Q17. Seated with Christ

[JoanG]

When we are seated with Christ in the "heavenly realms" we are saying that we are above all sin, all evil and all temptations of the world. We can no longer be a slave to sin, God's grace is purifying. It has not only cleansed us of our past sins but it has also washed us into a purity and holiness of Christ. We should have no fears of demons or evil entiites.We have the ability to order them away from us. We should pray to God in a thankfulness for all of these abilities. We should ask God to bring down His kingdom onto earth.We should be willing to live in this holy and blessed way every day of our lives.

[Karen11]

On 7/23/2006 at 9:30 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (Ephesians 2:6) What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"? What does this say about God's grace? What does this say about our spiritual authority? How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

It means that we are with him in heaven forever. That God's Grace is enough. That we have the same spiritual authority as Christ, he has given us that as born again believers.That we should enter his gates with Thanksgiving and go boldly to the throne.

[Gabs Suárez]

What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"? What does this say about God's grace? What does this say about our spiritual authority? How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

Personally, I think it refers to our walk with God. As we follow Jesus our goal is to become more like Him and God sees everyone in this process as living “in Jesus”.

Jesus resurrected and it is now next to the Father. We are in Him and therefore should reflect His glory. As people who are now alive in Christ. 

God’s grace is a gift we could never deserve nor pay back. We must do our best to live as we intended to.

As for spiritual authority, 
Jesus modelled submission to the Father, so did Paul. And I think we have as much authority as the Father gives us (or doesn’t) on each circumstance. 

We live for His will, He’s in charge and we serve Him. In power or weakness. 

We pray for His will, He knows best. 
We pray to seek Him and everything else will come. 
 

[haar]

Q17. (Ephesians 2:6) What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"?

It means I am in Christ and risen with Him and seated, exalted high up in heaven in and with Him. Hallelujah!

What does this say about God's grace?

Extravagant and unmerited!

What does this say about our spiritual authority?

Unimaginably great and awesome.

 How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

Bold and in full assurance that our prayers will be answered.

[hanks]

Q17
Q17. (Ephesians 2:6) What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"? What does this say about God's grace? What does this say about our spiritual authority? How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness? 
Wow! Besides being made alive, we have been raised up with Christ. Christ who dwells in us has given us a new, powerful, and unique life and position. And because of this we have a new set of values, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col 3:1-2). But God has also seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Think of this, we are no longer of this world, our citizenship is in heaven, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ... (Phil 3:20). All the above is given us by God’s grace. What a wonderful God we serve!! Jesus Christ is seated on the throne and has dominion over all things. We are united with Christ and being co-heirs with Jesus involves us in the heavenly realms. For the time being our involvement is by prayers and petitions; this we can do with a renewed boldness. 
 

[Bianca]

It means since Jesus has the victory that means we have the victory to. It's really amazing how God has fixed things. We didn't deserve it but yet God gave us this. What a loving God we have! The devil has not beaten us. Sometimes we as Christians may take on an attitude of defeat. When we simply just need to tell the devil to back off. I've done it many of times in different areas and it has worked sometimes immediately and sometimes Not. Sometimes it took a period of time but still work. We should be bold with our faith and authority. I believe that all of us have experienced fear in one area or another but, when we read scriptures like this about who we are in Jesus that should give us reassurance to use our authority and take on the attitude of Victory no matter how impossible something may look, We have the victory.

[Krissi]

1.  What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"?

This statement occurs within a "before-after" comparison: Paul contrasts the old earthly to the new heavenly, death to life, sin to salvation. He's saying that we no longer are mired in sin/earth/death but are now saved/above-heaven/alive. "We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms" is part of the "after" in the comparison.

2.  What does this say about God's grace?

This is answered in the next verse, ""... 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." Grace is the reason for our salvation, not just the means or motive. Sending Jesus is not just kindly, but shows the "incomparable riches" of His grace.

3. What does this say about our spiritual authority?

Pastor Ralph says we have spiritual authority because we are NOW raised up and seated with Christ, and that the protocol of seating gives us status or authority we didn't have before. I'm having difficulties understanding this so will not comment -- I don't see how being seated with Him in the heavenly realms gives us authority. I can see how this allows us to enjoy His authority.

4. How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

At a diplomatic function, for example, you are seated with great care as to your status. Being seated at the right hand of the most powerful "person" in the room gives you status compared to others in the room. It's relative. Comparative. I don't know anything about Roman protocol at in the time of Christ, but my hunch is that it's similar to diplomatic protocol today. 

