To Put on the Lord Jesus Christ Means Here to Embrace Again and Again

I believe that aught is more foundational to the Christian life than for the believer to understand his or her position in Christ Jesus.

Our position in Christ is our legal standing with God: Are we guilty or not guilty? Debtors or costless? His enemies or His friends? Understanding these things makes a departure in how we alive day in and twenty-four hour period out.

In His goodness and by His grace, God changes our standing — our position — earlier Him when we identify our trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians two:seven affirms that our new status flows out of that wonderful phrase "the riches of God's grace."

This study volition explore the riches of God's grace in regard to the believer's position in Christ.

Here'south where this commodity is headed:

Defining Grace

What Our Position in Christ Means (and What Information technology Doesn't Mean)

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

The Riches of God's Grace for the Laic

Next Steps: Learn About More Core Christian Beliefs

Defining Grace

How practise nosotros ascertain grace? A common definition is "God's riches at Christ's expense." Some other way to draw grace is "the unmerited favor and kindness of God." And oh how He has acted out of his kindness for the good of the believer! At that place was justice due for the penalty of our sin, but God paid that debt through the sacrificial decease of His Son. Ephesians 1:3 says nosotros were (past tense – when nosotros starting time believed in Jesus) blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace!

The riches of God's grace give u.s. a new position in Christ, and this makes all the difference in living with purpose and satisfaction. Most of the apostle Paul'south messages in the New Testament describe a sharp distinction between what God has done for us by grace and how nosotros are to live in view of this fact. The Book of Ephesians, for example, first makes u.s.a. "sit and acquire" of our position in Christ and then, in view of this position, encourages us to live a life consistent with it.

In other words, the Christian life is condign (in experience) who you already are (as God sees yous). This divine social club is conspicuously seen in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans among others. As a study of your own, read the book of Ephesians and write downwards all that God has done for you and that which you are chosen to practise yourself. Yous should see a sharp distinction between the first 3 capacity and the last three (with the connection between the two at 4:1). Commenting on Ephesians, Watchman Nee says:

Most Christians make the fault of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the truthful order. Our natural reason says, If we do non walk, how tin nosotros e'er reach the goal? What can we attain without effort? How tin we get anywhere if nosotros do not motility? Only Christianity is a queer business organisation! If at the outset we try to do anything, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big DO, but with a big DONE. Thus Ephesians opens with the statement that God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" and we are invited at the get-go to sit down and enjoy what God has done for united states of america; not to gear up out to try and reach it for ourselves.¹

And so we want to build on that which is DONE and, through religion, be enabled to rest in the finished work of Christ (pregnant what Jesus accomplished by His death and resurrection) and our position in Him.

What Our Position in Christ Means (and What It Doesn't Hateful)

The framework for the following has been loosely taken from "Salvation" by Lewis Sperry Chafer. Earlier looking at that which God has done for the laic in Christ, hither is a summary of the five points Chafer raises²:

Our position in Christ is a result of our new life in Christ from which precious experiences may grow. For instance, justification – meaning all of our past sins being covered – leads to joy and peace.
The Christian position is every bit perfect and complete the instant it is possessed every bit it ever will be in the ages to come.
This position has nothing to practise with what we take accomplished or earned. It is based solely on the merit of the Christ. The Christian is "accepted (at present and forever) in the beloved."
This position does non ever alter. Our awareness and feelings almost our position may vary day to day, but the constant fact that we are a new creation in Christ remains.
Our position can only exist known through God revealing it to usa. Its reality can be grasped only by assertive the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for anyone who volition believe.

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

Now, we will explore the riches of God. But earlier you start racing through the listing, think! Yes, think near His riches. Meditate on them and what they mean for you. You see, I've read lists like this before, and I know the temptation to race through them. But I believe that these are truths that God wants to firmly establish within our hearts, for they glorify His character and show the extent of His work on the Cantankerous for united states. In his book "Sit, Walk, Stand up," Watchman Nee says:

Our Christian life begins with the discovery of what God has provided. From this point onwards Christian experience proceeds as it began, not on the basis of our ain work but always on that of the finished piece of work of some other.^three

Every new spiritual feel begins with credence past religion of what God has done. As you read each point, retrieve what you take just read: These truths are eternal and are as truthful of you today as they always volition exist. They practice non grow or increment but are free gifts of God'due south amazing grace.

God has hidden these truths from the proud and cocky-confident. But for those who truly see their need of God, the gifts of grace become their greatest delight!

You enter into new experiences of God'due south honey equally y'all accept by faith that which God has done in Christ.

The Riches of God'southward Grace for the Believer

The following things are true of everyone who has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. They are God's gifts to all through the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus. (The Bible verses are taken from the English Standard Version.)

