What does it mean to be dead in Christ

One of my favorite scriptures is Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Before Christ was risen from the dead, death rained from Adam until that time.  Death was brought on by the sin of Adam, and passed down to all who came after Adam.  No one could escape it.  Even though we were alive in our bodies, we were nothing more than the walking dead.  We had lost fellowship with God our creator, and sin now controlled us.  Paul tell us in Romans 1-4  1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

According to verse 4 Christ obtained the full title of being the Son of God with power, when he was resurrected from the dead.  And how was he resurrected from the dead?  He was born of a virgin, and his father was God the father, so Christ had no sin in his veins.  He never gave in to the temptations of Satan, and lived a holy and sinless life.  Therefore, when he was crucified, the Holy Spirit of God was able to raise him up from the dead.  The very same Holy Spirit that now dwells in all those who call themselves part of Christ’s Body.

Ephesians 1: 19 – 2:1  19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23) Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.  2:1 And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Paul makes it plain, that it’s not through any works we do that we can attain this great salvation, but through our simply believing in him.  Christ did all the works for us, when he fulfilled the law and died upon the cross.  All we have to do is believe and God will send us the Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.  That Holy Spirit of God will be our law, and teach us to walk accordingly through wisdom obtain from the word.

Romans 8: 10 – 11  10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  When we believe in Jesus Christ, God imparts Christ righteousness on us.  So now, we too can boldly proclaim:  I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ that dwelleth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.