Yes, a sort of boldness results from being seated in a powerful position. You are expected to speak first and expect others to defer to you because of your status. 

If you really believe you're in this high-status position relative to others (non believers?) then you would expect God to listen to you speak, as you are at His right side, and would also expect Him to respond. 

Having said this, it still seems (to me) that the thrust of this paragraph is God's grace in saving us, not our status, authority or power.

[Janzie]

On 7/23/2006 at 9:30 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q17. (Ephesians 2:6) What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"? What does this say about God's grace? What does this say about our spiritual authority? How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

God raised us up together with Christ and made us sit together in in heavenly places in Christ. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

God's grace is abundant!  It is the equipping us to live now, in the present time, with new power, power to transform our lives and the lives of those around us.

God has given us spiritual authority because we are in Christ and seated with Him.

We need to pray with boldness knowing who we are in Christ and use the Authority He has given us.  We can exercise spiritual authority over the enemy and make him the victim of Christ's victory again and again -- that is, when we learn our place of authority, and understand how to exercise it.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

We have access to the Holies of Holiest be because Christ Jesus is our Joshua has gone on before us; we are enjoying our spiritual rest.  Saved by grace !  We rest from our dead works; we are now experiencing the "enlarged life".    Christ Jesus is glorified; He is in mediatorial role as eternal High Priest.   His priesthood is eternal.

God's grace is just as definite and complete as physical Resurrection .   Truly this is the amazing  work of God.  We were spiritually dead due to sin, but it was the love of God that He saved us and made us to.sit down with Him.  Christ Jesus has been set in heavenly places at God's right hand.  Epouranois..that which pertaining to heaven;  Christ Jesus our faithful High Priest bears us close to His heart as Aaron bore the breastplate of the 12 tribes of Israel when he entered the Holy of Holies.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

We have access to the Holies of Holiest be because Christ Jesus is our Joshua has gone on before us; we are enjoying our spiritual rest.  Saved by grace !  We rest from our dead works; we are now experiencing the "enlarged life".    Christ Jesus is glorified; He is in mediatorial role as eternal High Priest.   His priesthood is eternal.

God's grace is just as definite and complete as physical Resurrection .   Truly this is the amazing  work of God.  We were spiritually dead due to sin, but it was the love of God that He saved us and made us to.sit down with Him.  Christ Jesus has been set in heavenly places at God's right hand.  Epouranois..that which pertaining to heaven;  Christ Jesus our faithful High Priest bears us close to His heart as Aaron bore the breastplate of the 12 tribes of Israel when he entered the Holy of Holies.

This verse fills our hearts with wonder !  With God all things are possible.  We know that God is our burden bearer.  Abiding in the Vine..We have a spiritual boldness to come to God and praise Him heartedly, and to intercede for those in need of prayer.  Like the Prophet Ezekiel, our hearts are full of love for the lost sheep as we pray and minister to those in the vale of sorrow.   We are the fulfillment of the Prophet Ezekiel's prophecy that God remove the hearts of stone.   This all reaffirms our High status as described in 1 Peter 2:9.  It gives us confidence to go out to visit those in the Psychiatric wards, nursing homes and go out on the hiways and byways preaching the Gospel

 

[Daniel R]

1. What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"?

By saying that we are seated with Christ "in the Heavenly places/realms," Paul is telling the Ephesians (as well as any other readers) that we share in the power, authority, and dominion that Christ received and have dominion over all demonic and human spirits and powers because of that.

2. What does this say about God's grace?

This clearly shows us that God's grace is GREAT and ABUNDANT. As humans, if we have something nice we rarely tend to share with others, and even if we do share, we tend to scarcely share, but God on the other hand shares his dominion, power, and authority with us directly through Jesus Christ, without any cutting corners and holding back at all.

3. What does this say about our spiritual authority?

This says that we have much more spiritual authority than we tend to believe. We do have power and authority over human forces and demonic forces, and though it may not look like it when the enemy comes at us full force, with faith and confidence, we will completely obliterate the enemy with the power, authority, and dominion of Christ.

4. How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?

In general, this knowledge should make our prayers much bolder but also just our general boldness more bold. We shouldn't just tell God that we're afraid of satan when he throws stones at us, but we have to realize that God has given us authority and power in Jesus Christ and with faith, confidence, and boldness, we can overcome any and all the enemy!!!

 

THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!

[Old Jerry]

The meaning that we are seated with Christ in “the heavenly realms” is that we can have the same spiritual authority that Jesus has if we would just use it. The means that God has given us his grace because we are still sinner and didn’t earn it. This means that we can ask for anything in our prayers.