Ephesians 2:6
⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (NIV)

Because of sin, death reigned in our spirit before we accepted Christ. Both our body and our spirit were subject to the law of sin and death. But when we accepted Christ, our spirit was quickened to life. Salvation unites our spirit with Christ, who resides in Heaven. So then, our spirit resides both in Heaven and trapped in our earthly bodies.

In Romans, Chapter 7, the Apostle Paul teaches this differently. He says his spirit is alive in Christ even though his body continues to be subject to the law of sin and death because of its sinful nature. Heaven has no boundaries. Salvation unites my spirit to Heaven, but this union continues trapped in the earthly body, vulnerable to the sinful nature.

When we live according to the Spirit, we live as free from sin and temptation as we will one day live in Heaven. However, if we live according to the sinful nature forever embedded in our earthly bodies, we are helpless against sin. Every moment of each day, I have two worlds to choose from. I can live as a citizen of Heaven or as a citizen of the flesh. If I offer myself to the Spirit, sin has no more power over me than it does Christ even now as He sits upon the throne. If I offer myself to the flesh, I separate myself from the power I need to conquer death.

Heaven is ours today. Spiritually, we are seated in the Heavenly realm with Christ. But we must live in the Spirit. And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The struggle is that the earthly body, which is sinful flesh, envelopes us and it will continue to do so until our arrival in Heaven.

To know we are seated in the Heavenly realms in a spiritual way even now, then it is always possible to live in the way of Heaven. However, I am still in this body so temptations will come. I still live on earth which is cursed so sickness and disease will attack my body. I still live on earth where many live according to the flesh so frustration will come against my flesh. But in all of this, if I choose to live in the Spirit, all of these are helpless to prosper against me.

Prayer: Lord, let me live in the Spirit as I will in Heaven one day. And when this world comes against me, let me take hold of Heaven even tighter so that in all things I will have Heaven’s power for victory. Amen.