Father in Jesus Name How Do I Get Confident Again

I believe that cipher is more foundational to the Christian life than for the laic to understand his or her position in Christ Jesus.

Our position in Christ is our legal standing with God: Are we guilty or not guilty? Debtors or complimentary? His enemies or His friends? Understanding these things makes a departure in how we live day in and day out.

In His goodness and by His grace, God changes our standing — our position — before Him when we identify our trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians 2:7 affirms that our new status flows out of that wonderful phrase "the riches of God's grace."

This written report will explore the riches of God's grace in regard to the laic's 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

Adjacent Steps: Learn Virtually More Cadre Christian Beliefs

Defining Grace

How practise we ascertain grace? A mutual definition is "God's riches at Christ's expense." Another way to draw grace is "the unmerited favor and kindness of God." And oh how He has acted out of his kindness for the proficient of the believer! There was justice due for the penalty of our sin, just God paid that debt through the sacrificial death of His Son. Ephesians 1:three says we were (by tense – when we starting time believed in Jesus) blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in accordance with His pleasance and will – to the praise of His glorious grace!

The riches of God'south grace give us a new position in Christ, and this makes all the divergence in living with purpose and satisfaction. Most of the apostle Paul's letters in the New Testament draw a precipitous distinction betwixt what God has done for usa by grace and how we are to live in view of this fact. The Book of Ephesians, for instance, start makes u.s.a. "sit and learn" of our position in Christ then, in view of this position, encourages us to live a life consistent with it.

In other words, the Christian life is becoming (in feel) who you lot already are (as God sees you). This divine order is clearly seen in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans among others. Equally a report of your own, read the book of Ephesians and write down all that God has washed for y'all and that which you are called to do yourself. Y'all should run across a abrupt distinction between the showtime iii capacity and the last three (with the connection between the two at 4:1). Commenting on Ephesians, Watchman Nee says:

Near Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, merely that is a reversal of the true lodge. Our natural reason says, If nosotros do not walk, how can nosotros ever achieve the goal? What can we attain without effort? How can we go anywhere if we do not move? Only Christianity is a queer business organisation! If at the kickoff we try to practice anything, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big Practice, but with a big DONE. Thus Ephesians opens with the statement that God has "blest us with every spiritual approval in the heavenly places in Christ" and nosotros are invited at the outset to sit down and enjoy what God has done for us; non to set out to attempt and achieve information technology for ourselves.¹

So we want to build on that which is Washed and, through faith, be enabled to rest in the finished work of Christ (meaning what Jesus accomplished by His death and resurrection) and our position in Him.

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

The framework for the following has been loosely taken from "Conservancy" by Lewis Sperry Chafer. Earlier looking at that which God has done for the laic in Christ, here is a summary of the 5 points Chafer raisesⁱⁱ:

Our position in Christ is a event of our new life in Christ from which precious experiences may abound. For example, justification – pregnant all of our by sins being covered – leads to joy and peace.
The Christian position is as perfect and complete the instant information technology is possessed every bit it ever will be in the ages to come up.
This position has cipher to do with what we have achieved or earned. It is based solely on the merit of the Christ. The Christian is "accepted (now and forever) in the dearest."
This position does non ever change. Our awareness and feelings near our position may vary 24-hour interval to day, but the abiding fact that nosotros are a new cosmos in Christ remains.
Our position tin simply be known through God revealing information technology to u.s.a.. Its reality tin be grasped merely by believing the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for anyone who will believe.

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

Now, we volition explore the riches of God. Just before you start racing through the listing, remember! Yep, think about His riches. Meditate on them and what they hateful for you lot. Yous run into, I've read lists like this before, and I know the temptation to race through them. Merely I believe that these are truths that God wants to firmly found within our hearts, for they glorify His character and show the extent of His piece of work on the Cross for the states. In his book "Sit down, Walk, Stand up," Watchman Nee says:

Our Christian life begins with the discovery of what God has provided. From this indicate onwards Christian experience proceeds equally it began, not on the basis of our ain piece of work but always on that of the finished piece of work of some other.³

Every new spiritual experience begins with acceptance by faith of what God has done. As y'all read each signal, think what you take just read: These truths are eternal and are as true of you today equally they e'er will exist. They exercise not grow or increase merely are gratis gifts of God's amazing grace.

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

You enter into new experiences of God'south dear as y'all accept by faith that which God has done in Christ.

