What Does It Mean to Be Seated in the Heavenlies with Christ?
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You may have heard the phrase, “Be a thermostat not a thermometer,” followed by the explanation that the latter reflects the temperature around it while the former helps regulate its surroundings. I want to live my life so grounded in who I am in Christ, to Christ, and through the power of Christ that I’m not engulfed by the chaos around me. Instead, I want to act like an instrument of peace that invites others to experience the Lord and His grace.
Simply put, Scripture tells me that I currently reside in a position of honor and power with my Savior, and I want my attitudes and behavior to reflect this reality. Ephesians 2:4-6 states it this way:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Historical Context
To grasp the depth of this truth and how it applies to our lives both today and in eternity, we must first understand what it meant to its original audience. The apostle Paul, a first century church planter who penned much of the New Testament, initially wrote the book of Ephesians to recently converted Christ followers living in ancient Ephesus and surrounding area.
These people had grown up in a pagan land dominated by darkness and, likely, lewd acts such as temple prostitution. According to Acts 19:35, people considered Ephesus “the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image.” This was, in essence, their claim to fame and a major source of their economic stability, not just in relation to craftsmen who made and sold idols, but also through the tourism this cult created.
One can understand, then, why Paul’s preaching stirred such intense opposition. He threatened people’s financial security.
Many of us have watched the chaotic and sometimes even violent response of those who feel their livelihood being threatened. Fear can result in hostile behavior and cause normal men and women to behave in manipulative and malicious ways. If we believe our boss, company, pastor, professor, or civic leaders hold ultimate power over our financial security, and thus, well-being, we’ll likely exhibit fight-or-flight behavior in response to threats.
If, however, we anchor our trust in Christ and who we are to Him, we’re better able to weather the most tumultuous storms with faith.
The light of Christ shattering the darkness in ancient Ephesus didn’t just enrage the people. It also infuriated and mobilized evil. The devil and his demons did not want to relinquish control of the souls they’d enslaved, and he used the residents and leaders to do so.
As Paul reminded his readers in Ephesians 6:12:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
As the devil often does, he used humans to stir up chaos and strike fear and hatred into the hearts of the people. In Acts 19:23-27, we read:
“About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: ‘You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.’”
This infuriated the people and threw the city into an uproar that could’ve turned violent, if not for the city clerk. While he quieted and dismissed the mob, the image of this event probably remained with the Christ-followers, most of whom were new in their faith. Based on the events recorded in Acts 19, we can assume these men and women continued to experience hostility and persecution from those not yet freed from evil’s grasp.
A Position of Power
Now consider Paul’s words early in his letter regarding Christ’s authority:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph. 1:18-23, emphasis mine).
The phrase “at [God the Father’s] right hand” is a Hebrew idiom symbolizing strength. Notice also what the ancient Israelites proclaimed directly after God rescued them from slavery in Egypt:
“Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy”(Exodus 15:6).
One of my favorite verses, particularly when I’m feeling unsettled, comes from Isaiah 41:10:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The right hand, then, symbolizes power, protection, and victory.
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
To quote author and Bible teacher Judy Dunagan, “The enemy’s roar is but a whisper in the presence of our mighty God.” This is the message Paul conveyed to the Ephesians, and by extension, us. Through His death and resurrection, Christ made a mockery of the devil and his minions. Therefore, we have no need to fear. As 1 John 4:4 states, greater is He (the Holy Spirit) who is in us than the one (the devil and every system he corrupts and person he influences) who is in the world.
Consider what this means for us in light of Ephesians 2:6. This verse tells us that Christ isn’t the only One seated above the forces of evil and their effects. Because we are seated with Him, we are seated above as well. God raised us from death to life and from helpless victims to empowered, honored, and elevated victors able stand firm under attack. We are, by faith, able to extinguish the flaming arrows of our enemy.
As Dunagan also wrote, “We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. We do not fight in order to win but because we have already won. Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already given to them by their God.”
