287. Our Dwelling From Heaven

“And the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Eph. 5:31-32.

Christ is seated in heaven, at the right hand of the Father, so how can the church on the earth become one flesh with Him? It must be a great mystery. Not just one spirit with Him, but “one flesh.”

When Christ has His way and His will with us, so that He can work in us to will and to do, then He puts our body to use as one of His members, and what is written comes true: “For we are members of His body.” Eph. 5:30. And, “No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” Verse 29. Notice: “his own flesh.”

It was sin in the flesh that God condemned (Rom. 8:3), but the body He enlists in His service. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? 1 Cor. 6:15. But in order for Christ to make use of the body, it must be dead to sin, or as it is written, “dead because of sin.” Rom. 8:10.

To the same degree that God is able to use our earthly body, contrary to its sinful nature, to that degree we have an eternal dwelling from God in heaven. And we have victory over sin to the same extent. This is how Christ again receives a body on earth in which He can will and do His works. Contrary to this, Satan has also taken on flesh and blood in order to carry out his works: murder, robbery, and destruction.

Paul says, “For we know that if our earthly house . . . is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

We have a house in heaven even now while we walk on this earth, and so does each one who has become one flesh with Him. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.” But we clearly see that not everyone has this heavenly dwelling, eternal in the heavens. For he says immediately after: “If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.” 2 Cor. 5:1-4. “Naked” means we receive no heavenly dwelling. If we always seek the things that are on the earth, then we clearly will not receive any heavenly dwelling. But if we constantly seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of the Father, then we have a dwelling in heaven.

Who is raised with Christ in the first resurrection? It is obviously all those who have an eternal dwelling in heaven, those who live in such a way that they are one flesh with Him. It is those who allow themselves to be lead by the power of His resurrection and partake in His sufferings, being made like Him in His death. Phil. 3:10. They have a kingdom in heaven, and from there we also await the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Phil. 3:20. He will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body. Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection. Rev. 20:6.

If we are to clothe ourselves with a dwelling from heaven while here in the days of our flesh, we must consciously battle against the spirit that is working in the children of unbelief. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12. All these powers will do their very best to keep us under their control, and they have an associate in our flesh. That is why we must conquer these powers in the power of the resurrection and lift ourselves above them. If that does not happen, they will hinder us from being raised up in the first resurrection, when we are to meet Jesus in the air. But after the Millennium, when Satan is cast into the lake of fire, everyone will rise up because then the evil hosts of wickedness in heavenly places will be unable to hinder them. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Rev. 20:12.

God has established His laws over all things, including the resurrection. Therefore, let us seek to live in resurrection power, according to the promptings of the Spirit, He who awoke Christ from the dead. For then we, as members of His body, will—together with the Head—be placed far above all principality and power and might and dominion. Eph. 1:18, ff. This must be believed. For it is our faith that has overcome the world.

When we are revealed in the clouds, we shall be in our heavenly dwelling. This is the bride, the ones who have become one flesh with Him, the ones who have—by faith—overcome principalities and powers, so that absolutely nothing can hinder them from ascending through all the layers of the atmosphere.