Born Again Through the Living and Abiding Word

I believe that zippo 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 nosotros guilty or not guilty? Debtors or gratuitous? His enemies or His friends? Understanding these things makes a difference in how we alive day in and day out.

In His goodness and by His grace, God changes our continuing — our position — before Him when nosotros place our trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians 2:7 affirms that our new condition 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 laic'due south position in Christ.

Here's where this article is headed:

Defining Grace

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

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

The Riches of God'south Grace for the Believer

Next Steps: Acquire About More Core Christian Beliefs

Defining Grace

How do we define grace? A common definition is "God'south riches at Christ's expense." Another way to describe grace is "the unmerited favor and kindness of God." And oh how He has acted out of his kindness for the skillful of the believer! At that place was justice due for the penalty of our sin, just God paid that debt through the sacrificial expiry of His Son. Ephesians one:three says we were (past tense – when we first 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 the states a new position in Christ, and this makes all the difference in living with purpose and satisfaction. Most of the apostle Paul'southward letters in the New Testament draw a precipitous distinction betwixt what God has washed for usa by grace and how we are to live in view of this fact. The Book of Ephesians, for example, first makes united states of america "sit and learn" of our position in Christ and so, in view of this position, encourages us to live a life consistent with it.

In other words, the Christian life is becoming (in experience) who y'all already are (as God sees you lot). This divine society is clearly seen in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans amongst others. As a written report of your own, read the volume of Ephesians and write down all that God has done for y'all and that which yous are called to do yourself. You should encounter a sharp distinction betwixt the first three chapters and the last three (with the connexion between the two at four:ane). Commenting on Ephesians, Watchman Nee says:

Nearly Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in lodge to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the truthful lodge. Our natural reason says, If we do not walk, how can we ever reach the goal? What tin we reach without effort? How can we get anywhere if we do not movement? Merely Christianity is a queer business! If at the outset we endeavour to practise anything, nosotros miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big Practice, but with a big DONE. Thus Ephesians opens with the statement that God has "blessed us with every spiritual approval in the heavenly places in Christ" and we are invited at the outset to sit downward and enjoy what God has done for u.s.; not to set out to try and attain it for ourselves.¹

And then nosotros desire to build on that which is Washed and, through faith, exist enabled to residuum in the finished work of Christ (significant what Jesus accomplished by His expiry and resurrection) and our position in Him.

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

The framework for the post-obit has been loosely taken from "Conservancy" by Lewis Sperry Chafer. Earlier looking at that which God has washed for the believer in Christ, here is a summary of the five points Chafer raises²:

Our position in Christ is a issue of our new life in Christ from which precious experiences may abound. For instance, justification – meaning all of our past sins beingness covered – leads to joy and peace.
The Christian position is every bit perfect and complete the instant information technology is possessed as it ever will be in the ages to come.
This position has nothing to do with what we have 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 not ever change. Our sensation and feelings most our position may vary twenty-four hour period to day, but the abiding fact that nosotros are a new creation in Christ remains.
Our position tin can only be known through God revealing it to u.s.a.. Its reality can be grasped just by assertive the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for anyone who will believe.

How to Constitute These Truths in Our Hearts

At present, we will explore the riches of God. But earlier you start racing through the list, call up! Yes, call up about His riches. Meditate on them and what they mean for y'all. You see, I've read lists like this before, and I know the temptation to race through them. Simply I believe that these are truths that God wants to firmly establish inside our hearts, for they glorify His grapheme and bear witness the extent of His work on the Cross for us. 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, non on the basis of our own work but ever on that of the finished work of another.³

Every new spiritual feel begins with credence by faith of what God has done. As you read each point, call back what you accept just read: These truths are eternal and are as true of y'all today as they ever volition exist. They do not grow or increase but are free gifts of God'south astonishing grace.

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

You lot enter into new experiences of God'south beloved as y'all accept by organized religion that which God has done in Christ.

The Riches of God's 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 Programme of God

Before the world had fifty-fifty been created, God knew and chose those who would be His children through faith, and in the course of time, He called them to Himself. Do nosotros fully understand it? No way! Not until He explains it all in heaven. Do we withal believe it? Aye, both through the Give-and-take of God and the experience of God'south 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 society that He might exist the firstborn amid many brothers." (Also meet 1 Peter i:ii.)
Elected: 1 Thessalonians 1:4 — "For nosotros know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen yous." (Also see Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1.)
Predestined: Ephesians i:11 — "In Him we take obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will"
Chosen: 1 Peter 2:9 — "But you lot are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession ..." (Besides see Matthew 22:14.)
Chosen: Romans 9:11 — "... though they were not nevertheless born and had done nothing either proficient or bad — in gild that God'due south purpose of election might continue, not considering of works but because of Him who calls." (Also run across 1 Thessalonians 5:24.)

