ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM…” – Colossians 2:13a

The Believer’s Divine Identity is connected TOGETHER WITH CHRIST: “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col.2:13). The central theme of Colossians is the Supremacy of Christ. Paul, while responding to heresies that were trying to creep into the Church, encouraged the brethren to WALK IN CHRIST, “rooted and built up IN HIM and established in the faith” (vv.6-7). It is only in Christ that “their hearts may be encouraged, being knit TOGETHER in love” (v.2). He therefore warned them against any human philosophy or tradition, which though may sound good and seem harmless, will only result in emptiness (v.8). Line-upon-line, the apostle reiterated the truth of the believer’s identification WITH Christ and IN Christ.

Verse 9 says: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” This speaks unequivocally of Christ’s Divinity.

Verse 10 says: “And you are complete IN HIM, who is the head of all principality and power.” This means that Christ’s spiritual DNA is replicated in every true believer. We are “complete” in Him!

Verses 11 and 12 speak of our being “circumcised” in Him; “buried with Him in baptism”; and “raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” All of those steps preceded the ultimate, which is being “made alive together with Him” (v.13). The word “together” in this verse further reinforces the believer’s identification with Christ.

In Ephesians 2:5-6, Paul used this same word – “together” – thrice: “even when we were dead in trespasses, made us ALIVE TOGETHER with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and RAISED us up TOGETHER, and made us SIT together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Through His death and resurrection, He made us alive together with Him; raised us up, lifted and elevated together with Him; and made us sit in dominion together with Him. God wants our faith and experience to be built on this tremendous truth of Identification. Christ “died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM” (1The.5:10). He came to live in us and joined Himself to us, to make us one with Him.

Christ is “the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and KNIT TOGETHER by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (v.19). Our Father’s divine design is that we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and KNIT TOGETHER by what every joint supplies…” (Eph.4:15-16a). We can live harmoniously with one another, “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being FITTED TOGETHER, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being BUILT TOGETHER for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph.2:20b-22). We are Stewards of His Grace – “WORKERS TOGETHER with Him” (2Cor.6:1a).

Our togetherness is primarily with Christ, but also with one-another: “For where two or three are gathered TOGETHER in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt.18:20). It was in togetherness that the apostle’s manifested dominion over demons and diseases: “Then He called His twelve disciples TOGETHER, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases” (Lk.9:1). Togetherness often triggered the release of divine Power: “And being assembled TOGETHER with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said “you have heard from Me” (Acts 1:4).

God’s Perfect Plan for all His children – across generations, locations, and backgrounds – is to live harmoniously TOGETHER on earth and ultimately in heaven. Caiaphas, the high priest prophesied that Jesus would not only die for Israel, “but also that He would GATHER TOGETHER in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (Jh.11:52). The liberating Truth is that we’re alive and lifted TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, in love-relationship with the Father and His Family!