In Ephesians 2 Paul talks about how we all used to live in sin by obeying the ways of the world and our flesh. And then from verses 4-10 he says,
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
We were dead so Christ died, so that when Christ was raised to life we were raised to life with him. “For he (God) raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” If we are united with Christ we are seated with him where he is.
Here is my point, some people live at the cross. They make their home there and never leave. They constantly cultivate death, unworthiness, inability and shame. The cross is a transition point not a dwelling place. The cross is where you die to the old self with its old pattern of living. You die by going down in the water in baptism. You die for the explicit purpose to live. That new life is realized when you are raised out of the water.
Since we are united with Christ we are where he is. Jesus is not hanging on the cross (where we die). Jesus is not in a tomb (where the dead dwell). Jesus is on a throne with all authority and power both in heaven and earth. And we who believe are where he is. This is why Paul says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
If we live at the cross we live in death. We keep trying to die over and over. If we pass through the cross unto life then we become anew with duties and responsibilities. Meaning with new life comes new living. Our old life had patterns of thinking, feeling and acting based off incorrect beliefs and conclusions that were based off of death. With our new life there are new patterns of thinking, feeling and acting that are based off of the truth, function and the purposes of God.
If we live at the cross we will miss the life the cross gives us access to live, right here right now. We will miss the good works we were created to get into. Because those good works come from the knowledge and understanding that come from the new life we transitioned into. We need to learn how to think, feel and act as someone who is alive seated with Christ not someone who is constantly dying.