Brought Near to God

The Bible says the blood of Christ brings us nigh to God. In the campaigner Paul's writings, everything the claret of Christ accomplishes is too accomplished by the death and the cantankerous of Christ. They are interchangeable ideas. If we are alleged righteous by the blood, we're alleged righteous by His death. It isn't the physical makeup of the blood that accomplishes something, it is the sacrificial giving of life that allows the states to come up well-nigh.

Reconciled by God: 2 Corinthians 5:18 — "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled the states to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (Also encounter Colossians i:20.)
Reconciled to God: Romans 5:10 — "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more than, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." (Likewise see 2 Corinthians 5:twenty.)
Redeemed: Colossians 1:xiv — "... in whom nosotros take redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (As well see 1 Peter 1:xviii; Romans 3:24.)
Brought Near: Ephesians 2:13 — "In Christ Jesus yous who in one case were far off accept been brought nigh by the blood of Christ."
Given Access: Ephesians ii:18 — "For through Him we both have access in i Spirit to the Male parent." (Also see Ephesians three:12; Romans 5:ii; Hebrews iv:14-xvi; 10:19- 20.)

Children of God

Can someone who is built-in become unborn? Tin can a son or daughter in a family unit somehow finish existence a son or daughter? No! If yous have been built-in into a family unit then you may change your name, but you cannot change your Dna. You are forever a son or daughter of your father. The same applies to our spiritual birth! The believer is a son or girl of God.

Built-in Once again: one Peter 1:23 — ". . . since you have been born once more, not of perishable seed simply of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God." (Too see John 1:12; iii:7.)
Children of God: 1 John 3:ii — "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has non notwithstanding appeared; but we know that when He appears nosotros shall be like Him, because nosotros shall see Him as he is." (Also see two Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26.)
New Creations: 2 Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The onetime has passed abroad; behold, the new has come." (Also see Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10.)
Adopted: Romans 8:15 — "For you did non receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, just yous have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, past whom we weep, 'Abba! Father!'" (Also see Galatians 4:5.)
Heirs: Galatians 4:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, and then an heir through God."

Totally Acceptable to God Through Jesus Christ

Do you have to be perfect to go to heaven? Most say no because no one is perfect. Withal could a perfectly holy God allow annihilation less than perfection into His presence? No! So therefore, yep, y'all do have to be perfect. But how could this ever exist achieved by an imperfect, sinful creation? In Christ, righteousness and perfection are a gift! His annunciation is that believers are forever justified – a position that means we are declared righteous. He completely covers our past.

Justified: Romans 5:1 — "Therefore, since we take been justified by faith, we accept peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Also see Romans 3:24; viii:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:seven.)
Righteous: Philippians iii:8-9 — "... in gild that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my ain that comes from the law, just that which comes through religion in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on organized religion." (Also see Romans 3:22; 5:17; x:3-4; i Corinthians i:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21.)
Sanctified: 1 Corinthians 1:30 — "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to usa … sanctification and redemption ..." (Also see one Corinthians half dozen:11; Hebrews 10:10.)
Made Perfect: Hebrews ten:14 — "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are beingness sanctified." (Besides run across Hebrews ten:ane-two for the results of being made perfect.)
Accustomed: Ephesians i:v-vi — "... he predestined us for adoption to Himself equally sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His volition, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Honey." (Also encounter 1 Peter two:5.)
Forgiven: Colossians ii:xiii — "And you lot, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Also meet Colossians 1:fourteen; iii:13; Ephesians one:7; iv:32.)
Complete: Colossians 2:10 — "You have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Forever United and Joined with Christ

Believers take been placed "in Christ" so that whatever has happened to Christ has also happened to them. When Jesus died and rose again, so did nosotros spiritually, and never again will God see a believer every bit anything other than a new cosmos in Christ Jesus. We are forever united and joined to Christ, and His history is our history!

