IN CHRIST
A Study of Positional Truths

Let us look at another of Paul’s sweet expressions of our position in Christ. The text of Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.”

We are confronted with three connector phrases that uncover what we have because of our great salvation. The phrases are, with Christ, in Christ, and through Christ. In our text of Chapter two and verses one through three Paul paints a hopeless and helpless state for the lost sinner.  Then in verse four He begins with, “But God,” I thank the Lord for butting into my sinful life. He butted into my life with His love rich mercy and great. It was not just mercy, withholding what I do deserve, but rich mercy. The word rich has the idea of wealthy beyond degree. He has more mercy than we need. Then He butted into my life with His love. He didn’t just give love but great love.  I am reminded of John 3:16. “For God SO loved…”

This mercy and love according to verse five reached into the grave where I was dead in my sin, a corpse because of the fall.  I had no ability to come to Him.  His mercy and love quickened me.  Quickened means to raise from the dead. The word quickened is in the perfect tense. This indicates a past action guaranteeing a present result. It is an action done before it was done. So, in His world, I was raised from the deadness of my sin before it was ever done in my world.  To Him be all glory and praise for such a great salvation.

The text tells us in verse six that He raised me from the grave to the throne.  He made us to sit in heavenly places. The words quickened, raised, and sit, are all in the perfect tense. They were done in His world before they were a reality in my world. I can almost here one say, ‘that is too good to be true’. You are right, it is good and it is true.

He tells us in verse seven that in the coming ages He will shew us the riches of His grace. Grace is giving me what I don’t deserve. The word shew is to turn the pages in a continual fashion. All of eternity He will turn the pages showing us more of His grace. In the temptation, Satan told Christ, ‘bow to me and I will shew you my kingdoms’. The word shew there is a brief moment.  Satan can show all he has in a brief moment. Our Lord will take all of eternity to show us what He has.  It is all because we are in Him, with Him, and all is done for us through Him.  Thank you Lord for your divine interruption into my life.