Instantiation of the Christ-Life

2021-09-27

It is not enough that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated and enthroned at the right hand of the Father.

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: (Ephesians 2:5-6)

Because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He also has the power to raise us with Him. Though the bodily resurrection is yet future (2 Timothy 2:18), we are already spiritually resurrected with Him. “If ye then be risen with Christ... For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1, 3). Always note the verb tenses.

This is an objective truth. The ascension and enthronement with Christ are the possession and position of every born-again believer. But how does this become practical in our everyday lives? The Spirit applies this objective truth to our subjective situation.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-15)

The Holy Spirit takes of the risen Christ-life and makes it available to us in a very practical sense. At the hour we first believe, we have access to everything that is His, but we are slow to learn how to appropriate it. The Spirit has instantiated a new instance of the Christ-life in us, here on earth.

However, we “feel” the same, and do not realize that we are radically new in Christ. The flesh lies and tells us that we are the same. The flesh may be the same, but spiritually, we are made new. The old man has gone; the new man has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Yet, we spin our wheels to try to turn from sin and to live for Christ. But all is from the old man, which is a repository of nothing but dead works. The old man’s voice echoes from the grave, and we obey it! But “God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:26). It is the resurrection life that turns us from sin daily. It is appropriated by faith, just like eternal life was appropriated when we first believed. It is the Christ-life that will make the difference in our daily lives.