Already Home: How Our Spirits Are Seated With Christ in Heaven
Though our feet walk the earth, our spirits rest above—hidden with Christ in the heavenlies.
A dear brother in Christ recently asked which Scriptures I turn to for my understanding that our spirits are already in heaven. He shared that a friend of his was curious, having never encountered this idea before. In my experience, when someone runs into a biblical truth they’ve never heard, it often marks the beginning of a deeper unveiling—and I believe this may be one of those beautiful moments. While the thought may sound unusual at first, especially for those taught to see salvation primarily as a future hope, a careful look at the grammar, context, and doctrinal development of the New Testament reveals that this is not speculation—it is the unveiled reality of our present union with Christ.
My friend and his friend are currently reading With by Skye Jethani, which is written from a framework that reflects the more common dichotomist view of human nature—understanding body and soul/spirit as a single, unified whole. This is entirely understandable, as many in the Reformed and evangelical traditions have taught this for decades. Still, I believe it opens the door to gently consider the trichotomist view—that we are body, soul, and spirit: distinct yet integrated. This view, supported by Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (“...your whole spirit and soul and body...”) and Hebrews 4:12(“...dividing soul and spirit…”), brings clarity to what truly happened at salvation.
According to this view, our spirit is the part of us that was made completely new and joined to the risen Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:17), our soul—comprised of mind, will, and emotions—is still being renewed (Romans 12:2), and our body awaits glorification at the resurrection (Romans 8:23).
With that framework in place, we’re ready to explore why Scripture confidently declares that our spirits are already in heaven with Christ.
📍 1. We Are Already Seated With Christ in the Heavenly Places
Ephesians 2:4–6 – “...even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
The Greek verb for “seated” here is συνεκάθισεν (synekathisen)—an aorist active indicative. It speaks of a completed action in the past. Paul does not say we will be seated; he says we have been seated.
This is positional truth, describing where our spirit now resides—in Christ, who is Himself seated at the right hand of the Father (Eph. 1:20). Our bodies remain on earth, but our spirits have been placed into Christ—and where He is, we are (cf. Colossians 3:1).
📍 2. Our Lives Are Hidden With Christ in God
Colossians 3:1–3 – “If then you have been raised with Christ... set your minds on things above... For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
“You have died” (Greek: ἀπεθάνετε – apethanete) is again in the aorist—a done deal. Your old man (the unregenerate spirit in Adam) is gone, crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).
Your new spirit has been raised with Christ and is now “hidden with Him” in God—presently, not metaphorically. You don’t just have a relationship with God—you have union with Him in the deepest part of your being.
📍 3. We Are One Spirit With the Lord
1 Corinthians 6:17 – “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
This is an astounding statement. It doesn’t say we will become one spirit; it says we are. The Greek here is ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν—“is one spirit.” Present tense, reality now.
This isn’t a mystical union. It’s a spiritual reality: your regenerated spirit has been fused with Christ’s Spirit. And since Christ is in heaven, your spirit—joined with His—is already in heaven positionally and relationally.
📍 4. We Are Citizens of Heaven Now
Philippians 3:20 – “Our citizenship is in heaven…”
This is not a future promise—it’s a present declaration. The Greek word for “citizenship” is πολίτευμα (politeuma), referring to our current governing authority and identity. Just as an ambassador remains physically in a foreign land while representing his home country, your body remains on earth, but your spirit derives life from heaven.
📍 5. We Have Been Made Complete in Christ
Colossians 2:9–10 – “...in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.”
Our spiritual completeness is not progressive. The Greek ἐστὲ πεπληρωμένοι (este peplērōmenoi) is a perfect tense passive—meaning it’s a completed action with ongoing results.
You are not becoming complete—you have been made complete, and this completeness resides in your new spirit, already joined with Christ.
📍 6. We Are Absent From the Body, But Present With the Lord
2 Corinthians 5:6–8 – “...while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord... yet we prefer to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.”
This seems to suggest separation—but it’s addressing bodily presence, not spiritual union. Paul also says earlier that “we walk by faith, not by sight.” Spiritually, we are already with Christ (Colossians 3:3), even while our bodies remain here.
🧬 Why Trichotomy Clarifies This So Beautifully
From the trichotomist view:
Your body is your earth suit (still awaiting redemption),
Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions (being renewed),
Your spirit is the part of you made new and fused with Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Cor. 6:17).
This is why Paul can say with confidence:
“...though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)
It’s also why believers are told:
“Walk by the Spirit... live by the Spirit... be filled with the Spirit...”
Because we are already joined to that very Spirit.
💬 The Voice of the Holy Spirit (Through Scripture)
I have raised you up and seated you with Me—not someday, but now. Your spirit is no longer of this world; it is joined to Mine, hidden with Me in the Father. I have given you a new heart, a new spirit, and My own life. You are not striving to reach Me—I have already brought you home in Spirit.
Where I am, you are. The veil is torn, and there is no separation between us. Walk by faith, not by what you see. I dwell in you, and you dwell in Me. You are not waiting for heaven—you are living from it.
(Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8)
🙏 A Prayer From My Heart
Father, thank You for opening my eyes to what You’ve already done—not just what You will do. Thank You that I’m not trying to get closer to You, but that in my spirit, I’m already with You—hidden, seated, joined, and complete in Christ.
Let this truth renew my mind, settle my emotions, guide my will, and awaken my affections. You are not far—I am already home in You. May I now walk from that reality with joy and trust, from faith to faith.
Amen.