For many years Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse occupied the prominent pulpit of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. On one particular Sunday morning, a twelve-year-old boy sitting in the gallery was all-ears as the great preacher spoke about God’s treatment of our sin. As Barnhouse closed out the sermon, he did so in his familiar manner by collecting many of the great promises of God’s word into one impressive sentence. As he nailed home God’s treatment of our sin he said: “Our sins are forgiven, forgotten, cleansed, pardoned, atoned for, remitted, covered; they have been cast into the depths of the sea, blotted out as a thick cloud, removed as far as the east is from the west, cast behind God’s back.” Finishing his sermon Barnhouse went to the front door of the church building to greet those attending. As he stood talking to several congregants the twelve year old boy who had listened intently from the balcony tugged on his sleeve and said: “Good sermon, Doc! Gee, we’re sure sitting pretty aren’t we?”
Sitting pretty is as good a way to describe the Christian’s position in Christ as any. In fact in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about the Christian sitting pretty with Christ. In chapter two, Paul states that Christians are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). Following his death and resurrection, Christ was exalted to the right hand of God and there He sits in triumph, having achieved atonement, having conquered death, having stripped the kingdom of darkness of its power (Eph. 1:20-21). Through union with Christ, believers enter into that victory, and are seated with Christ in the heavenly places so to speak. His triumph through the cross is our triumph securing for us many things. Those many things are detailed wonderfully for us in the doxology of chapter one. Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long sentence in the Greek. Paul can hardly take a breath while telling the Ephesians how God has blessed them with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. This loftily and lengthy sentence screams praise to God and calls Christians to revel in God’s grace toward them. Blessed by the Father, seated with Christ and indwelt by the Spirit, the Christian sure sits pretty. The Father through Christ has chosen us (vv. 3-4); adopted us (v. 5); accepted us (v. 6); redeemed us (v. 7); forgiven us (v. 7); informed us (vv. 8-10); enriched us (v. 11-12); sealed us (v. 13); and assured us (v. 14).
The theme of Ephesians is about the wealth of blessings we enjoy seated with Christ. By implication we can walk and stand for Christ (Chapters 4-6) because we are seated with Christ (Chapters 1-3). Christ in the gospel has invited us into His banqueting hall and His banner over us is love (Song of Sol. 2:4). Christ in the gospel has spread a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Psa. 23:5). Sit down today and appreciate afresh what it means to be seated with Christ. We are abundantly blessed. God’s interest in us stretches from eternity past to eternity future. The Trinity itself loves us in that the Father blesses us through His glorious Son, and that blessing is guaranteed in the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:3-14).
Listen! We can stand up to life knowing that we are seated with Christ!