Crucified: Romans 6:half dozen — "We know that our old self was crucified with Him in society that the body of sin might be brought to zippo, then that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (Also see Galatians 2:twenty.)
Expressionless: Romans 6:eight — "Now if we accept died with Christ, we believe that we will likewise alive with Him." (Also Colossians 3:iii.)
Buried: Romans 6:4 — "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in guild that, just equally Christ was raised from the dead by the celebrity of the Male parent, we too might walk in newness of life." (Also see Colossians ii:12.)
Raised: Colossians 3:1 — "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are to a higher place, where Christ is, seated at the correct mitt of God." (Also run across Romans 6:4.)
Ascended: Ephesians two:6 — "... and raised us upwards with Him and seated the states with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Jesus' Very Own Possession

In a parable about the kingdom of God, Jesus likened Himself to a man who found a treasure in a field (Matthew thirteen: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 requite upwards all that He had (His life), and for the joy set 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 volition never bandage out.'' (Also run into John 10:29; 17:6,11,12,20)
His Helpmate: two Corinthians eleven:2 — "For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed yous to i husband, to present y'all as a pure virgin to Christ." (Also run across Ephesians 5:25-32; Revelation 19:7; John 3:29.)
His Inheritance: Ephesians 1:18 — "... that you lot may know what is the promise to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints."
His Possession: Ephesians 1:14 — "... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of information technology, to the praise of His glory."

Blessed With the Holy Spirit

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

Born of the Spirit: John iii:6 — "That which is built-in of the flesh is mankind, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Baptized: one Corinthians 12:xiii — "For in one Spirit nosotros were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or complimentary — and all were fabricated to beverage of one Spirit."
Indwelt: one Corinthians 6:19 — "Exercise y'all not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?" (Also see 1 Corinthians two:12; John 7:39; Romans five:five; 8:ix; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 4:6.)
Sealed: Ephesians ane:thirteen-14 — "In Him you also, when you heard the discussion of truth, the gospel of your conservancy, 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."

Within the "How Much More" Care of God (Romans v:10)

Recollect of it – when we were sinners and enemies of God, He fully justified us from every charge considering of our faith in His precious Son, Jesus. How much more now, every bit His treasured possession, will believers discover themselves the objects of His care!

Objects of His Love: Ephesians 2:iv — "Merely God, being rich in mercy, because of the smashing love with which He loved united states of america ..." (Also come across Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 3:ane.)
Objects of His Grace: Romans five:two — "Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in promise of the celebrity of God." (Also see Ephesians 2:7-viii; Titus 2:12-13.)
Objects of His Power: Ephesians 1:xviii-xix — "... that yous may know ... what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Also see Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:five.)
Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews xiii:5 — "I will never leave you lot nor forsake you." (Also see Philippians 1:vi; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Jude 24.)
Objects of His Peace: Philippians 4:9 — "The God of peace will be with you." (Also 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 usa and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace ..." (Besides run across Romans 15:four-5.)
Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews 7:25 — "Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw nigh to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Also see Romans viii:34; Hebrews 9:24.)

A Heavenly Home Assured

Concluding, but near importantly of all, He has given us citizenship in heaven – where we volition be fellow heirs with the King of kings! We alive every bit strangers and exiles on this earth, far from our true abode to come. We are ambassadors of God in a country not our own. But our heavenly home is bodacious, and our inheritance is waiting, kept safe by God himself!

Heavenly Citizens: Philippians three:20 — "Our citizenship is in heaven." (Also see Ephesians two:19; Hebrews 12:22.)
Members of God'due south Household: Ephesians 2:19 — "You are swain citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Also see iii:15; Galatians 6:10.)
Take a Heavenly Inheritance: 1 Peter ane:4-5 — "... an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you lot, who by God'southward power are beingness guarded through religion for a conservancy gear up to be revealed in the concluding time." (Also see Ephesians 1:xiv; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews ix:15.)

One last idea: From the simplicity of a flower to the complexity of space, the more humankind explores the piece of work of God, the more than nosotros stand in awe of His perfection. With such a artistic and all-powerful God, practice y'all call up He would complete anything less than perfection in the of import work of our salvation?

The riches of God's grace are incredible! Just equally Chafer says, information technology's only the offset! One day, when Christ comes again, the process shall be consummate and we shall exist changed into His likeness. And then, for the ages that are to come up, His helpmate shall be a visible witness to the incredible kindness and grace of God (Ephesians 2:7). Let me end with a quote from Jonathan Edwards that reflects what our reality will one day exist: "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is simply grace perfected."

Next Steps

Learn more than nearly core Christian behavior such every bit the Holy Spirit, sky and the Trinity.

Notes:

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

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