“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS
“But God, being rich in mercy (eleos: kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted), because of His great love (agape: charity, affection, benevolence) with which He loved us, even when we were dead (nekros: breathed his last, departed, destitute of life, inanimate, inactive, inoperative, lifeless) in our transgressions (paraptoma: trespass, offence, sin, fault), made us alive together with (suzoopoieo: quicken together) with Christ [by grace (charis: that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, loving-kindness) you have been saved (sozo: made whole, healed, kept safe and sound, rescued, preserved)], and raised (sunegeiro: from mortal death to a new and blessed life dedicated to God) us up with Him, and seated us (sugkathizo: placed together) with Him in the heavenly places (epouranios: celestial, high, heavenly regions, the abode of God and angels, the heavenly temple or sanctuary) in Christ Jesus.”
SUMMARY
But God, being rich in kindness towards us, the miserable and afflicted ones - because of His great affection and love for us - even when we were completely lifeless in our sin and offence, made us alive together with Christ (by His grace that reveals within us joy, delight and loving-kindness, you have been rescued, preserved and made whole.) You have also been raised from death to a new life unto God, in Christ Jesus, and seated together with Him in the heavenly sanctuary where God and angels dwell.
MEDITATION
From my childhood when I was dragged to church services to my stint on church staff to the present day free from the attendance of traditional services (and all of the days in between) it was (and is) quite commonplace to hear Christians speak of “calling God down” to join us wherever we are. Some shout, some clamor, some believe that perhaps the more raucous we make, the more likely He is to “show up”. But what if we have it all backwards? When Christ (the Second Adam) came, He restored intimacy with the Father and tore the veil that shrouded the most holy place (literally and spiritually). Mankind from henceforth would nevermore have to stand outside of the temple and have another go in (up) on his behalf. Christ’s death and resurrection invited all to enter into the priesthood and dwell with the Almighty.
Sadly, this simple truth is not made clear to the majority. With this mindset intact, we’re led to believe that we must somehow beckon God to “descend” to receive our lowly worship, praise and adoration. My friends, God Himself sees those whose identity is found in Christ as worthy to enter into His gates and come to His throne with boldness! Today, ponder on this great mystery won’t you? The Most High God, the uncreated Creator invites you to go up! Move out of the physical limitations and boundaries of the natural realm that restrict and confine you! You are a spiritual being created in His awesome image! Explore things of the spirit as our spiritual forefathers who have gone before us have. We whose lives are in Christ are seated NOW beside Him in heavenly places. It’s time we start acting like it. We’ve settled for earthen lives for far too long.
4 comments:
Totally agree it this is a truth that is sadly not taught and too often rejected when revealed. Perhaps it is too hard to believe the forgiveness that allows us to run boldly to the throne? I tried sharing this with a friend the other day and they began to weep. The enemy causes us to see ourselves as unworthy and wearing robes stained with our failures and sins - but God sees the finished work when we have appropriated Christ's blood to our lives. He doesn't have to come down to meet me - He is with me at all times. I can not say how thankful I am that God has provided liberty to me in this area - it truly provides the joy that is unthinkable and full of glory.
Susan
Susan: You said, "The enemy causes us to see ourselves as unworthy and wearing robes stained with our failures and sins - but God sees the finished work when we have appropriated Christ's blood to our lives."
Boy is that a mouthful! If we're kept unworthy in mind, we're kept out, it's that simple. That's why people need to grasp that this type of discussion isn't some mystical error rooted in new age or something. We're spiritual beings created to live spiritual lives. Until we're willing to move out of these physical restraints, we'll remain bound and shackled to this mortal flesh.
I too am thankful that for some reason my eyes were opened to see the reality that is this parallel dimension of the spirit. Knowing what I know now, I'd hate to live with eyes to only see the temporal, earthly side of everything.
What a life to be lived!
Joel, You said "Some shout, some clamor, some believe that perhaps the more raucous we make, the more likely He is to “show up”. But what if we have it all backwards?"
I remember reading where someone had written "all we have to do is think about Him and He is here". That had proved so true with me over the years. What an absolute privilege to enter the Holy of Holies. Do you know what blows my mind? The fact that our hope is anchored in the very Holy of Holies - Hebrews 6 v 19 "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil."
How much more secure could we be?
Wow - AWESOME
Glad to see you're back here again!!
Joel,
Just had to add this from a writing by Glenn H Jackson:
"We are forever aware of how painfully slow we travel on our journey towards spiritual maturity. The desire is in our hearts to know and walk with God but the detaining influences within our own hearts and in the world about us contrive to hold us back. And, so, we cry to Him, our Heavenly Bridegroom, "Make haste, and come to me"! Let us be encouraged when we realize how slowly we move toward Him, for in response to our desire He is able to move swiftly toward us! There is nothing to prevent Him coming to us in the place of devotion [the "inner chamber"] except our failure to seek His companionship. We may experience the sweetness of communing with Him to the degree that we wait upon Him in prayer and adoration."
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