Our Position in Christ: Seated with Him

Greetings,

Welcome. Glad you are here. As the apostle Paul would say, “To all who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

May everything good from God be yours! May each and everyone be established and abound in the rest provided by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want you to know how much deeply you are loved by God and how wondrous is His plan and purpose for your life. You are called with a holy calling.

2 Timothy 1:8–10 (NASB) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Let us Make Our Way Through the Cross and take the seat God predestined for us

We have been spared the punishment for sin as Jesus Christ, Yeshua our Messiah became the Passover lamb, who took the sin of mankind upon Himself, become the sacrifice according to the Law of God. In this He is our Savior. We are saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^, He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

But Wait There’s More

Father God created the physical realm. (Genesis 1) When the Father’s work was completed He sat down. (Genesis 2) The Son descended into the earth realm for the purpose of redeeming mankind. When the Son’s work was completed, He returned, ascending to heaven and sat down along with the Father.

Ephesians 1:20 (NASB) which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

The Work Continues

Since the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit was sent into the earth realm to continue God’s work. The finished work achieved through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ made it possible for mankind to receive Holy Spirit.

John 14:16–17 (TPT) And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Savior¹, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you. The world won’t receive him because they can’t see him or know him. But you will know him intimately, because he will make his home in you and will live inside you.²

Paráklētos

The word Jesus used to describe Holy Spirit is paráklētos. παράκλητος, meaning: called to one’s aid, in a court of justice: as substantive, legal assistant, advocate. Parakletos can be translated as ‘defense attorney.’ Parakletos can also mean summoned, or intercessor. It is used of Holy Spirit in John 14:16. and of Jesus in 1 John 2:1.

This is the era of Holy Spirit’s active earthly ministry

Just as the Father sent Jesus to do His will in the earth, He sent Holy Spirit to continue the work. The Father created the physical earthly realm. He created mankind to dwell in the earth. Father’s intention was always to partner with mankind. He commissioned mankind (Adam) to maintain and expand the kingdom of God aka the Garden of Eden.

However, God knew from before the beginning that the earthly man Adam, could not fulfill the commission. While man was made in the image of God, he was not God.

According to Revelation 13:8 Jesus, is the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. This indicates that God planned this sacrifice before the world was even created, meaning Jesus’ death was already planned from the start.

John 3:13 (NASB) No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

This further implies that it was predestined that Holy Spirit was to continue the work of the Advocate/Intercessor on behalf of mankind in the earth realm.

Ephesians 1:3–14 (NASB) ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. ¹¹ In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Predestined for Heavenly Places

We are currently in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit’s work is to lead and guide into truth by dwelling within the believer. Yet there is an aspect of our identity as Believers that some of us may not have considered attainable this side of our eternal future. We are actually currently seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:4–10 (NASB) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

As God’s holy saints, fellow heirs with Christ, the first installment of our inheritance (Holy Spirit) and our position in Christ has already been secured. Positionally, the Father and Jesus are seated in heaven. Jesus secured this position when He ascended. He has prepared a place for us.

I’ve heard a number of academic approaches this subject. What I know doesn’t come from having studied the word to come up with some kind of scholarly concept. What I know was birthed out of spiritual experience that I studied out later in the word of God.

The seat of the bride

I had a spiritual experience in which I was taken into a spiritual realm, a heavenly place, in which I was seated on a throne to the right of our Savior and Lord Jesus. In the experience, I understood that it was the seat of His bride and that collectively we make up the bride of Christ. The knowledge that this place was not only accessible in some future hereafter, it was totally accessible now.

The understanding of what was attainable due to this heavenly position went deep into my spirit.

I understood in that holy environment that to allow any feeling of unworthiness would dishonor God by not accepting what Jesus’ sacrifice had secured on my behalf. This was the intention from the beginning. It was so that we could be seated with Him that He went to the cross. For many of us we stop at redemption. God’s intention is for us to go all the way. Yes, we come to the cross. We start there. But just as Jesus’ work wasn’t fulfilled until He ascended neither is ours. We go through the cross to the throne.

