Seated In Heaven
Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
God sees every believer in Christ as already in heaven.
See what the Bible says about this:
“BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE
WHEREWITH HE LOVED US,
“EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US
TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED),
“AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER
IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:
“THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEEDING
RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS” (Eph.
2:4-7).
Most sincere believers, poorly taught in the Word, are
concerned about getting to heaven, but as far as God is concerned they are
already there. They have been “made accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). God
has given them a position “in Christ.”
We are well aware that most of God’s people know little
about this experientially, but God says that as far as He is concerned, they
are already in heaven, and this is what matters. As Christ took our place on
Calvary’s cross, God now sees us in Christ, at His own right hand, the place of
favor and honor. This is why the Apostle Paul says to believers in Christ:
“IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH
ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
“SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE
EARTH.
“FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD”
(Col. 3:1-3).
And all this by the free grace of God:
“WHO HATH SAVED US, AND CALLED US WITH AN HOLY CALLING,
NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, WHICH
WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN” (II Tim. 1:9).
Our hearts go out to those of our readers who have not yet
received this “gift of the grace of God.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
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