In the Eternal Plan of God

Before the world had even been created, God knew and chose those who would exist His children through faith, and in the course of time, He chosen them to Himself. Do nosotros fully understand it? No way! Not until He explains it all in sky. Do nosotros still believe it? Yeah, both through the Word of God and the feel of God's call upon our lives. Believers are:

Foreknown: Romans 8:29 — "For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in social club that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Likewise come across 1 Peter 1:2.)
Elected: 1 Thessalonians one:iv — "For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen yous." (Also see Romans eight:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1.)
Predestined: Ephesians one:xi — "In Him nosotros have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined co-ordinate to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will"
Chosen: ane Peter 2:ix — "Simply you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession ..." (Also run into Matthew 22:xiv.)
Called: Romans 9:eleven — "... though they were non yet born and had washed nothing either skillful or bad — in order that God'due south purpose of election might continue, not considering of works merely considering of Him who calls." (Also see i Thessalonians v:24.)

Brought Near to God

The Bible says the blood of Christ brings us virtually to God. In the apostle Paul'due south writings, everything the blood of Christ accomplishes is as well accomplished by the death and the cross of Christ. They are interchangeable ideas. If we are declared righteous by the blood, nosotros're declared righteous by His death. It isn't the physical makeup of the claret that accomplishes something, it is the sacrificial giving of life that allows us to come up near.

Reconciled by God: 2 Corinthians five:18 — "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled u.s. to Himself and gave us the ministry building of reconciliation." (Also see Colossians i:twenty.)
Reconciled to God: Romans v:10 — "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall nosotros be saved by His life." (Also see 2 Corinthians 5:20.)
Redeemed: Colossians 1:14 — "... in whom nosotros have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Also see ane Peter 1:eighteen; Romans 3:24.)
Brought Near: Ephesians 2:13 — "In Christ Jesus you who once were far off take been brought virtually by the blood of Christ."
Given Admission: Ephesians ii:18 — "For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Male parent." (Too see Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:two; Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19- 20.)

Children of God

Can someone who is born become unborn? Can a son or daughter in a family unit somehow cease being a son or daughter? No! If you accept been born into a family then you may change your proper name, merely y'all cannot modify your Deoxyribonucleic acid. You are forever a son or girl of your male parent. The same applies to our spiritual birth! The believer is a son or daughter of God.

Born Again: ane Peter ane:23 — ". . . since yous take been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Give-and-take of God." (Also see John 1:12; iii:seven.)
Children of God: 1 John iii:2 — "Beloved, nosotros are God'southward children now, and what nosotros will be has non yet appeared; simply nosotros know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall run across Him every bit he is." (Besides see ii Corinthians 6:18; Galatians iii:26.)
New Creations: ii Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed abroad; behold, the new has come." (Besides see Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:ten.)
Adopted: Romans 8:15 — "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, merely you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Also see Galatians four:5.)
Heirs: Galatians four:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Totally Adequate to God Through Jesus Christ

Do y'all have to be perfect to go to heaven? About say no because no one is perfect. Still could a perfectly holy God permit anything less than perfection into His presence? No! And so therefore, yes, yous exercise have to be perfect. Just how could this ever be achieved by an imperfect, sinful creation? In Christ, righteousness and perfection are a gift! His declaration is that believers are forever justified – a position that ways nosotros are declared righteous. He completely covers our by.

Justified: Romans 5:1 — "Therefore, since nosotros have been justified by faith, nosotros have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Also run across Romans 3:24; viii:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:7.)
Righteous: Philippians iii:8-ix — "... in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the constabulary, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." (Also run into Romans 3:22; 5:17; x:3-four; 1 Corinthians 1:30; two Corinthians 5:21.)
Sanctified: 1 Corinthians 1:30 — "And considering of Him yous are in Christ Jesus, who became to us … sanctification and redemption ..." (Likewise meet 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:ten.)
Made Perfect: Hebrews 10:14 — "For by a unmarried offer He has perfected for all fourth dimension those who are being sanctified." (Also see Hebrews 10:one-ii for the results of existence made perfect.)
Accepted: Ephesians 1:v-six — "... he predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved." (Also see i Peter 2:5.)
Forgiven: Colossians 2:thirteen — "And you, who were expressionless in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven the states all our trespasses." (Also see Colossians i:xiv; 3:13; Ephesians ane:seven; four:32.)
Complete: Colossians two:10 — "You have been filled in Him, who is the caput of all rule and authority."

Forever United and Joined with Christ

Believers have been placed "in Christ" so that whatever has happened to Christ has likewise happened to them. When Jesus died and rose again, and then did we spiritually, and never again volition God come across a believer as annihilation other than a new creation in Christ Jesus. We are forever united and joined to Christ, and His history is our history!

Crucified: Romans 6:six — "We know that our one-time self was crucified with Him in guild that the body of sin might be brought to zilch, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (Likewise encounter Galatians 2:20.)
Dead: Romans 6:8 — "Now if nosotros have died with Christ, we believe that we will as well live with Him." (Likewise Colossians 3:3.)
Buried: Romans 6:4 — "We were cached therefore with Him past baptism into death, in guild that, merely as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Besides meet Colossians 2:12.)
Raised: Colossians 3:one — "If then you lot take been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." (Also see Romans half-dozen:4.)
Ascended: Ephesians 2:half-dozen — "... and raised united states of america up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Jesus' Very Ain Possession

In a parable about the kingdom of God, Jesus likened Himself to a man who establish a treasure in a field (Matthew 13:44). And because of His immense joy, He sold all that He had so that He could purchase that field. The treasure in the field stands for those in the world who believe in His name. For them, He was willing to surrender all that He had (His life), and for the joy prepare before Him, He endured the cantankerous (Hebrews 12).

