We all know the resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of Christianity. But here’s the thing—Paul says something almost shocking in Colossians 2:12:
“In which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
Did you catch that? Paul isn’t only talking about the future resurrection when our bodies will be raised at the last day. He’s saying something has already happened. You and I have already been raised—with Christ. Let’s slow down and unpack what that means.
The Greek Word Behind “Raised With Him”
The little phrase “raised with Him” comes from one Greek word: συνηγέρθητε (synegerthēte). Don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize it, but here’s why it matters:
- Aorist – This tells us it’s a past, completed action. It already happened.
- Passive – It’s something God did to us, not something we did for ourselves.
- Indicative – It’s a statement of fact, not a wish or a possibility.
So Paul is saying: “You were raised—with Christ—already.” Not “you might be raised,” not “try to raise yourself,” but a done deal.
That’s huge. Spiritually, we’re not just waiting for resurrection someday—we’re already living in it.
God’s Power Makes It Happen
Paul anchors all of this in what he calls “the working of God”—in Greek, ἐν τῇ ἐνεργείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ (en tē energeia tou Theou).
That word “working” is where we get our English word energy. It’s not about human effort; it’s God’s active, unstoppable power.
He uses the same word in Ephesians 1:19–20:
“…the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.”
Think about that: the exact same power that reached into the tomb and reversed death in Jesus’ body is now at work in you.
Living in Resurrection Power
Okay, so this is where it gets practical. If we’ve already been raised with Christ spiritually, what does that mean for everyday life?
- We walk in newness of life. Paul says in Romans 6:4 that we’ve been buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in a whole new way of living. That means sin doesn’t have the last word anymore.
- We fight from victory, not for it. We’re not trying to earn life with God—we already have it. That changes how we approach struggles. We live out of resurrection power, not human striving.
- We have hope for the future. Romans 8:11 reminds us that the same Spirit who raised Jesus will also raise our mortal bodies. Our spiritual resurrection today is the guarantee of our physical resurrection tomorrow.
The Resurrection Power in You
Here’s the part that blows me away: the power that put breath back into Jesus’ lungs, that beat death itself, is the same power pulsing through every believer right now.
- It transforms your heart.
- It breaks the grip of sin.
- It gives strength for ordinary obedience.
- And it guarantees that death isn’t the end of your story.
When life feels overwhelming, this truth anchors us: God’s resurrection power is not just a future promise—it’s a present reality.
Final Thoughts
Colossians 2:12 isn’t just theology for scholars; it’s hope for daily life. If you’re in Christ, you’ve already been raised. You’re not stuck in the old life—you’re living in resurrection power.
So the next time you feel weak, discouraged, or defeated, remind yourself: The same God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me. That changes everything.
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