IN Ephesians 2 we find it stated in plainest terms, that, when we were dead in sins, God quickened us together with Christ. We must begin, in our meditations on the subject, in the region of death. We start from the tomb; we land in glory. God quickens out of the grave. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. That is, we were without spiritual life. Mark this carefully: we were without the least movement of spiritual life. “We were dead in sins.”
But when we were thus dead in sins, the blessed Lord lay dead for sins. At that solemn moment all were dead. The first Adam dead in sin, the last Adam dead for sin. Not a breath stirred to disturb the deep silence of death. It was as if the vessel had sunk and the waves closed over it. But now, when man could contribute nothing towards the great work, God enters the scene; but He enters it as the God of resurrection. He only can plant the pulse of life in a dead soul, “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.” But to know our blessing we must see it in Christ; so we turn to Him, and meditate on what He is in God’s sight. He died for us — forever blessed be His name! The Holy One, the spotless Lamb of God, died for us. The awful question of sin which stood against us, He answered on the cross and settled for ever. God was thus glorified, and the way opened for Him to show His love to us according to all that was in His heart. But He who had gone down under death as the judgment of God on our sins, was raised up again, and we were raised with Him.
Here God alone as the great Workman fills the scene. He is free to act, and acts towards the objects of His love in richest grace. He works, not only to meet their wants, but to glorify His own name. Sin. has been blotted out by the shed. blood of His dear Son, all His past ways have been vindicated, and His name glorified. His rich mercy and His great love characterizes the great work. Christ is brought forth from under the power of death, and we are brought forth with Him. “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.” Thus we are associated with the risen Christ by the quickening power of God, in the most real, intimate, and blessed way. We have life in union with Him who is before God as His supreme delight, and we are associated with Him in all the blessed realities of His life.
And what more, dear fellow-believer, can be said or thought of P This is the great truth of Christianity — Christ’s own life is ours. The place and privileges that belong to this life, as now seen in Christ before God, are ours. Hence it is said that we are not only quickened together, raised up together, but seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Salvation, according to this epistle, is a present reality. We are as really saved now as ever we can be. “By grace ye are saved.” Though salvation is spoken of in some of the other epistles as future, it is not less certain, but viewed as the end of our journey when we shall stand before Christ in glory; when all the trials, the difficulties, and dangers of the way shall be left behind. A.M.