His Gift: John 6:37 — "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.'' (Besides come across John 10:29; 17:six,11,12,20)
His Bride: 2 Corinthians 11:2 — "For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one hubby, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." (Also see Ephesians v:25-32; Revelation xix:vii; John 3:29.)
His Inheritance: Ephesians i:18 — "... that you may know what is the hope to which He has called yous, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints."
His Possession: Ephesians ane:14 — "... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His celebrity."

Blest With the Holy Spirit

Believers are likewise given the Holy Spirit, non only as a ways of living the Christian life in this age but also as a guarantee that, as God'due south possessions, we will participate in the glory of the age to come up! There is no true Christian alive who has not been given the Holy Spirit.

Born of the Spirit: John 3:half-dozen — "That which is built-in of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Baptized: i Corinthians 12:13 — "For in i Spirit we were all baptized into one trunk — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were fabricated to potable of one Spirit."
Indwelt: 1 Corinthians 6:19 — "Practise you lot non know that your trunk is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you lot, whom you accept from God?" (Also see 1 Corinthians 2:12; John 7:39; Romans 5:5; eight:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 4:6.)
Sealed: Ephesians ane:thirteen-14 — "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we larn possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Inside the "How Much More" Intendance of God (Romans 5:10)

Think of information technology – when we were sinners and enemies of God, He fully justified u.s.a. from every accuse because of our faith in His precious Son, Jesus. How much more now, as His treasured possession, will believers find themselves the objects of His care!

Objects of His Love: Ephesians 2:four — "But God, existence rich in mercy, because of the peachy love with which He loved us ..." (Besides see Ephesians 5:2; one John three:1.)
Objects of His Grace: Romans 5:2 — "Through Him we have also obtained access by religion into this grace in which we stand, and nosotros rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Also encounter Ephesians ii:7-eight; Titus 2:12-13.)
Objects of His Power: Ephesians 1:18-19 — "... that you may know ... what is the immeasurable greatness of His ability toward us who believe." (Also run into Philippians ii:xiii; 1 Peter i:5.)
Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews thirteen:v — "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Too see Philippians 1:6; i Corinthians 1:8-9; Jude 24.)
Objects of His Peace: Philippians 4:9 — "The God of peace will be with yous." (As well see Philippians 4:seven.)
Objects of His Encouragement: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 — "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved united states of america and gave us eternal condolement and good hope through grace ..." (Also come across Romans fifteen:four-5.)
Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews vii:25 — "Consequently, He is able to save to the farthest those who draw virtually to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Also see Romans 8:34; Hebrews nine:24.)

A Heavenly Home Assured

Last, merely most chiefly of all, He has given u.s.a. citizenship in sky – where we will be fellow heirs with the King of kings! We live as strangers and exiles on this earth, far from our truthful habitation to come up. We are ambassadors of God in a country non our own. But our heavenly home is assured, and our inheritance is waiting, kept safe past God himself!

Heavenly Citizens: Philippians 3:20 — "Our citizenship is in heaven." (Also see Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 12:22.)
Members of God'south Household: Ephesians two:xix — "You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Also meet 3:xv; Galatians 6:10.)
Take a Heavenly Inheritance: 1 Peter i:iv-5 — "... an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for yous, who by God's power are being guarded through organized religion for a salvation set to be revealed in the last fourth dimension." (Also encounter Ephesians 1:fourteen; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 9:15.)

One last thought: From the simplicity of a bloom to the complexity of space, the more humankind explores the work of God, the more we stand in awe of His perfection. With such a creative and all-powerful God, practice yous remember He would complete annihilation less than perfection in the important work of our salvation?

The riches of God'southward grace are incredible! But every bit Chafer says, information technology's only the outset! One day, when Christ comes again, the procedure shall be complete and nosotros shall exist changed into His likeness. And so, for the ages that are to come up, His helpmate shall be a visible witness to the incredible kindness and grace of God (Ephesians 2:vii). Let me end with a quote from Jonathan Edwards that reflects what our reality will 1 day be: "Grace is but celebrity begun, and glory is simply grace perfected."

Next Steps

Learn more about cadre Christian beliefs such as the Holy Spirit, heaven and the Trinity.

Notes:

Watchman Nee, "Sit, Walk, Stand" (Ballad Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1977), p. two.
Lewis Sperry Chafer, "Salvation" (Findlay, OH: Durham Publishing Company, 1917), pp. 57-59.
Nee, "Sit down, Walk, Stand," p.5.

maurysworsed.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/core-christian-beliefs/the-believers-position-in-christ.html