"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 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, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:1-7
I heard someone say something that took me aback - made my "little grey cells" (as Hercule Poroit, Agatha Christie's detective would say) come to life. So what was it? They said, "God does not see us as dead or alive - He just sees us alive." [in Christ]
I wondered, at first - "Is there Biblical proof that statement is true?" My second thought was - "What are the implications for how I live my life?"
First. According to Ephesians, God saw us as dead - Spiritually before we were born again. Spiritual is superior to natural. Most of us don't think of it like that. We see everything through the lens of our natural existence - our five senses. Not God!
" .. making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling. " - Ephesians 1: 16-17
Paul prayed that the Saints "eyes of understanding would be enlightened." That they would understand the world, heaven, and their very lives in the same way that God does. Spiritual understanding is like a Sixth Sense that is denied to those who are not born again. God is not nearly as concerned about our natural lives as He is about our spiritual - eternal lives. What!!!! What are you most concerned about every day? You might know about the importance of our spiritual nature, but do you understand it? Do you embrace it. Do you live, make life choices, and react to every day circumstances in that understanding?
Second point. When a lost person dies a physical death, they are dead both physically and spiritually. God saw them as dead spiritually before and still sees them as dead spiritually after their physical death. (When a person is spiritually dead, they are eternally separated from God and bound for hell.) When a saved person dies a physical death, they are dead physically but alive spiritually. God sees them as alive before and after their physical death. When a Christian dies - it does not matter at what their physical age is, God sees them as alive. We see them as dead and therefore no longer part of the physically living. We mourn their loss because they are no longer part of our physical existence - five senses. I think what I hear often from Christians "We will see them again in heaven." is more of a hope than a fact in our minds - clouded by the pain of the physical loss. But it is true, all the same.
"according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:20-21
Obviously, Paul got it. He was not cavalier about his natural life and its frailty. But he understood his physical life in the context of the Spiritual. I would like to think I am there with Paul. How about you?
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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