RISEN WITH CHRIST

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

MARCH 20

 

Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ,

seek those things which are above,

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

 
Christ as our substitute died in our dread. He died as a public person, representing his people; and as such he rose from the dead.
 
All is people are said to have died in him, when he died, and rose with him, when he arose.
 
By virtue of this we are quickened by the Spirit of life from Christ, and we arise and ascend to him in our hopes, desires, and affections.
 
His life is put forth in us, and we are to make manifest the resurrection life of Christ in our bodies.
 
We are to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
It is also stated of all believers that he hath raised us up together, and made us sit together with Christ in the heavenlies.
 
Christ and his people are one.
 
They were represented by him when he fulfilled the law, when he made atonement, when he arose from the dead, and when he entered into the holiest of all with his own blood. They live through his death.
 
They live in union to his person.
 
They also live for his honour and glory.
 
Being risen with Christ, they should not grovel on earth; but as their head, their portion, and their life is in heaven, there their thoughts, desires, and affections should be.
 

Believing souls, whom Jesus know,

If risen indeed, with him ye are,

Superior to thy joys below,

His resurrection power declare.

 
James Smith