The Riches of God'southward Grace for the Laic

The post-obit things are true of everyone who has placed his or her organized religion 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 Plan of God

Before the globe had even been created, God knew and chose those who would be His children through faith, and in the course of fourth dimension, He called them to Himself. Do we fully understand information technology? No way! Non until He explains it all in heaven. Do we notwithstanding believe it? Yep, both through the Give-and-take of God and the feel of God'due south telephone call upon our lives. Believers are:

Foreknown: Romans 8:29 — "For those whom He foreknew He too predestined to be conformed to the prototype of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Also see 1 Peter 1:two.)
Elected: 1 Thessalonians 1:4 — "For nosotros know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen y'all." (Also encounter Romans 8:33; Colossians iii:12; Titus 1:1.)
Predestined: Ephesians ane:eleven — "In Him we have 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 two:9 — "Only you lot are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His ain possession ..." (Also encounter Matthew 22:14.)
Called: Romans ix:eleven — "... though they were not however born and had done goose egg either adept or bad — in order that God'southward purpose of election might keep, not because of works but because of Him who calls." (Also encounter i Thessalonians five:24.)

Brought Nearly to God

The Bible says the claret of Christ brings u.s.a. near to God. In the campaigner Paul's writings, everything the blood of Christ accomplishes is also accomplished past the death and the cross of Christ. They are interchangeable ideas. If we are alleged righteous by the blood, we're declared righteous by His decease. It isn't the physical makeup of the blood that accomplishes something, information technology is the sacrificial giving of life that allows us to come near.

Reconciled by God: 2 Corinthians 5:18 — "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry building of reconciliation." (Also see Colossians 1:20.)
Reconciled to God: Romans five:ten — "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall nosotros be saved by His life." (Likewise meet two Corinthians five:xx.)
Redeemed: Colossians 1:14 — "... in whom nosotros have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Too see 1 Peter 1:18; Romans three:24.)
Brought Nigh: Ephesians 2:13 — "In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Given Access: Ephesians ii:eighteen — "For through Him we both accept access in i Spirit to the Father." (Also see Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:2; Hebrews 4:xiv-16; x:nineteen- 20.)

Children of God

Can someone who is born become unborn? Can a son or girl in a family somehow cease beingness a son or girl? No! If you have been born into a family then y'all may change your proper name, but y'all cannot modify your Deoxyribonucleic acid. You lot are forever a son or daughter of your male parent. The same applies to our spiritual birth! The believer is a son or daughter of God.

Born Once more: ane Peter one:23 — ". . . since you have been built-in again, not of perishable seed only of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God." (Also see John 1:12; iii:seven.)
Children of God: 1 John 3:2 — "Dearest, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; just we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, considering nosotros shall encounter Him every bit he is." (Also see 2 Corinthians six:18; Galatians 3:26.)
New Creations: two Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The erstwhile has passed away; behold, the new has come." (As well see Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:ten.)
Adopted: Romans 8:xv — "For you did non receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fearfulness, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, past whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Besides come across Galatians 4:5.)
Heirs: Galatians 4:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Totally Adequate to God Through Jesus Christ

Do you lot have to be perfect to go to sky? About say no because no one is perfect. However could a perfectly holy God allow anything less than perfection into His presence? No! And then therefore, yes, you do have to be perfect. But how could this e'er be achieved past an imperfect, sinful cosmos? In Christ, righteousness and perfection are a souvenir! His declaration is that believers are forever justified – a position that means we are declared righteous. He completely covers our past.

Justified: Romans 5:ane — "Therefore, since we have been justified by organized religion, nosotros have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Likewise encounter Romans 3:24; viii:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus three:7.)
Righteous: Philippians 3:8-9 — "... in order that I may gain Christ and exist found in Him, non having a righteousness of my own that comes from the constabulary, merely that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on organized religion." (Likewise run across Romans 3:22; 5:17; 10:3-iv; 1 Corinthians 1:30; two Corinthians 5:21.)
Sanctified: one Corinthians ane:xxx — "And considering of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us … sanctification and redemption ..." (Also come across ane Corinthians vi:eleven; Hebrews ten:10.)
Made Perfect: Hebrews 10:14 — "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Besides meet Hebrews 10:1-2 for the results of being fabricated perfect.)
Accustomed: Ephesians 1:5-half-dozen — "... he predestined the states for adoption to Himself every bit sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed usa in the Dearest." (As well run into 1 Peter 2:v.)
Forgiven: Colossians ii:13 — "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God fabricated alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Also see Colossians 1:xiv; 3:xiii; Ephesians 1:seven; four:32.)
Complete: Colossians 2:10 — "You take been filled in Him, who is the head of all dominion and authority."

Forever United and Joined with Christ

Believers have been placed "in Christ" so that whatsoever has happened to Christ has also happened to them. When Jesus died and rose once more, then did we spiritually, and never over again will God see a believer equally anything other than a new creation in Christ Jesus. We are forever united and joined to Christ, and His history is our history!

