(text and audio)
Title: The 3 “Togethers”
Intro:1. A Transition of Hope
v. 4 “But God”
The end of verse three reminds us that we USED to be “just as the others…” Then comes a fantastic transition of hope with this little phrase “but God”.
Q: What is the resource?
A: That God is “rich in mercy”
Q: What, precisely, does this mean?
A: It is not just God’s abundant resource to be “rich in mercy” but even more so, it is God’s character to be rich in giving mercy.
“As they were corrupt in their nature, and sinful in their practice, they could possess no merit, nor have any claim upon God; and it required much mercy to remove so much misery, and to pardon such transgressions.” (Clarke)
Q: And WHY does he do this?
A: BECAUSE of His great love for us (v4)
Q: What is the proof of this “great love”?
A: That even when we were dead in sin, he made us alive by His grace. (v.5)
But that’s not all!
Q: What happens in the future?
A: God will raise us up, (a reference to the resurrection in John 5:28) and make us to “sit together in the heavenly places…”
Note the three “togethers” in this passage
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
I don’t think this is an accident or coincidence in Paul’s writing. He is emphasizing something hugely important.
Together, we are:
1: Made Alive (Present)
The “Walking Dead” that we talked about last week, are replaced with “Sons and Daughters of the King” who are, by definition, Ambassadors, and the living Hope for all humankind. WE BECOME THE MESSENGERS OF THE GOOD NEWS!
2: Raised Up (Future)
When the judgement comes, we are resurrected unto life. Jesus’ victory over death is now manifest in this amazing piece of evidence: That ALL who put their trust in HIM also defeat sin and do not suffer the effects of eternal death.
3: Sit Together (Eternity)
Then the really good news happens, we are not just raised up arbitrarily, but with purpose, and that purpose is to dwell in the “heavenly places” worshipping God (our original purpose before sin) forever!