Answer
The Bible teaches that all Christians receive new life in Jesus Christ (see Galatians 2:20). Christ lives in us, and we are alive in Him. Jesus is the center of our existence. We already share in His resurrection life because believers are “in Christ” spiritually. We died with Him when He died and are raised with Christ through His resurrection: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. . . . For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1–3). Knowing we are raised with Christ should give us a heavenly perspective.
In Colossians 3:1, the apostle Paul states that believers “have been raised with Christ” as part of his argument against false teachers’ claims that salvation was based on following rules and regulations. In the previous chapter, Paul urged the Colossians not to let anyone condemn them for what they ate or drank or for not honoring legalistic religious observances (see Colossians 2:16–23). As Christians, we are dead to outward rituals and religious formalities because of our union with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The believer does not tap into the life and the power of Jesus through external rule-following but through a spiritual union with Christ. We come into an intimate, living relationship with Jesus that radically transforms our outlook, motivation, and entire being from the inside out (John 1:12; 7:38; 15:1–8; Romans 6:4; 7:6; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:4–5; 4:20–24).
Paul speaks of Christians being raised with Christ as a past, present, and future certainty: “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was” (Romans 6:4–5, NLT; see also 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Earlier, Paul told the Colossians, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12, NLT).
Being raised with Christ is the believer’s past reality. Through believer’s baptism, we were raised (past tense) with Christ. We were identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. In a spiritual sense, we were positioned or placed “in Christ” when He resurrected from the dead.
Being raised with Christ is the believer’s present truth. Now, because we are raised (present tense) with Christ, we are alive to God and filled with His power to live in ways that are pleasing to the Lord (Romans 12:1–2; 14:17–18; Colossians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:1–3). In Colossians 3, Paul stresses the importance of our relationship with Jesus. We can better live godly lives when we understand our identity in Christ. Our new life in Jesus empowers us to live each day with our eyes on the realities of heaven where Christ is seated with the Father (see Colossians 3:1–4). We seek His kingdom and righteousness first and set our hearts and minds on things above (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:8–9).
Because we are raised with Christ, everything that happens to us here on earth is framed within the context of eternity. Our new life in Christ impacts our perspective and invades every experience of our earthly journey, which is only temporary (Acts 14:22; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18; 5:4–7).
Being raised with Christ is the believer’s future hope. When Christ returns, every believer will be raised (future tense) from the dead and will receive a glorious new heavenly body that is imperishable and immortal (John 11:25–26; 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, 51–53; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Colossians 3:4).
In Ephesians 2:1–10, Paul expounds on the extraordinary goodness of God toward those He has saved and raised with Christ. In His rich love and mercy, God transformed our dead and disobedient hearts and gave us new life when He raised Christ from the dead (verses 1–5). “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. . . . For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (verses 6–10, NLT).
