It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of faith—church on Sunday, devotions, prayer requests—and forget one vital truth: our heavenly position in Christ. I’m talking about a spot that’s already been claimed and sealed, a reality that no amount of self-effort or good works can change. But if this sounds a little too “pie in the sky” or unrealistic, hang with me.
Where we stand spiritually isn’t just an abstract theological concept; it’s the foundation for every thought, every choice, every claim we make as believers. If you’re someone like me—a grace believer who weighs every verse through the lens of rightly dividing the Word—then you know the difference between position and possession, between what’s ours legally in Christ and what’s experienced daily. Let’s unpack this because understanding our place in Him is the key that unlocks true Christian living.
The Throne Room Isn’t Just a Metaphor
First off, when Scripture talks about us seated “with Christ in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6), it demands a radical rethink. We aren’t just trying to get into heaven someday or earn brownie points to impress God. We are spiritually seated there right now. Yes, now. This is our reality, dictated not by how we feel or how much we pray, but by God’s completed work on the cross.
So, what does it mean to be seated with Him at His throne? Does it mean we’re floating on clouds with a harp? Nope. It means our standing before God is secure, unshakable, bulletproof—because Christ’s righteousness covers us fully. No condemnation. No trying to fix ourselves all the time. “But doesn’t that let us off the hook for holiness?” you might ask. No, it actually frees us from performance-based living and puts holiness in its proper place: as a fruit, not a root.
Think about the King in His palace. Would you question His authority if you were sitting right beside Him? Absolutely not. There’s authority in position. You don’t need to convince God of your worthiness because Christ’s worthiness is credited to you. If the foundation is secure, everything else flows from there.
Position vs. Practice: Why We Mess It Up
Here’s the catch—too many believers miss this because they confuse position with practice. Just because we’re seated with Christ doesn’t mean we always feel like kings and queens of the universe. Nope. Sometimes we feel like spiritual toddlers fumbling through the dark. That’s on our experience, not on our standing before God.
What trips us up is that we often live by what we see or feel rather than by what the Word says about us. “I don’t feel worthy,” we say. “I failed again, so I must not be saved.” This is where grace believers—and those who rightly divide the Word—have a leg up. We can separate what’s true positionally in Christ from what’s happening emotionally or behaviorally. This clarity changes everything.
Your position in Christ is settled in heaven by the Father’s decree. Your practice on earth? That’s an ongoing journey—sometimes messy, often imperfect. But the place you occupy? That’s a non-negotiable fact, secured before the foundation of the world.
Why Does This Matter for Grace Believers?
Grace isn’t just a theological buzzword; it’s the air grace believers breathe. Knowing your position in Christ is what makes grace not just a nice idea but a real-life lifeline. Under the law, standing before God was always about performance and penalty. Fail one, fail them all. But grace says, “Look, your sins? Paid for. Your record? Clean.” End of story.
It’s not a license to sin (let’s not go down that rabbit hole), but a powerful reason to live in freedom instead of fear. The law exposes; grace restores. Your heavenly position frees you from the exhausting treadmill of trying to “measure up” and invites you into rest in what Jesus already did. You are holy, justified, adopted, and loved, not because of you, but because of Him.
So, How Do We Live This?
Here’s the kicker: if we know our standing, living it means walking in that reality. But too often, believers “know” but don’t “walk.” It’s like owning a luxury car but never taking it out of the driveway.
How do you access this position practically? Through the Spirit and by faith, not by self-effort.
✨ Faith in Scriptures that declare your position—Dig into verses like Romans 8:1, Colossians 3:1-4, and 2 Corinthians 5:21. These aren’t just warm fuzzies; they are legal realities that reset your mindset.
✨ By renouncing doubt and condemnation daily—You might trip up; that’s human. But recognition of your position in Christ helps you refuse the lies the enemy throws at you.
✨ Walking in the Spirit—Galatians 5 shows us that fruit arises naturally when we lean on the Spirit, aligned with our heavenly position rather than relying on our flawed fleshly impulses.
Never undervalue the power in simply reminding yourself who you are—not who you act like or feel like. This is grace lived out loud.
What About Trials, Then?
You might wonder, “If I’m seated with Christ, why do I still face trials?” This question strikes home for many believers, myself included. The truth is, position is a legal standing, but our experience on earth remains wrapped in the reality of a fallen world. We’re set free legally but live in a world still groaning under sin’s curse.
Trials don’t negate your position; they sharpen it. They give you opportunities to prove your faith and to lean into your heavenly citizenship. They remind you you’re strangers and pilgrims here, and your true home and authority reside in heaven. Paul’s “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) find meaning when filtered through the lens of unshakeable position in Christ.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your heavenly position isn’t just about theology for theology’s sake. It’s about freedom—the kind that breaks chains, quiets guilt, and rewires your spiritual mindset. Once you get this, grace stops feeling like a crutch and starts feeling like the launchpad of your faith.
Sure, feelings wobble, circumstances twist, and you’ll never be perfect in this life. But your place in Christ? Locked forever. That’s how powerful grace is. It doesn’t just forgive; it elevates.
Want daily reminders about your identity and position in God’s plan? I’ve found Verse for the Day to be a great resource that keeps these truths fresh and alive.
Embrace your throne—not because of who you are, but because of who He is. That’s where real life begins.