Paul is making an illustration here that is very similar to others that he made—in which he takes an experience of Jesus Christ and shows how we go through much the same thing. Another example of this is Romans 6, in regards to baptism—how we are baptized into Christ's death and how we are raised up to a new way of life. Christ also died. Christ also was buried. Christ also was raised up. Somewhat different, but still it is a similar pattern that we are going through.
That is exactly what Paul is doing here in Ephesians 2. He is making a comparison with something that Christ has already done in reality. We are going through the same kind of thing in a tiny spiritual way. First of all, there is the communication of a new way of life. That is, we hear the gospel. Then, because of that, there is a change from a state of death caused by sin. We were dead in trespasses. Then, there is "a making alive," and then, exaltation into heavenly places.
It is obvious that this has not yet completely, literally, occurred to us, but Christians are sharing Christ's experience in their experience. I want you to notice that those words are written in the past tense. Verse 6 is very clear—"raised us up" and "made us sit together." It has already occurred. It is a spiritual transformation, already effective. Now, it is very important that you get this! It is already made effective.
Its purpose is also stated here, and that is "that in ages to come [that is yet future] He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." So, a spiritual transformation, already made effective. We are in process of being prepared to glorify God in ages to come.
Let me give you an amplified, but a more literal, translation of that phrase "that in ages to come." That is: "in ages that will pile up (or, pile themselves one upon another) in continuous succession." It is another way of saying "from age to age." It is another way of saying, "forever and ever." It is another way of saying, "from everlasting to everlasting."
Please turn with me Ephesians 2, verse 4. So what is true of us now in light of the dignity of Christ? God has allowed His people even now to share in a measure of the dignity and authority that Christ has seated at the right hand of God. We are going to read verses 4 through 10.
We will be doing good works for eternity as the bride of Christ. Verse 7 explains why God so generously demonstrates His love, so that we will be in awe for all eternity over His incredible kindness and love that will never end. It will take eternity to fully understand and appreciate God's law, if that would be even possible. But thanks to having God's Holy Spirit running through us, we will be enabled to understand. It will take eternity to completely fathom God's abundant and unending love.
So if we are faithful Christians, we are in Christ, and that means that we are considered seated with Him in the heavenly places. Wherever the Bridegroom is, the bride is also, and the standing, the dignity, and the position that belonged to Him belong to us, to her.
Speaking of the virtuous woman but also in a spiritual sense, to the bride of Christ. The moment she becomes His bride, she shares in everything with Him. Therefore, she must uphold her position, responsibilities, and dignity.
Do we uphold God's dignity in our everyday life? We certainly try but we certainly also need the Holy Spirit to help us and to empower us to be able to do that.
There is no greater insult against the Bridegroom than someone's refusal to honor His bride. But she must be worthy. Dignity is the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed. This is something we are told repeatedly.
Though we are not literally there, we are represented there in Jesus Christ. So, our Representative is there at the throne of God in our place because we cannot yet be there. But God considers us a part of that spiritual Kingdom. Are you beginning to see it very, very clearly? We are living parts of a spiritual organism to such an extent that it is as though we are in heaven, because we are in Christ. We are part of His Body.
This is all talking about Christ having struck down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and brought them into the same body, and now he is saying that His means of justification for both Jew and Gentile is the same. By grace you have been saved, whether you are a Jew or whether you are a Gentile, and you have been raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
