were dead in sins (God) has made us ALIVE together with Christ…and has RAISED us up together and made us SIT together in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus.” When Christ came alive you came alive in the same life He did. All the life that is in Christ is in the believer as well. Then it goes on to say that you raised with Christ. In God’s legal mind you walked out of that resurrection tomb with Jesus on that first Passover Sunday. Then it goes on to say that you sat down with Jesus on His throne at the right hand of the Father with Him! That’s how God looks at the Christian! Crucified, buried, alive, raised, and seated on Christ’s throne! That right there is the cure for the common life! Life does not have to be ordinary; it can be lived from the viewpoint of Christ’s throne!
What does it mean to be ALIVE with Christ? It means that the sin nature of humanity is dead, buried, and gone. (Rom 6:2) But what if we don’t live that way? If we don’t live that way then we are forfeiting a life filled with power and victory that legally belongs to us. Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise reckon yourselves dead indeed to sin but ALIVE to God through Christ.” The word “reckon” means “come to a final conclusion.” The Christian that keeps living in sin has never come to the conclusion that sin was buried in the grave with Jesus never to be revived in their life again. When you have come to a mental conclusion that you are seated with Christ you will not continue to yield to the same old life.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
