`When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the

Majesty on high' (Heb. 1:3).

`Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an

high priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in

the heavens' (Heb. 8:1).

`But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat

down on the right hand of God' (Heb. 10:12).

`Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy

that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set

down at the right hand of the throne of God' (Heb. 12:2).

It is entirely foreign to the teaching of Hebrews, to think of associating

any believer with the seated Christ.  The teaching of Hebrews is rather that, as

the High Priest, He was there Alone (Heb. 9:7).  If it came as a shock to Peter

to be told `Rise, Peter; kill, and eat' (Acts 10:13), how much more would he

have said `not so, Lord' had anyone dared to associate the holiest believer of

either Israel or the church with the seated Christ!  One believer who has come

to the conclusion that Hebrews presents to us the ultimate revelation of the

Scriptures, was quite logical when he denounced us for teaching such a thing.

Yet Ephesians 2:6 still stands written.  The Hebrew believers were bidden

`to draw near', but none were ever told that they were made `to sit together'

there.  This but emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the calling of

Ephesians.  It is one of a series of unique blessings found in the epistle of

the Mystery, but revealed nowhere else.

This seating together is said to be `in heavenly places'.  This looks back

to the closing verses of Ephesians 1 where Christ is both `raised' and `seated',

in the same heavenly places, at the right hand of God.  If this be not truth in

excelsis, it approaches very near to blasphemy.  This position is far above

anything revealed elsewhere, and but emphasizes the distinctive character of the

truth revealed in this epistle of the Mystery.  The term `in Christ Jesus'

embraces the three verbs:

Quickened together

Roused together

In Christ Jesus.

Seated together

The title, as we have shown elsewhere, is exclusive to the ministry of

Paul to the Gentiles.  It is never found in Hebrews.  `In Christ Jesus' occurs

seven times in Ephesians, thus:

`To the faithful in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 1:1).

`Quickened ... raised ... sit (seated) together in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:5,6).

`In His kindness toward us through (lit. in) Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:7).

`His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:10).

`But now in Christ Jesus ... made nigh' (Eph. 2:13).

`The purpose of the ages ... in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 3:11).

`Unto Him be glory in the church by (lit. in) Christ Jesus' (Eph. 3:21).