The gospel brings new life to men and women, who lived in death and darkness until they came to faith. The NT emphasis upon “being made alive in Christ” is closely linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Being made alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:4–6 See also Ezekiel 37:1–14
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Crossing over from death to life
John 5:24–26 See also Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 15:17; Colossians 2:13
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
Believers continue to live by the power of the risen Christ
Philippians 4:13 See also 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:10
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Results of being made alive in Christ
Spiritual desires
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Spiritual assurance
Colossians 3:3–4 See also John 5:24
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Spiritual appetite
1 Peter 2:1–3 See also John 3:3, John 3:6
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Commitment to God
Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Love for fellow believers
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
Spiritual character
Romans 7:4 See also Galatians 5:22–23
Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.