In that heavenly realm our human perspective is altered. We gain revelatory insight we could not have acquired through book learning. When we are taken into heavenly realms we are not just seeing things differently, we are experiencing the things of the Spirit in a very tangible way.

Seated with Christ

Ephesians 2:6 (NLT) 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.

The profound truth articulated in Ephesians 2:6 is not just a metaphorical association but a sharing in His authority and victory over sin and death, which invites believers into a deeper understanding of their identity in Christ.

This powerful connection underscores that through faith, we are not only forgiven but also empowered to live in the light of His resurrection, transforming our lives and enabling us to overcome struggles. As we embrace this truth, we find ourselves aligning with His divine purpose, experiencing the fullness of life He promises, and participating actively in His kingdom work on Earth.

By recognizing our elevated position in Him, we are spiritually repositioned. We become empowered to navigate life’s challenges with courage and hope. We see things differently. We see them from a heavenly (eternal) perspective. This paradigm shift alters how we see the world around us. how we engage. Eternal perspective alters how we live.

It underscores the reality that we dwell in the realm of grace and favor in a very real and tangible way. This heavenly seating reminds us that our identity and purpose are rooted in Christ. From this position we are empowered to live out our faith with confidence and assurance, knowing without a doubt that we are co-heirs with Him, destined for eternity in His presence.

From this place of communion and fellowship we not only reflect His glory, we are changed by it.

More will Come Later

One day we receive a spiritual body. Until that time, we have access to heavenly places by way of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:42–49 (NASB) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written: “The first man, Adam, became a living Person.” The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

We come to the cross for salvation. We go further, to receive the promise

Hebrews 10:19–25 (MSG) So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Let us consider

From our seated position in Christ we already have the victory. We have overcome because He overcame. Christ’s overcoming is how our position was acquired. But our life in Christ isn’t limited to overcoming evil. It’s about extending the Kingdom of God in the earth. We have a mandate that can only be accomplished from this seated position.

As Christ believers, we carry a divine mandate to extend the Kingdom of God on Earth, a calling rooted in the Great Commission, yet encompassing so much more. This mandate urges us to not only reflect His character but doing so while actively following the leading of Holy Spirit to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth.

This means as ambassadors we are living Tabernacles carrying His grace and glory. Being the dwelling place of God in the earth fosters the manifestation of God’s heavenly domain. As a result others are affected and the invitation is granted to others to come into the very presence of God. This expands the kingdom of heaven in the earth.

By living out our faith from our seated position in Christ with authenticity and boldness, we create opportunities for the Kingdom to manifest in everyday life. We can then declare like Christ, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” This fulfills our earthly commission, the purpose for which we were called as co-heirs in His eternal Kingdom.

There Will Be A Future Rest

Hebrews 4:8–11 (NASB) For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (NASB) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

Yes, there is a future aspect of our being seated with Christ. That comes with the new heaven and the new earth. When our work here in the earth realm is complete. Until then the Spirit and the Bride will continue to work together to further the kingdom in the here and now.

In conclusion, as we embrace our identity and position in Christ, let us be reminded of the profound truth that we are not only called to salvation but also to actively participate in the expansion of His Kingdom on Earth. Through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, we carry His grace and glory, inviting others into the transformative love of God. With our eyes fixed on the eternal perspective, we move forward confidently, knowing that we are co-heirs with Christ, destined to reflect His light and truth in every aspect of our lives. Together, we can make a difference, living as ambassadors of His Kingdom and bringing hope to a world that so desperately needs it.

1. Simmons, Brian, trans. The Passion Translation. BroadStreet Publishing, 2017.[Footnote taken directly from The Passion Translation] The translator has chosen the word Savior, for it depicts the role of the Holy Spirit to protect, defend, and save us from our self and our enemies and keep us whole and healed. He is the One who guides and defends, comforts and consoles. ↩︎
2. Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®
   Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC.
   Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com. ↩︎