261. Dead and Alive
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven your all trespasses.
The truth is: You are Dead; the promise is: He has made you alive. We know we are dead in sins, if we will just admit it; our flesh has not been circumcised, for the flesh still controls thoughts, feelings, words and actions. But what we don’t know naturally, unless the Gospel tells us so, is that we have been made alive together with him since all our trespasses have been forgiven. This is a promise that needs to be believed: we are quickened. What was dead has been made alive; without sin, we are alive with Christ.
We are not yet resurrected, but we are made alive now. Resurrection refers to the resurrection of the body, which is joined together in perfect union with a pure soul. Quickening refers to the coming alive of the dead spirit. Adam and Eve were born with a live spirit within, deeper than the soul; this spirit was alive, meaning it was in constant and unfettered communication with God, the source of life and living. But the moment Adam disobeyed God his spirit died, he lost communion with God, and he tried to hide. All men since are born with a dead spirit, that is, no God and no life. The selfish soul is still alive, but it is animated with sin and rebellion and love turned inward. After Christ paid for sin on the cross those who believe in Him are made alive in the spirit; they are born again, or born from above.
This new life animates, energizes and quickens the soul, which in turn affects what the body does. Sin is forgiven, but its death-giving force still remains. Thus we have two forces working in us, flesh and spirit, sin and grace, life and death. When the life-giving spirit hears the Gospel life will gain the upper hand. Reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God through faith in Jesus Christ.