The more we recognize and remind ourselves of our secure position in Christ and all the spiritual weapons we possess (Eph. 6:10-17), the better we’re able to stand firm, no matter what comes at us.
This tells us a few things. First, it reminds us that every spiritual blessing we possess stems not from our exemplary behavior, but from the goodness of our Father. And notice the qualifiers. He responds to us in great love and rich, or abundant, mercy, phrases that highlight His inexhaustible grace toward us.
The Lord saw us in our spiritually dead state, moved toward us in compassion, and breathed life into our diseased and decaying souls. Through faith, by grace, we crossed over from death to life and now sit with Christ in the heavenly realms.
This is one of those now-and-not-yet truths recorded in Scripture. At this moment, we are actively enjoying the benefits of God’s kingdom while waiting for the day when He’ll banish death, darkness and decay from our existence for good. Perhaps one could envision this as standing with one foot in the ocean and the other on the beach. Our goal isn’t to disconnect from earth, but to experience more of heaven internally so that more of our Savior and His purposes flow from us and onto others.
A Position of Honor
In Bible times, people placed a great deal of emphasis on where they, or their dinner guests, sat. We see an example of this in Luke 14, when Jesus visited the home of a prominent Pharisee. In verses 7-10 we read:
“When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.”
According to the Pulpit Commentary: “The place of honour is said to have been at the upper end of the right side, the president being placed, not in the centre of that end of the table which faced the opening, but at the side. The most honoured guest would be at his right hand.”
Although social customs in the United States tend to be more relaxed, we’ve probably all attended an event with assigned seating. During women’s conferences and retreats, the director and speakers often sit at the table closest to the front. In weddings, close family often occupy tables near the wedding party while casual acquaintances may be in a back corner.
When we join our Savior at the great wedding feast of the lamb, however, we won’t be relegated to a distant table. To quote Bible teacher Heather Hollman, “No matter where you sit, you won’t miss anything.”To rephrase, every seat is honorable at the Savior’s heavenly table.
This reminds me of God’s declaration in Isaiah 43. After proclaiming His faithful, protective care for us during times of crisis, He said: “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you” (Isaiah 43:4a).
Pause to reflect on that a moment. All-powerful, sovereign Creator God, the ruler of all that exists who Himself is worthy of all honor and praise, calls us precious and honored. He alone has the authority to assign our worth and determine our seating arrangement. And He chose to place us at His Son’s table.
A Position of Spiritual Rest
In my two-decades plus of ministry, I’ve discovered an unfortunate tendency exhibited by many of the Lord’s beloved children. We often understand grace when it comes to our salvation and our need for it. After our conversion, however, we’re prone to live as if our growth and transformation depended on our effort and self-control rather than the Holy Spirit at work within us.
This is why I find the emphasis on Jesus’ seated position so encouraging. In Hebrews 10, the author contrasts the old covenant and its sacrificial system with Christ’s finished work on the cross. In Hebrews 10:11-14, we read:
“‘Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest’ –meaning Jesus, our great High Priest – ‘had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.’”
In other words, Jesus’ sitting reiterated His last words on the cross: “It is finished.” His death and resurrection defeated the forces of evil, purchased our forgiveness, paved the way for us to live in intimate relationship with each member of the Trinity, and allowed us to experience soul-deep peace. We don’t have to exhaust ourselves trying to earn salvation or God’s favor. In Christ, we’ve received both. His rest becomes ours.
As I close, prayerfully reflect upon this quote from Heather Hollman: “As I read the entire passage, I said this: ‘I’m seated with Christ. But I’m not living like I have a seat at the Greatest Table with the Greatest King. I’m living like someone fighting for a seat at the table.”
Can you resonate with this experience? If so, how might envisioning yourself in a glorious banquet hall, seated at the most honorable and powerful table in the space, impact you? You are not excluded or overlooked but invited close by the King of kings and Lord of lords. Because, according to Scripture, we are seated in a position of honor, rest, and power with our Savior, and living in that reality changes everything!
Photo credit: Unsplash/Eyup Belen
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.