THE BELIEVERS’ STANDING

This may be defined as the position of an individual or a group before God in Heaven.

The Believers’ standing is a result of his identification or union with Jesus Christ. This union is accomplished by the Holy Spirit when the individual receives Jesus as a personal Saviour, and it is the purpose of this short study to present a brief survey of the believer’s standing:

• Redemption: This means to buy back and to set free. It also means to deliver by paying a price and it is linked to our identification with Jesus Christ in His death.

In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7

• Regeneration: Is the impartation of Divine Life and is produced by the Holy Spirit. It is related to our identification with Jesus Christ in His resurrection.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

2Corinthians 5:17

• Justification: Is the judicial act of God whereby the believer in Jesus Christ is declared righteous on the basis of the shed blood of Christ and is related to both His death and resurrection.

For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God: Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God.

Romans 3:23-25

• Sanctification: Is the setting apart of the believer from sin and unto the service of God. It is the result of our union with Christ in His death.

By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:10,14

• Translation: Is the ascension of the believer into Heaven where Christ is and it is based upon our identification with Christ in His ascension.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:6

• Predestination: Is the determination beforehand of God for certain classes and people in respect to goals, or destinies and is related to the believer’s identification with Christ in death and resurrection and is consistent with the power of choice. The belief, held by some, that God predestines some for Glory and some for damnation is completely erroneous and untrue. Predestination always and only refers to future Glory, never damnation.

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Ephesians 1:5

• Glorification: Is the believer’s change from a natural body to a spiritual body, involving also the soul into a state of perfection. It is related especially to our identification with Christ in His resurrection.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1