We can’t start the Christian life without dying - to ourselves, and to the world, and to moral and ethical supervisors such as the Law of Moses. Only the person brought to a new life in Christ can live for Christ. A new beginning must be made. A new creation, a new start all over again. A new Spirit must direct the affairs of the new person.
Actually the Archbishop glossed the text he gave. He paraphrased it as “… for to God you are all alive.” That, apparently, is God’s opinion. Although in the text it seems to be talking about those who have died. Re-assuring for those of us who have died already (in once sense). That must mean God thinks his life is alive in us.
How could you tell? I suppose God would start speaking through us. He might start working through us. We find him speaking to us. It could be quite unsettling. A tussle might result from time to time. A little arm wrestle as to who was boss. Some might even shout and complain to God. Tell him to mind his own business.
The more gentle (passive) types might just fold their arms and walk away. Keep their mouths shut and their hands in their pockets.
But that is not normal. When God’s life is in us, we’ve had it. We are his. His kind love never leaves us. And his persistent power keeps on working in us and through us so that we really are alive to him.
Dale
