Ephesians 2:1 may at first seem harmless enough, but when we arrive at verse 5

and read `hath quickened us together with Christ', we perceive that the omission

of the words `together with Christ' is serious -- indeed fatal to the

understanding of the teaching awaiting us.  The quickening, the raising and the

seating, now to be described, find their power and their glory in the fact that

they are `together with Christ', and we must school ourselves so that we do not

slip into speaking of them apart from this great fellowship and gracious oneness

`with Christ'.

Suzoopoieo is of rare occurrence, being found only in Ephesians 2:5 and

Colossians 2:13.  It is exclusive to the teaching of the Mystery.  Elsewhere we

read zoopoieo `to quicken, or make alive', but without the preposition sun

`together with'.  This great doctrine is built upon the foundation already laid

in Paul's earlier ministry, where the word translated `quicken' is found seven

times in the epistles written before Acts 28, and once after.  Abraham, when he

believed the promise recorded in Genesis 15, did not simply believe God; he

believed `God, who quickeneth the dead' (Rom. 4:17).  This is the faith that

This `quickening' is also related to actual and physical resurrection as 1

Corinthians 15:22,36 and 45 will show.  While literal and future resurrection

will be indeed `a making alive', the believer is able by grace to anticipate

that day, for `He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your

mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in you' (Rom. 8:11).  This great

blessing belongs to gospel grace; the law could neither provide righteousness

nor life (Gal. 3:21; 2 Cor. 3:6).  If a number of believers were asked to

complete the series which commences with `crucified with Christ', `dying with

Christ', `buried with Christ', the majority would continue `raised with Christ',

omitting the intervening and present blessing `quickened with Christ'.  The

seven associations of the believer with his Lord are as follows:

A

The Cross.  Crucified with Christ.

B

The Death.  Dead with Christ.

C  The Burial.  Buried with Christ.

D  The present experience, quickened with Christ.

C  The Resurrection. Raised with Christ.

B

The Ascension.  Seated with Christ.

A

The Glory.  Manifested with Christ.

If now we turn to the passages that supply these texts, we shall find that

in most of them `life', `living unto God' or `living in the flesh', is in the

context.  `I am crucified with Christ' wrote the apostle to the Galatians, but

these words are immediately followed by `nevertheless I live' (Gal. 2:20).  `If

we be dead with Christ' found in Romans 6:8 is immediately followed by `we

believe that we shall also live with Him'.  The statements of Romans 6:3-5 `ye

... were baptized into His death', `buried with Him by baptism into death', `the

likeness of His death', are followed at once by `the likeness of His

Not only so, but if we retrace our steps and return again to Galatians 2,

we shall find the present `quickening' there too.  Paul does not say `I have

been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in