Crucified: Romans half-dozen:half-dozen — "Nosotros know that our old cocky was crucified with Him in order that the torso of sin might exist brought to nada, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (Also see Galatians ii:twenty.)
Dead: Romans vi:8 — "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will besides live with Him." (Also Colossians 3:three.)
Cached: Romans half dozen:four — "We were buried therefore with Him past baptism into death, in guild that, just as Christ was raised from the dead past the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Also see Colossians ii:12.)
Raised: Colossians 3:1 — "If so yous take been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right mitt of God." (Too encounter Romans vi:iv.)
Ascended: Ephesians 2:6 — "... and raised usa up with Him and seated u.s. 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 institute a treasure in a field (Matthew 13:44). And because of His immense joy, He sold all that He had and then that He could buy 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 up all that He had (His life), and for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12).

His Gift: John 6:37 — "All that the Male parent gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never bandage out.'' (Likewise run across John 10:29; 17:6,11,12,xx)
His Helpmate: two Corinthians 11:2 — "For I experience a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed yous to one husband, to nowadays you as a pure virgin to Christ." (Too see Ephesians five:25-32; Revelation 19:7; John 3:29.)
His Inheritance: Ephesians ane:18 — "... that you may know what is the promise to which He has chosen 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 larn possession of it, to the praise of His glory."

Blest With the Holy Spirit

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

Born of the Spirit: John 3:6 — "That which is built-in of the mankind is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Baptized: ane Corinthians 12:xiii — "For in one Spirit nosotros were all baptized into i body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or gratuitous — and all were made to potable of one Spirit."
Indwelt: 1 Corinthians 6:nineteen — "Do y'all not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you accept from God?" (Besides see 1 Corinthians 2:12; John vii:39; Romans v:5; viii:9; 2 Corinthians ane:21; Galatians 4:six.)
Sealed: Ephesians 1:thirteen-14 — "In Him yous also, when yous heard the discussion of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we larn possession of information technology, to the praise of his glory."

Inside the "How Much More than" Care of God (Romans 5:10)

Retrieve of information technology – when we were sinners and enemies of God, He fully justified us from every charge because of our organized religion in His precious Son, Jesus. How much more now, as His treasured possession, will believers find themselves the objects of His intendance!

Objects of His Love: Ephesians ii:4 — "Merely God, being rich in mercy, because of the corking love with which He loved us ..." (Also see Ephesians 5:2; i John iii:1.)
Objects of His Grace: Romans five:2 — "Through Him we have as well obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand up, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Likewise see Ephesians 2:seven-8; Titus 2:12-13.)
Objects of His Ability: Ephesians 1:18-19 — "... that you may know ... what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward u.s. who believe." (As well see Philippians two:13; 1 Peter 1:5.)
Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews xiii:v — "I volition never leave you nor forsake you lot." (Too see Philippians i:half dozen; 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 4:7.)
Objects of His Encouragement: two Thessalonians 2:16 — "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave u.s.a. eternal comfort and good hope through grace ..." (As well see Romans xv:4-5.)
Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews 7:25 — "Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw nearly to God through Him, since He e'er lives to make intercession for them." (Also come across Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24.)

A Heavenly Home Assured

Terminal, but well-nigh importantly of all, He has given us citizenship in heaven – where we will be fellow heirs with the King of kings! Nosotros alive as strangers and exiles on this earth, far from our true habitation to come up. 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 3:20 — "Our citizenship is in heaven." (Also see Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 12:22.)
Members of God's Household: Ephesians 2:19 — "You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Besides see three:fifteen; Galatians 6:10.)
Have a Heavenly Inheritance: 1 Peter 1:4-v — "... an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for y'all, who by God'southward ability are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (Also see Ephesians 1:14; Colossians three:24; Hebrews 9:15.)

One last thought: From the simplicity of a bloom to the complication of space, the more than humankind explores the work of God, the more we stand in awe of His perfection. With such a artistic and anointed God, do you think He would complete annihilation less than perfection in the important work of our salvation?

The riches of God'due south grace are incredible! Only as Chafer says, information technology'southward simply the beginning! 1 mean solar day, when Christ comes again, the procedure shall be complete and we shall be inverse into His likeness. And then, for the ages that are to come, His helpmate shall be a visible witness to the incredible kindness and grace of God (Ephesians ii:7). Let me end with a quote from Jonathan Edwards that reflects what our reality will one day be: "Grace is just glory begun, and celebrity is simply grace perfected."

Next Steps

Larn more than near core Christian beliefs such equally the Holy Spirit, heaven and the Trinity.

Notes:

Watchman Nee, "Sit, Walk, Stand" (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Firm, 1977), p. 2.
Lewis Sperry Chafer, "Salvation" (Findlay, OH: Durham Publishing Company, 1917), pp. 57-59.
Nee, "Sit, Walk, Stand up," p.five.

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