Perhaps the reason why we don’t get more excited about these truths, is because we don’t fully comprehend His new nature and where He is seated… and therefore we don’t appreciate where we are seated!
Paul makes it clear, we are to SEEK these things and SET OUR MINDS on them!
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 minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Col 3:1-2
So we have a clear “GO!” sign in the bible to seek these things. And we should actively spend time doing so, because they are our new nature. Yes let’s go ahead and explore these things a bit more.
I believe you might be astonished at what the bible has to say about your new nature. So now we are seeking the things that are above, we are setting our minds on those things.
First, let’s consider where Jesus Christ is now seated…
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. – Eph 1:20-21
Did you know that the bible says that you are seated there too? Yes far above…
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, – Eph 2:6
So where is Jesus Christ seated? And where are you seated?
Jesus Christ is far above “principality, power, might, dominion and names. What are these things? What do those words mean? What is it which has been placed in a position inferior to you and I (because we are seated with Jesus Christ)?
Let’s take a look at the dictionary definitions for those greek words. In this way we can see more clearly where Jesus Christ is seated… and where you and I are seated too…
Far above, G5231, ὑπεράνω huperanō
Thayer Definition:
1) above
1a) above a thing
1b) of a place
1c) of rank or power
Part of Speech: adverb
all, G3956, πᾶς, pas
Thayer Definition:
1) individually
1a) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
- collectively
Part of Speech: adjective
principality, G746, ἀρχή, archē
Thayer Definition:
1) beginning, origin
2) the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader
3) that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause
4) the extremity of a thing
4a) of the corners of a sail
5) the first place, principality, rule, magistracy
5a) of angels and demons
Part of Speech: noun feminine
and power, G1849, ἐξουσία, exousia
Thayer Definition:
4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
4a) universally
4a1) authority over mankind
4b) specifically
4b1) the power of judicial decisions
4b2) of authority to manage domestic affairs
4c) metonymically
4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule
4c1a) jurisdiction
4c2) one who possesses authority
4c2a) a ruler, a human magistrate
4c2b) the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates
4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself
4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown
Part of Speech: noun feminine
and might, G1411, δύναμις, dunamis
Thayer Definition:
1) strength, power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles
1c) moral power and excellence of soul
1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
1e) power and resources arising from numbers
1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Part of Speech: noun feminine
and dominion, G2963, κυριότης, kuriotēs
Thayer Definition:
1) dominion, power, lordship
2) in the NT: one who possesses dominion
Part of Speech: noun feminine
and every name, G3686 that is named, ὄνομα onoma
Thayer Definition:
1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason
Part of Speech: noun neuter
So let me ask you again… where is Jesus Christ seated? And where are you seated IN Jesus Christ?
Here are some things that I find very interesting about the meaning of these words. Firstly, most of these words are nouns, meaning they represent things… and whatever the things are which oppress you – thoughts or feelings, sickness or addiction or death, poverty, pride, spiritual forces of any kind such as demons – they all fall under one or more of these categories of words.
No matter what you face, you are seated in Jesus Christ above those things and you have authority over it, because you are in union with Jesus Christ… you are WHERE Jesus Christ is and you are AS Jesus Christ is.
As if this wasn’t clear enough, the bible restates the obvious…
And he put ALL THINGS under his feet – Eph 1:22
Because all things are under the feet of Jesus Christ and you are IN Jesus Christ and seated WHERE He is, AS He is… then all these same things are under your feet as well!
