DOCTRINE: OUR POSITION
IN CHRIST
1.
Positional truth is a term used to describe and define the
doctrine, it refers to all that is involved in the
believers' spiritual union with
Christ; our new position "in Christ" or "in Him" which
occurs at salvation for ALL
believers in the Church Age.
2. Our
New Position constitutes a new beginning
for the believer,
neutralizing the effects of our previous position in Adam. 1 Cor.15:22
a. Our position in Adam is the result of
the imputation of Adam's original sin
[AOS] to the indwelling sin nature resulting in spiritual death; one is born physically alive but spiritually
dead.
b. Position in Christ replaces spiritual
death with eternal life and guarantees us a future resurrection.
Eternal Life replaces death - Rom. 6:23;
Resurrection is guaranteed - 1
Cor.15:51-52; 1 Ths. 4:13-16
3. Our
New Position is totally the work of
God. 1 Cor. 1:30
4. Our
New Position begins with the baptism
of the Holy Spirit, [BHS], which is one of the 5 things that God the Holy Spirit
[G/HS] does for every believer in the
church age at SALVATION.
a. Regeneration
- [new birth] Jn 3:1-16; Titus 3:5 (done by G/HS for
every believer from Adam to the end of millennium)
b. BHS - 1 Cor
12:13 (entrance into a royal
relationship)
c. Sealing
- 2 Cor
d. Indwelling
- Rom 8:9; 1 Cor
e. Giving of a Spiritual gift - 1 Cor
5. Our
New position qualifies us as
believers to live with God
forever; If we are to
live with God forever we must:
a. have forgiveness for all sins -
accomplished by faith in His work on the
cross bearing our sins - being judged on behalf of us. 1 Pet
b. be as righteous as God - accomplished
through the imputation of +R, God's righteousness which is credited to us at
salvation and therefore God can say JUSTIFIED! 2 Cor
c. have the same life as God - eternal
life - also imparted at salvation to the Believer. 1 Jn
6. The
carnal, negative, or rebellious believer as well as the believer who is in fellowship share equally in their position in
Christ. 1 Cor.
1:2,30 cf. 3:1-3
-
The sin nature's rulership is not an issue as to one's position;
-
It has everything to do with our day to day fellowship with Christ.
7. Our
new position protects us as
believers from eternal judgment. Rom 8:1
8. Our
new position produces a new creature
in Christ. 2 Cor
- what grace accomplishes at SALVATION is based on who and
what Christ is [it is the change of
position that provides the foundation, the basis for all changes in life.]
-
All bona fide changes in time, in the life of the believer are the
result of a response to the Word of God, BD.
-
As the Norms and Standards [N&S] of the conscience are being renewed
and applied, one
is said to be growing in grace.
-
This is a transformation not a reformation.
9. Our
new position guarantees the eternal
security of the
believer. Rom 8:38-39
10.
Positional truth exists in two categories:
a. Retroactive positional truth:
[RAPT] Rom. 6:3-8; Col. 2:12,
1) The believer is identified with
Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, which guarantees that we share in
His victory on
the cross.
2) This results in the rejection of human good as a
basis for salvation. Titus 3:5
3) It becomes the basis for victory
in the Christian life, the application of positional truth to experience
because the SIN NATURE has been dealt with by the Lord Jesus Christ on the
cross. Rom 6:6
Point is that the sin nature no
longer has to rule you; you have died to the sin nature, [6:2] and are freed
from it [6:7].
b. Current positional truth: [CPT]
1) This speaks of the
believer being identified with Christ at the right hand of Father in the
heavenlies.
11. On the basis of this new
position, the believer shares
certain things which Christ possesses:
(CPT - is the present reality for each
believer)
a. The life of Christ, eternal life; 1 Jn 5:11-12; Jn 20:31
b. The righteousness of the Lord Jesus
Christ; 2 Cor
5:21
c. The election of Christ; Eph 1:4
d. The destiny of Christ; Eph 1:5
e. The Sonship of Christ; Rom.
f. The heirship of Christ; Rom. 8:16-17;
1 Pet. 1:4-5
g. The priesthood of Christ; Heb. 10:10-14; 1 Pet. 2:5-9
h. The eternal
12. Summary
observations related to our position in Christ:
a. It is not an experience nor is it
associated with emotion or ecstatics.
b. It is not progressive - it can not be
improved upon in time or in eternity.
c. It is not related to human merit or
human good (an implication of
retroactive positional truth, being identified with Christ).
d. Positional truth is eternal therefore
will last forever and cannot be changed by God, Angels, or man's actions.
e. Positional truth is obtained in a second, in a moment of time, accomplished by the BHS at the point of faith in Christ.