I See Resurrected People
In the movie The Sixth Sense, young Cole Sear (played by Haley Joel Osment) tells Bruce Willis’ character (Malcolm Crowe), “I see dead people.” Cole is cursed with the “ability” to see dead people.
In our Christian life, we’re often “cursed” with the wrong perception that makes us think we are dead people.
In our ministry to one another as spiritual friends and biblical counselors, we’re often “cursed” with the wrong perception that makes us think that our fellow Christians are dead people.
Our New Life in Christ
When we fail to understand salvation by grace through faith, then we end up counseling Christians as if they were non-Christians. As if they were still spiritually dead people.
When we fail to apply our salvation by grace through faith, then we end up reentering our old, dead life of bondage, law, and works. Paul calls this “Anathema!” (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-5; 5:1-7).
Salvation is the broad term for new life through regeneration, reconciliation, redemption, and justification. Through regeneration, Christ instantaneously imparts new spiritual, eternal life.
In Christ, we are no longer spiritually dead people. We are spiritually resurrected people.
When you look at yourself, do you see a dead person, or do you see a spiritually resurrected person?
When you look at other Christians, do you see a dead people, or do you see people resurrected with Christ?
Paul Sees Resurrected People 
Why is this so vital? Why start with theological truths about who we are in Christ? Why not “cut to the chase,” and teach how to practice biblical counseling? Why focus on our salvation before describing the process of sanctification?
Christian growth in sanctification demands an understanding of Christian justification by grace through faith. Counseling Christians requires an awareness and application of who Christians are in Christ by grace.
The Apostle Paul precedes the Christian living section of his letters with content about the nature of the Christian life. First he tells us who we are in Christ (Romans 6:1-10), then he tells us, based on that awareness, to “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Paul sees resurrected people.
Regeneration: Your New Life in Christ
The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus robes us in the gown of regeneration. Wearing our robe of Christ’s righteousness, we can shamelessly enter the Holy of Holies, standing confidently before our Father (Hebrews 10:19-23). On the basis of our new nature in Christ, we encourage one another to live godly lives today (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Peter exhorts us to consider the radical change that takes place the instant Jesus saves us.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“Who Am I?”: “I’m a New Creation in Christ.”
Had Adam and Eve been asked, “Who are you?” they would have replied, “We are image bearers.”
Their fallen descendants received an entirely different “self-image.” In answer to the question, “Who am I?” the honest sinner must respond, “I am a fallen image bearer.”
How tragically sin corrupted the core self. Made to reflect Deity, we no longer even adequately reflect humanity. Created with dignity, depravity permeates our fallen existence. The fallen human personality structure is perverted and polluted, sickened by original sin. The cracked, marred mirror that is the human psyche now deflects away from God. No one looking upon the fallen human soul could guess the glorious nature of God.
How majestically salvation purifies the core self. Modeling our gown of regeneration, we stride down the aisle showing off not our beauty, but the genius of the One who designed our gown. We display Christ’s nature. “The first duty of the Christian,” wrote John Calvin, “is to make the invisible kingdom visible.” God regenerates us to display His reputation.
When asked, “Who are you?” the Christian can respond, “I’m a new creation in Christ. Because Christ made me new, because I’m His opus, He gets the credit, the glory. Yet I reap present and eternal benefits. I’m delivered from a sinner’s depraved self-image to a saint’s dignified Christ-image. I gain Christ-esteem.”
Christian, do you know that the old you is dead? Crucified with Christ (Romans 6)?
Christian, do you understand that God created the new you to be like Jesus in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24)?
In Christ, you are the exact opposite of the person you used to be. That’s good news. The good news! Gospel news! News that glorifies God and benefits you. Don’t deny it. Enjoy it.
The Rest of the Story
In our next post in this blog mini-series about seeing resurrected people, we’ll explore and apply to our lives and ministries the biblical truth of our new nature. We are saints and God empowers us to live like it.
Join the Conversation
Who do you see when you look at yourself as a Christian—a dead person or a resurrected person?
In your life and ministry, what difference could it make if you saw Christians as resurrected people?
Note: I’m developing this blog mini-series from my book Soul Physicians. To learn more about how to live out your new life in Christ, and how to help others to do so also, visit the Soul Physicians home page.
RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
