Seated in Heavenly Places - Understanding Our Position in Christ

Understanding Our Spiritual Position

This past weekend my pastor said: "Your position is secure, your condition is being renewed day-by-day." (Dominic Russo - OC) I'm not sure that it was connected to the message but it surely had a profound impact on me. I've been processing this phrase for a few days now and have replaying the tapes on my life to try to determine why a "secure position" is so important to me. If you are like me, maybe you've had people close to you abandon you, hurt you, or simply not be the person they represent themselves to be (the "don't meet your heroes" idea). These things are a part of life and they happen, but what I believe it does is conflate our view of God. Even when our position with people might be conditional, our condition in faith with God isn't. 

I'm still processing these ideas in my head and hopefully they will help you to start thinking about it too. 

What Does It Mean to Be Seated in Heavenly Places?

The phrase "seated in heavenly places" comes from Ephesians 2:6, where Paul writes that God has "raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms." This signifies our spiritual position as believers—our authority, identity, and victory in Christ. Being seated means we are no longer striving for righteousness but are secure in the finished work of Jesus.

The Role of Grace and Faith in Our Position

Our position in Christ is not something we earn through works but is given to us by grace through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." This means that our position is permanent, but our daily condition is continually being transformed.

Biblical Foundations for Our Position in Christ

Ephesians 2:5-7 – God's Mercy and Grace

“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 our 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, 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.” (Ephesians 2:5-7)

This passage confirms that our position is a direct result of God’s mercy and love. It emphasizes that we were made alive with Christ, raised with Christ, and seated with Christ—signifying our unity with Him in His victory over sin and death.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewal in Christ

Paul encourages believers not to be discouraged by temporary struggles:
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

This scripture highlights the difference between our position and our condition—our position is eternal, but our condition is being renewed daily. Even in trials, we can stand firm in our heavenly position, knowing that God is continually working in us.

Living from Our Heavenly Position

Our Identity is Secure, Not Earned by Works

Many believers struggle with feelings of unworthiness, but our position in Christ is not based on what we do—it is based on what Jesus has already done. We don’t have to strive for approval; we are already accepted.

Walking in Authority and Sharing Christ’s Love

Our heavenly position is not just a privilege but a responsibility. As Christ’s ambassadors, we are called to represent Him on earth. This means walking in faith, speaking His truth, and extending His love to others.

This means our position in Christ calls us to reach out and show the love of Christ to others.

This truth reminds us that being seated in heavenly places is not just about personal assurance—it’s about living with kingdom purpose.

Being seated in heavenly places with Christ is a foundational truth that changes how we see ourselves, our struggles, and our purpose. We are secure in Christ, renewed daily, and called to share His love. By embracing this spiritual position, we can live with confidence, authority, and an eternal perspective.