September 13, 2022
by Rick Combs
A note of warning: Satan hates this truth and does everything he can to keep it hidden. He has done this successfully for the most part of the 2000-year history of the Church. The inheritance of the church into these heavenly positions are the very places the devil wants to keep. The fact that you are beginning to understand some of what is revealed in the Pauline revelation is a threat and he will try to dissuade you to keep you in ignorance.
Colossians 1:16 reveals that Jesus created all things “that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Verse 20 goes on to say that “through the blood of His cross, by Him God will reconcile all things unto himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
It is important to note that the “things” on earth are in the visible realm and the “things” in heaven are in the invisible realm. These things are governmental structures. These positions of authority and rulership need to be filled by God’s people in God’s Kingdom. It is an organized well-structured government on the earth as well as in heaven.
The earthly Kingdom will literally be the RULE of “the GOD OF HEAVEN” (Daniel 2:44) UPON THE EARTH (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 11:15).
The EARTHLY HOPE (Luke 2:13-14) of ISRAEL (Luke 1:68-70) stands in marked contrast to the HEAVENLY HOPE (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20) of “the Church, which is His Body” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Ephesians 1:20-23 gives the glorious news that these principalities, powers, might, and dominions have been given “to the church which is His body” as our inheritance.
We find this information is Paul’s epistles. This mystery that was given to Paul reveals the Heavenly Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is this ministry that presently shows the divine purpose of Christianity, the heavenly calling and position of the Church.
The following outlines this heavenly premise:
- Very clearly the home of the Body of Christ is heaven. Philippians 3:20”For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”.
- Our position as believers is seated in heavenly places with the Father in Christ Jesus. As Christ was raised far above all authority and power, so too have we. That’s a tremendous reality! Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”:
- So that God might put on display his wonderful exceeding grace toward worldly vile gentiles who have been created into New Creations that have the Glory of God. Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”.
- At the moment of salvation, the believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places (heaven where God lives) in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. In Major League Baseball, there are over 20 major awards. How many did one player win? You might ask. ALL of them! There are many more spiritual blessings for the Body of Christ. The “new man” is given ALL of them.
- All these heavenly blessings including the full inheritance is freely given by God our Father because it is “according to his good pleasure” Ephesians 1:9. All that God has done for us, He WANTED TO DO. It is His good pleasure. He was satisfied in doing it. It pleases Him. No obligation, just pure pleasure. What love!
In our next post, we will consider our heavenly inheritance in more detail.
Until then, the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.