by Pastor Dana A. Holmes
I want to talk about our position in Christ. Who we are, what we are, and what we have in Christ. There are many rights and privileges that we have in Christ, and we need to study the Word of God in order to see what they are. As soon as we learn about our rights and privileges in Christ Jesus, we will walk in victory every single day instead of being like the old song that declares, “I’m sometimes up and sometimes down and almost level with the ground.” This can be accomplished through recognizing our position in Christ in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
Several years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that a part of my commission was to teach believers their rights and privileges in Christ. That is what I want to accomplish through this article. Once you see what the Word of God says about who you are in Christ Jesus, your down days will potentially be ended.
Too many times in the Church world (when I say the Church world, I’m not just talking about those who are in the local assembly but those who are in the body of Christ at large), we have been cheated and robbed of victory through ignorance of what God’s Word has to say about us. For instance, many Christians are struggling trying to please God because they fail to understand the righteousness (right standing) they have in Christ. You see, when you find out about the free gift of righteousness through faith in Christ, your struggle to be accepted of God will end. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1)
Let’s examine, together, some scriptures about our position and who we are, where we are, and what we are in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Notice that the Bible did not say if any man be in church, he is a new creature. Neither did it say if any man be in some kind of club or civic group, he is a new creature. But rather, if any man be IN CHRIST, he (that man that is IN CHRIST) is a new creature or a new creation or a species of being that has never previously existed. Notice also in this text that the word “is,” is present tense. So, if a man is in Christ, he’s not going to be a new creature one of these days, after a while, by-and-by when he dies. He is a new creature the moment he’s IN CHRIST.
Too many times in the Church world, our idea of a good and real relationship with God is something that will come in the future. However, we’re not going to be IN CHRIST after some period of time. We are IN CHRIST the moment we receive Him as our Lord and Saviour.
Even many of the songs that are sung in the Church world today seem to point to the future----songs such as “In the Sweet By-and-By” and “Soon and Very Soon We Are Going To See The King.” That’s okay, but I want you to see from the Word of God that God did not simply intend for us to have victory by looking to tomorrow. He wants us to see who we are today. A good understanding of who you are in Christ Jesus will give you the victory today. Thank God we don’t have to wait until tomorrow.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (species of being that never previously existed): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
So, we can say that IN CHRIST, we are new creatures. We can also say that IN CHRIST, we are the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
When are we made the righteousness of God? The moment that we are IN CHRIST! When are we IN CHRIST? The moment that we are saved or born-again. Hallelujah! As a matter of fact, not only are we the righteousness of God IN CHRIST, but we are also holy and without blame before Him in love.
Ephesians 1:1-4
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
This is not something that we have to work for. This is something that came to us as a result of being IN CHRIST.
God foreordained before the foundation of the world that those who are IN CHRIST should be before Him holy and without blame. This redemption reality has already taken place for everyone IN CHRIST. It’s not going to take place one of these days when you get good enough or one of these days when you finally think you have arrived. God has already chosen us IN CHRIST, and in Him, we are holy and without blame. Would you consider being holy and without blame before Him in love a spiritual blessing? It’s a spiritual blessing indeed, and what a blessing it is.
I realize that we have a responsibility to live holy, but that doesn’t take away from what we have IN CHRIST. In fact, I believe that knowing who we are and what we have IN CHRIST will help us to live as He pleases. Sometimes when we speak about holiness or holy living, people get the wrong idea. They have the idea that you have to struggle to please God! They think that holiness is a bunch of do’s and don’ts----and mostly don’ts. Holiness is not legalism, and it is not about dress codes. Holiness is the fruit of the spirit evident in one’s life—against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
God makes us righteous and gives us the ability and grace to live righteously. God says, “I am righteous, and I am giving this righteousness to you. You are righteous because I am righteous.” You see, He gave it to us as a gift. What for? For being IN CHRIST. We didn’t have anything to do with making Jesus become sin nor making ourselves righteous, but we are. We may not feel like it. We may not even act like it sometimes, but we are righteous—not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for us. We did play a part in it, however, and that part was simply to believe.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word “have” is present tense. We have peace now. How did we get it? By faith. Justified means declared righteous—JUST – IF – I had never sinned. If He sees us as though we have never sinned, we can’t stand any other way before Him but holy and without blame.
So far, we have discovered that IN CHRIST, we are new creatures, the righteousness of God, holy, and without blame. We’re also accepted (highly favored) by Him and have redemption through His blood.
Ephesians 1:5-6
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted (highly favored) in the beloved.
We are not trying to get accepted; we are already accepted.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Notice that it did not say that we have redemption through certain dress codes or obeying man-made laws. No! It’s through His blood that we have redemption.
Also, IN CHRIST, we have obtained an inheritance, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained and inheritance…
According to the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, the Greek word for inheritance in this verse is klero’o which means to cast lots, determine by lot, i.e., to determine something. Here in this verse, it means “in whom the lot has fallen upon us also, as foreordained.” This refers to the completion of one’s election to salvation. This does not mean that man does not have the right and responsibility to receive Christ. Neither does this mean that God chose certain individuals to be saved (as the elect) and others to be lost. That would be unjust. Furthermore, the teaching of scripture is clear: Christ died for all.
1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our (believers) sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Therefore, the ministry of Christ that He did on the cross was intended for all.
Now let’s look at the believer’s position IN CHRIST.
Ephesians 1:18-21
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Ephesians 2:4-6
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
IN CHRIST, we are seated in heavenly places. God raised us up together with Christ and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. Hallelujah! Therefore, whatever Christ has been raised above, the body of Christ has also been raised above. Wherever He is, positionally speaking, that’s where we are!
There are many blessings to which you have a right IN CHRIST JESUS. In order to find out what those rights are, I suggest that you take the time and look up every scripture in the New Testament that has the phrase IN CHRIST, IN HIM, and IN WHOM. Learn them, and confess them daily to gain a deeper understanding of the believer’s position in Christ.
Maranatha!