Dear Partner,

Did you know that leading someone to Christ is just as supernatural as raising the dead? The reason is because when a person is born again, they are literally "quickened to new life."

Eph 2:4-6   But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

The root of the Greek word translated "quickened" in that verse means: "to make alive, to give life." Jesus was quickened, raised up from the dead, when He rose again on the third day after the cross. Most people think Jesus was only raised up from physical death. But the bible is very clear when it states that Jesus was raised up from spiritual death.

Col 1:18   And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

That verse cannot be speaking of Jesus being the first to be raised from physical death. Lazarus had already been raised from physical death. The widow of Nain's son had already been raised from physical death. Several people in the Old Testament had been raised from physical death. But nobody before Christ was ever raised from spiritual death. The type and shadow of Christ's death was shown clearly in Pharaoh's court. Aaron's rod became a serpent that swallowed up the other serpents. That rod was a type and shadow of the cross where Christ was made to be sin, so that he could take all of our sin upon Himself. He became sin with our sin, in order that we could become righteous with His righteousness.

2Co 5:21   For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Now back to our verses in Ephesians; We can now understand better that at the resurrection of Christ from the dead, it is talking about Him being raised from spiritual death. He was quickened to new life. Notice in Ephesians 2:5 the bible says we were "quickened together with Christ." He was quickened to new life. We were quickened to new life. While preaching recently these words came out of my mouth by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, "We were no less quickened to new life than Christ." What? My intellect balked for a moment at that statement. What? We have received the same measure of "new life" as Christ?

Rom 6:4   Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

At the time of our conversion, our old nature was crucified with Christ. At that same moment our spirit man was "quickened to new life" in no less measure than Christ was raised from the dead by God the Father. That's why the bible says that any person in Christ is a "new creature."

2Co 5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Most of the preaching I have heard in my life said things like, "You are just an old sinner saved by grace." If that is so … then 2 Cor 5:17 would have to read something like this: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is the same old creature … only forgiven now." That's not what it says! Born again believers are NOT the same old creatures we were before. We have been literally raised from the dead in our spirit. There is a new man on the inside of us that was created instantly in righteousness and true holiness.

Eph 4:23-24   And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Notice how that verse is translated in the Amplified bible:

Eph 4:24   And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. AMPLIFIED

Three times in Genesis it is stated that the first man Adam was created "in the image of God." That's what Adam's spirit looked like before the fall. He was made in the image of God. Born again believers have been spawned (spiritually) from the last man Adam … Jesus Christ. When a person gets saved it is like Genesis all over again. Once more they are created "in the image of God." Not physically, but spiritually, they have God's nature once more.

1Co 15:45   Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. AMPLIFIED

You are a supernatural being. You have already been raised to new life from the dead species of man. No wonder the bible calls you a "light" shining in "darkness." Yes, you were an old sinner, but you have been saved by grace, and now you are a new creature … created in righteousness and true holiness at your core (your spirit.)

Sue and I love you and appreciate you.   We thank God for your generous and giving heart.   God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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