Position vs. Practical – Standing vs. State

[AVBunyan]

I think one of the reasons people are confused about eternal security and their Christian walk is that they confuse Position vs. Practical – Standing vs. State.

I’m sure most know this but I thought I’d throw it out anyway for discussion.

Position and Standing
This is how God sees you after he saved you and put you in His dear Son and seated you in heavenly places in Christ.  God knows that because of the sin nature in us He has to declare us righteous even though we are not.   God can do this because Christ has taken our place at Calvary and on this basis God declares us righteous.  So “in the books” the saint, from God’s standpoint, is perfect, as though he never sinned or ever will sin.  It has to be this way because if not we have no hope!

Practical and State
This is how we are down here.  We are still stuck in these vile bodies that likes to sin (Rom. 7).  Because of the sin nature still in us we are in a fight daily.  So, most of the time our state is a wreck.  Sins are associated with our state.

I think what people do is look at their “state” and are counting on their “state” to ultimately determine their “standing” before God.

Hey gang, if you are saved the standing is settled.  Does this mean you can quit now that Jesus “took and passed the final exam for you”?  No, we should strive to be all that God has called us to be.  

Our duty then?

Doctrine – Ephesians chapters 1-3 tells you your standing in Christ.  Then, Eph. 4-6 tells you how to walk because of that standing.   Eph. 4:1: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”  

In other words, “Now that you are perfect in Christ, walk your position heavenly position down here.”  Up there (heaven) is victory, holiness, forgiveness, and assurance. Are you going to fail down here?  Yes, so by the power of the Spirit and the instruction from the word as it is read and preached from the pulpit we are equipped to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

What happens when one doesn’t’ know his standing.    He looks at his state.  One day it is Alabama, one day it is Oregon, and the next day it is New York.  No stability and assurance there.  Then he begins to try harder, goes up and down in his walk, gets discouraged, and finally is in despair because he thinks his state will determine his standing.  A lot of time he even gives up because he gets too discouraged.

When a saint understands his standing and grace then he is so thankful, assured, and comforted that he is able to endure his vile flesh for he knows he is safe.  He is on guard and prepared for he knows it will take the power of God to finish the work that has been done (Phil 1:6).

Now that was long and boring to some but I trust it will encourage those who struggle in this area.  And lets face it – we all have a tendency to get discouraged in trying to live the Christian life and we forget that our standing guarantees God’s acceptance of us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God bless

[ebia]

God knows that because of the sin nature in us He has to declare us righteous even though we are not.  

That just makes God to be a liar.  

[Shylynne]

I think one of the reasons people are confused about eternal security and their Christian walk is that they confuse Position vs. Word

Phi 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Phi 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phi 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Phi 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Phi 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Phi 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Phi 3:19  Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

[Shylynne]

Standing vs. Word
What happens when one doesn’t’ know his standing?  

Matt 24:36-42
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

[Shylynne]

Then he begins to try harder, goes up and down in his walk, gets discouraged, and finally is in despair because he thinks his state will determine his standing.  A lot of time he even gives up because he gets too discouraged.
When a saint understands his standing and grace then he is so thankful, assured, and comforted that he is able to endure his vile flesh for he knows he is safe.

This broad road teaching opposes the Word!

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:12  For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

Watch ye therefore! Hold fast! Dont fall short!...these warnings dont indicate  any "safe"ty in  your up and down and giving up theology.

[Shylynne]

The Halfhearted [Teachings] are Dangerous!

One message I will gladly repeat!

We have reached a time when superintendents and pastors will need great courage if they are not to be guided by [the] halfhearted.... Some preachers and laymen are lukewarm, if not ice cold, where our doctrines and standards of holiness are concerned. They betray a heritage that was purchased and established at the cost of blood, sweat, and tears.

We have churches where the doctrine of entire sanctification is seldom or never proclaimed, churches where self-help psychology with a religious tincture has been substituted for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have churches where "leading" members, elected to governing boards, blatently violate our standards of hehavior. Enough of these troubled places have emerged to cause legitimate concern about an epidemic.

The halfhearted could never have founded our church, and the half hearted cannot preserve it. They may preserve something that bears our name, but it will be shorn of the creed, spirit, vision, ethics, and passion that have been our very reason for existence.

 I am frankly concerned that we not lose what permits us to be accurately defined as a holiness church.
Carnality should be present in the church, for we should have people there in all stages of spiritual development. But carnality should not be in the driver's seat.

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My Holy Mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand." (Joel 2:1)



http://www.users.tpg.com.au/sarina21/trumpet/index.html

Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].
Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;