Overview
“Position in Christ” refers to a foundational Christian concept describing a believer’s spiritual status, identity, and legal standing in God’s eyes through their union with Jesus Christ. This is a gift of God’s grace, not earned by human effort, and results in being a “new creation” with a new relationship to God, no longer seen as a sinner but as righteous and adopted into God’s family. This secure, eternal position provides security and forms the basis for a life lived in accordance with God’s will and purpose.
Key Aspects of your Position in Christ
Union with Christ: The believer is spiritually joined to Jesus, sharing in His death, burial, and resurrection. Our position in Christ is our legal standing with God: Are we guilty or not guilty? Debtors or free? His enemies or His friends?
Justification: God declares believers righteous, not because of their own actions, but because of Christ’s righteousness credited to them.
Adoption: Believers become children of God, part of His spiritual family, with all the rights and privileges that come with it.
New Creation: In Christ, individuals are radically transformed, receiving a completely new identity and purpose, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Righteousness and Sanctification: Believers are made the righteousness of God through Christ and are set apart for His purposes.
Spiritual Inheritance: Those “in Christ” are heirs to an inheritance of spiritual blessings.
Security and Assurance: This position offers a firm foundation of salvation and security, which brings peace and rest.
Evidenced In Scripture
1. You are seated with Him in heavenly places
Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
2. You are rewarded.
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
3. You are victorious.
1 John 5:4 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 ” Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. You are in Christ
Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
5. You are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
6. You are reconciled.
Romans 5:10-11 “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
7. You are afflicted.
1 Peter 5:8-10 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
8. You are heard.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 John 5:15 “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
Christ Jesus.
9. You are a friend of Jesus
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
10. You are an heir
Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
11. Rest in God’s Love
Hebrews 4:1-11 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
What About Your Condition (State)
Understanding the “Position” versus “Condition”:
- Your position is your standing in Christ – who you are in God’s eyes.
- Your condition is your day-to-day experience and progress in the Christian life, becoming in your experience who you already are in position.
Why it Matters:
- Identity and Purpose: Knowing your position in Christ provides a firm understanding of your identity in God’s sight.
- Motivation for Living: This understanding then inspires believers to live in a way that aligns with who they are in Christ, transforming their experience into a reflection of their position.
- Spiritual Warfare: A solid grasp of your position in Christ helps you rest in the fact that you are already accepted, rather than struggling to become accepted.
Closing Thought
Experiencing the presence of God in your life is something that every Christian should strive for. How else can we claim to have a relationship with the Lord if we can not sense His presence. Look at the life of Paul the Apostle, Daniel, Ezra, Moses and others. They all served the Lord, experienced His presence and responded in obedience. Imagine how our lives would be affected if we too were to experience God’s presence. Let’s examine God’s word and learn how we too can position ourselves to experience the presence of the Lord.
Jesus Fasted 40 days in the Wilderness to pray to the Father
Zacheus climbed a tree in the path that Jesus walked.
Nicodemus visited with Jesus in the quiet of the night.
Mary rested at the feet of Jesus.
The 10 Virgins. 5 prepared to meet the groom, 5 did not.
We need Spiritual Discipline.
- Read The Word
- Meditate
- Learn
- Prayer
- Worship
- Evangelize
- Serve
- Stewardship
- Fasting
- Silence and Solitude
- Journaling
- Persevere
Desire Spiritual Maturity.
Discover Your Gift
Walk In The Spirit
Become a Receiver of God’s Blessings
Asking without receiving is not productive. Our receiver is not working the way it should.
God’s Grace Is Resistable and to often it is not received. Refer to the wedding feast of the lord and how many would not come to the feast.