January 28

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, — Eph 2:6 BSB

There’s a distinction between being quickened together with Christ and being raised up together with Him. Isn’t this true in the experience of God’s people? To be quickened into divine life, to be convicted of sin, and to have the fear of God planted deep in the soul is the beginning of grace. But this is not the same as deliverance—it’s not the same as being raised up out of darkness, doubt, guilt, and fear. It’s not yet the knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection. It’s not yet the full coming out of the dark tomb into the glorious light of day.

But here’s the blessing of being united with Christ: just as we partake in His quickening, we also partake in His being raised up. God doesn’t quicken a soul into divine life only to leave it in the tomb of doubt, guilt, and fear. Christ’s resurrection not only assures us of the spiritual resurrection of His body, but also of our own. Liberty, the freedom of the gospel, deliverance from doubt and fear, the manifestation of pardon and peace, and the shedding of God’s love in the heart—these blessings are as certain for Christ’s members as their initial quickening into spiritual life. Both are equally assured to them in Christ, their covenant Head.