WE return to the material we started to review from the third of Miles Stanford’s spiritual growth books titled Abide Above, A Guide to Spiritual Growth. Again, this is also found in Part Five of his combined works titled The Complete Green Letters. A Guide to Spiritual Growth cherry-picks and expands upon several topics covered in his previous writings.
AT the core of Miles’ teaching is the Principle of Position (Part Two on The Complete Green Letters, Foundations of Spiritual Growth). The Principle of Position is another way of stating a believers Union with Christ or in Christ. The phrase “in Christ” can be found 85 times in the New Testament. Change the word Christ with Him or Whom, or alter the combination of word usage with “through” instead of “in” and the occurrence of that precious phrase “in Christ” surfaces approximately 210 times in the NT.
OUR Union with Christ is a central theme of the New Testament, Christ being at the center of all things both in the Old and New Testament: Psalm 8:6; 110:1;
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph. 1:22,23
UNDERSTANDING our Position in Christ is singularly important to a Christian’s vision, orientation, and walk in Christ.
WE have spent a good amount of time looking at this discussion, but it must always be foremost in our thoughts in governing our daily walk in “putting on Christ” (Eph. 4:20-24). Therefore, the important necessity to Think Position!
In the inexorable blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas 1:2
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Chapter 56 — Think Position!
Our position in the Lord Jesus Christ is made up of two parts: death and life. Identification with Him in His death issues in identification with Him in His life. Spiritual growth is the result of the old man abiding in the death of the Cross, and the new man abiding in the risen life of Christ. The way of the Cross doesn’t end at the Cross!
The principles on which our Father carries out His purpose in us are eternal and unchanging. He is “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He begins in the heights, goes down to the depths, and returns to the heights.
Let us consider this principle as illustrated in the work of the Lord Jesus. He came down to earth from His heavenly glory (John 17:4); He was made to be our sin on the Cross, and willingly died as our Redeemer (Rom. 5:8); He took us down into His death unto sin as our Deliverer (Rom. 6:4); He then brought us as “new creations” in Himself to His eternal position in heaven (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:4–6). Life, death, harvest!
Position Above
Our Father begins by placing each believer above—in Christ—the very moment he repents and receives Him as his personal Savior. “Ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins … hath he quickened [recreated] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:12, 13). Yes, “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). This is exactly where the Father has positioned every believer, whether or not he is aware of the wondrous fact; whether in service, or out of service; whether victorious, or defeated.
Position Unknown
Although the Christian has been positioned above, he is unaware of this fact when he comes to the Savior at the foot of the Cross. What he sees is that the penalty of his sins has been paid, and that he is thereby assured of his place in Glory. Therefore, …
…to be continued
