We continue with another excerpt from The Principle of Position, following on last week’s introduction. By way of review, please know that when we speak of our “Position in Christ” it is in reference to our Union in Christ.
The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God’s grace, whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband; which is done in their effectual calling. It …is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification, adoption, sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him. Westminster Larger Catechism Q’s 66 & 69.
1Cor. 1:30: But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— The operative words here describing our union with Christ is “in” Christ.
As we have observed from our previous introduction:
All spiritual life and growth is based upon the principle of position. It can be summed up in one word: source.
Our position, the source of our Christian life, is perfect. It is eternally established in the Father’s presence, in Christ.
Our condition is what we are in our Christian walk, in which we develop from infancy to maturity. Although our position remains immutable (never changes), our condition is variable and ought to grow in time in Christ.
And finally, if the believer does not know of his position in the Lord Jesus, and how to abide in Him as his very life, there will be but one result, struggle in his un-Christlike condition rather than resting in his Christ-centered position.
With this review, now onto a further look at The Green Letters, Principle of Position, by Miles Stanford.
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 19—Position Defined and Illustrated Continued….
In most cases, a believer is more aware of his condition than of his position. This is the reason for so much failure and stagnation. If we are to grow and become fruitful, our faith must be anchored in the finished work of our position—in Christ. There is no basis for faith in our changeable, unfinished condition. “…Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:5).
Scriptural, fact-centered faith in the Lord Jesus as our position before the Father is the one means of experiencing that finished work in the growth of our daily condition. Spiritual birth placed us in our accepted position, from which our spiritual condition is being completed, by faith. “…Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
Every Christian has been positioned forever in the risen Lord by spiritual birth. But only the believer who knows, grows. It is faith in the facts of our position that gives us the daily benefits of growth in our condition. If the believer is not clearly aware of the specific truths of the Word, he cannot exercise the necessary faith for growth and service. He can only seek his resources in the realm of self. Some of the wonderful positional truths are set forth for our faith in the scriptural illustrations of the grain of wheat, and the vine and the branch.
The Grain of Wheat
In John 12:24 the Lord Jesus said, “Except a corn (grain) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” This principle of life out of death was then established at Calvary’s Cross, where He, as the Grain of Wheat, died and rose again. In His resurrection He brought forth the “much fruit” out of His death.
Everyone who would ever place his trust in Christ as Savior, every grain of wheat, was resident in (identified with) the Grain of Wheat, the Head of the new spiritual harvest.
Every believer is included in the “much fruit” of His death and resurrection. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:5). ….To be continued..
