Raised to New Life in Christ

Ephesians 2:6 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁶and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

This verse is part of a larger passage in which the author of Ephesians is describing the way that God has saved and reconciled believers to himself through Jesus Christ. In this verse, the author is emphasizing the reality that believers have been “raised up” with Christ and that they now have a position of honor and authority in the “heavenly realms” because of their union with Christ.

Some interpret this verse as teaching that believers will someday physically ascend to heaven and take their place with Christ, while others understand it as a metaphorical way of describing the spiritual transformation that believers experience when they are reconciled to God. Regardless of how one interprets this verse, it is clear that the author is emphasizing the transformative power of God’s love and grace in the lives of believers.

“And God raised us up” – The Greek verb used here is “egeiro,” which can mean to raise up, to awaken, or to bring back to life. In this context, it is likely being used to describe the idea of being “raised up” to a new level of spiritual life and purpose.

“With Christ” – The phrase “with Christ” refers to the believer’s union with Jesus Christ through faith. In this union, believers are spiritually united with Christ and share in his death, resurrection, and life.

“And seated us with him” – The Greek verb used here is “kathizo,” which means to seat or to enthrone. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the idea of being seated with Christ in the heavenly realms or being given a position of honor and authority in the spiritual realm.

“In the heavenly realms” – The “heavenly realms” refer to the spiritual realm or the realm of God’s presence and activity. It is often associated with the idea of heaven or the dwelling place of God.

“In Christ Jesus” – The phrase “in Christ Jesus” emphasizes the believer’s union with Christ and the fact that this union is made possible through Jesus. It also serves to connect this verse with the rest of the passage, which focuses on the way that God has reconciled believers to himself through Jesus.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse continues the theme of salvation through faith in Christ introduced in Ephesians 2:4-5. It speaks of the transformation that the Ephesian believers have experienced through faith in Christ, including the fact that they have been raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places.

In the historical and cultural context of the first century, the concept of being “raised up” or “seated” with Christ would have had strong connotations of honor and authority. In the ancient world, it was common for rulers and other important figures to be “seated” or enthroned as a way of symbolizing their power and status. By using this language to describe the believers’ position in the spiritual realm, the author of Ephesians emphasizes the idea that believers have been given a position of honor and authority because of their union with Christ.

The phrase “in the heavenly realms” refers to the spiritual realm or the realm of God’s presence and activity. It is often associated with the idea of heaven or the dwelling place of God. In the cultural context of the first century, the concept of the “heavenly realms” would have been closely linked with the idea of the afterlife, and many people believed that the souls of the righteous went to the heavenly realms after they died. By using this phrase to describe the believers’ position with Christ, the author is emphasizing the idea that believers have a special place in the spiritual realm, even though they are still living on earth.

The phrase “in Christ Jesus” emphasizes the believer’s union with Christ and the fact that this union is made possible through Jesus. It also serves to connect this verse with the rest of the passage, which focuses on the way that God has reconciled believers to himself through Jesus.

Overall, this verse describes the transformative power of God’s love and grace in the lives of believers. It emphasizes the reality that believers have been raised up to a new level of spiritual life and purpose through their union with Christ and that they now have a position of honor and authority in the spiritual realm because of this union. The historical and cultural context of the first century helps to add depth and meaning to these phrases, highlighting the significance of the believers’ position with Christ in the spiritual realm.