Ephesians 2 - What Does It Mean "You Are Seated in the Heavenly Realms?"

Ephesians 2 - NIV 

Enduring Word Commentary

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Usually I focus on verses 8 and 9 in Epheisans 2, which are two famous verses in the New Testament. But today I want to look at verses 4 through 6. I especially want to zero in on the three phrases: "made us alive in Christ", "raised us up in Christ", and "seated us with him". 

Notice two things right away. Yesterday, the focus was what God had done for us, not what we did for God. The direction is always God coming down from heaven to earth. We see this in the three phrases above. It is God who did all these things "for us". Paul says in Romans, "If God is for us who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Maybe you need to hear today that "God is FOR YOU!"

Second, notice all of the phrases say "in Christ". All of these blessings God bestows on us are a result of our union with Christ. Simply put, when we put our trust in Christ, you are a new Creation in Christ. The old is gone and the new has come. Christ lives in you by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to give the Holy Spirit to the disciples 50 days after he ascended into heaven. We see what happened as a result of their receiving Holy Spirit. Since Christ is in you, spend time with him.  

Finally, you see the time frame of God's work in us. We were once dead in our trespasses. We are now alive with Christ. We are now raised up with Christ in the heavenly realm. In the coming age he will reveal the incomparable riches of His grace. Though we are not literally in heaven, our position and rightful standing is there. This gives further credence to the fact we can't lose our salvation. 

I think our position in heaven with Christ now is not understood by many Christians. I don't the church teaches on this subject enough. Heaven is usually shown as a future place we go to when we die. While this is true, there is present sense of being seated right now with Christ in heaven. 

So what does this mean for us? 

1. Since you are dead in sin, don't return to it. Jesus has delivered you from it and given us freedom in Christ. Why would we go back to being in slavery to sin we have been set free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Remember the word "salvation" means deliverance not just when we die but now too 

2. Realizing that you are seated in heaven, live like that now! Don't just live your life waiting for heaven to come passively. Be a part of God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. By the way this is what we pray in the Lord's Prayer, but do we mean it or believe it? 

3. Continue to remember that all of these blessings are part of the grace God has given us in Christ. Never forget this is all about him not about us! When we try to earn God's approval, we show we don't understand grace. Enjoy Christ's presence in You. You are in Christ and He is in You. Forever!

God thank you for raising us when we were dead in our trespasses and seating in the heavenly realms through Your grace in Christ Jesus. Help us to remember that Christ is in us, the hope of glory. As He abides with us ,and we abide with Him, we will bear much fruit that will last forever! Amen. 

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