November 23, 2021 SEATED WITH HIM
Ephesians 2:4-7 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
I must say that I do not fully understand what it means to be raised up with Christ and seated with Christ heavenly places. Even though I do not fully understand, I know it is true. We are in Christ, and He is in us; so where He is, we are there also; we have been joined to Christ! Our physical being is earth-bound; yet, our spiritual being in Christ is seated with Him in heavenly places! Wow! Before knowing Christ as Savior, we were spiritually dead, separated from God; but as believers, we have been born again, raised from spiritual death and made alive spiritually. I think the critical issue here is that of what or who is the power guiding and directing our lives; is it our self-determination, our preferences, and our logic? Our position in Christ-seated with Him in the heavenly places-is to be our ‘base of operation’ for life here on earth. What we do here, how we live day by day, should flow out of being seated with Him. We are so much more than mere physical beings; we are eternal spiritual beings who for the present, have mortal bodies. In Romans 8:11 we read “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The idea of being seated with Christ, implies a cease from striving; when we live in harmony with the life of Christ, we have blessed peace. Also, reigning with Christ (2 Timothy 2:11-12) implies that we are overcomers in life-not defeated by the trials that come. When we forget, when we chose not to live from our position of being seated with Christ, we live a substandard life where we become frustrated, unfulfilled, anxious, and in general, overcome by the difficulties we face. We can take no credit for being seated with Christ; it is only by His kindness that we are seated with Him. Finally, there is somewhat of a mystery in all of this-something to do with the ages to come-“in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” I do not understand all of that, but I know God has awesome plans of us now and for the ages to come! We can see the awesome works of God in the present, and we can anticipate and look forward to the great and awesome things that are yet to come for all who are in Christ! “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Colossians 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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