Posted on 09/17/2018 7:23:13 AM PDT by Sontagged
Dear friends,
I just wanted to share the notes of today’s message with you on my thoughts on Ephesians with you.
As I prepared the notes, I am overwhelmed with how little we actually spend thinking of what it means to be seated in Christ.
This one thought truly was impressed upon my heart.
I think we are not aware of our position in Christ and this is severely undermined by the sin-conscious Gospel we continue to preach in our churches.
We teach that we are still nature of God’s wrath when we were. Past tense.
Even that we quote it out of context.
It does not say we were objects of his wrath. It says we were objects deserving of his wrath.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
God was never angry with us in the 1st place.
That is why Paul says while we were sinners, he loved us. No, he greatly loved us.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy.
He saved us in the time when we were dead. Incapable of doing right or even believing right.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
This is why Paul tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, this faith is not of ourselves -- but that it is a gift from the Lord.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
We were dead. It was God who gave us the gift to believe. He gave us this gift when he made us alive while we were dead!
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Oh Dear friends, here is the next part that really excites me.
Listen to this!
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
This is where I really to spend some time speaking to you. What it means to be seated with him.
Look at what the verse says, we are also seated and raised.
} Heaven is not a destination.
} It is a present reality.
I used to also think we are seated right in the middle of spiritual warfare wherein the principalities and powers are. See Ephesians 6.
I have to thank Pastor Jocel Evangelista for this. He pointed to us we are not seated where the principalities are. We are seated FAR ABOVE them.
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 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: (Ephesians 1:20-21)
We are seated at a place where Satan would have reach very far to remotely even touch us.
Let’s look at the final of the verse about being seated with Jesus and what it means:
Hebrews 1:3
Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.
When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Let me highlight these words to you. Accomplished our cleansing of sins. Riddance of Guilt. That he is when he sat down. Complete cleansing of sins. Past, present and future. No more guilt.
That is where you are seated. Further the words, “coming ages” do not mean the days in heaven but rather the days after Judaism. Many at times when we read the words “last days” they do not refer to the 2nd coming but rather, the last days of the Law. The law of Moses effective ended when the Temple was destroyed in AD 70. So the “coming ages” is the age of “today”.
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.
And it is to show you not just grace but incomparable richness of his grace through his kindness.
So of us are still wondering is God angry with you. As I explained to you, the Bible does not say you are the object of God’s wrath. It says you WERE the object deserving of God’s wrath. It means 2 things:
a) Were a thing of the past; and
b) Deserving. You were deserving of God’s wrath but you are not.
I want us to know today what did Jesus do for you at Gethsemane. Do you have any idea what was the cup he drank in order for him to offer you the cup of the blood of the new covenant which was for the forgiveness of sins? What was in the cup that Jesus drank?
Luke 22:41-43
41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Let me share it with you.
Have you ever wondered what was the cup Jesus drank at the garden of Gethsemane?
Job 21:19-20 New International Version (NIV)
It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’ Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it! Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
a) your punishment, b) repayment for wickedness, c) destruction, and d) wrath of God.
I hope now Romans 5: 1 is more meaningful to you.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So as I end I hope you realized what it means now to be seated with Christ.
I leave you with one last thought.
Why is Jesus seated on the right and you are placed there?
Stephen cried out, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).
The Jewish highest court is called the Sanhedrin. They are what we know today as probably the Federal Court. The members of the Sanhedrin sat in a semicircle that they might see one another while deliberating. Two clerks stood before them, the one to the right and the other to the left, to take down the votes. One to record votes of acquittal and the other votes of condemnation.
It also describes the roles of the court clerks (scribes) as one handling the arguments for acquittal and one the arguments for conviction. Upon reaching a verdict or a judgment the Sanhedrin would announce is verdict through either of the two clerks.
The clerk which handles submissions for acquittal sits on the right hand and the clerk who handles the submissions for conviction and condemnation is on the left. When the judges reach a verdict of conviction, the left clerk will declare the judgment of conviction and the accused is sentenced and condemned. If the council finds the accused innocence or not guilty the clerk on the right declares that he is free to go. He is then set free and is declared righteous.
I was once asked who would sit at the left hand of God the Father our eternal Judge. I honestly don’t care. What I am concerned about is that Jesus my advocate is on the right hand of the Court of heaven. He is there to pronounce my acquittal and declare me righteous.
Hence because of the work of Jesus there is now no condemnation for me because of Jesus. Aren’t you glad that Jesus is seated at the Right Hand of His Father and our judge and not the left? I am glad I am seat right there with him. Now.
Comments
5 Comments
one4drosas May 31, 2013 at 08:39 Thanks for sharing this: We are seated in heavenly places with Christ. (I like to think it is a ‘love seat’, (cuz nothing can separate me from the love of God), I can now honestly say I can be in 2 places at once, standing here on earth and seated in heaven.:)
Reply Simon Yap May 31, 2013 at 09:31 Now that you know, please share it with someone who doesn’t. 🙂
Reply one4drosas June 1, 2013 at 00:45 Funny you should say that,… I actually did share it, at church,with my women’s group. I was surprised to find out afterwards how many, didn’t know about their position or their place, that they are “Seated in Heavenly Places” (that was the actual title of the teaching,),and many expressed this knowledge was way over their heads…literally.
What I found sad about this experience, was that, This is a powerful Truth, but instead of getting excited over it, many seemed to shy away from it, because it was something they were not used to “hearing”. (a similar,response often to the message of grace)
That’s part of the problem, many Christians want to be spoon fed the gospel,from the pulpit, instead of searching out the scriptures for themselves and finding out what the scriptures actually say,about who they are in Christ and what has been made available to them through His sacrifice.And if your Pastor, or leadership isn’t geared towards preaching, or teaching it, you won’t ‘hear’ much about it.
Simon Yap June 1, 2013 at 01:44 There was one guy who said i was arrogant and that I sin by writing this article and tell people this truth. Just imagine that? Humility is not thinking yourself less, it knowing your position in Christ.
Carolyn Graham June 5, 2013 at 23:23 Very interesting, Simon, regarding the left and right side of “judgment”. Good writing, and I agree…the best seat in the house! 😉
If we remember we are seated with Him, it is the key to overcoming the onslaught of the slings and arrows and other demonic attacks upon our peace in our post-modern lives.
Religious gobbledygook is always so convincing.
If you are not a Christian and don’t believe the Word where it says we are seated with Christ... why are you posting here against Christianity?
Reported your post; though I truly feel sorry for you that you don’t believe in Jesus Christ.
Who said I don’t?
Not very ‘christian’ of you to go from A to Z like that without stopping at B,C,D...
In fact it’s pretty vulgar for you to go from my post about twisting language to “I don’t believe in God”
All I said was that if you have to explain what you mean for phrases that make no sense, then maybe you’re doing something wrong.
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