Our Spiritual Position
Before coming to Christ, we were all sinners (Romans 3:23) “for all have sinned,
and come short to the glory of God”, but God has justified us through Christ
Jesus as it says in (Romans 3:24) “being justified freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus”; justified means (just as we had never
sinned); and God has raised us up and we are seated in heavenly places
together with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-13) says “and you has He quickened
(made alive) who were dead in trespass and sins. Wherein in time past you
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air; the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the
children of wrath, even as others. But God who is rich in mercy, for His great
love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins has quickened us
together with Christ, by grace you are saved. And has raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to
come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God. not of works, less any man should boast. For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has
before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember that you
being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that
which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands. That at that time
you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made
near by the blood of Christ”.
Our spiritual position is in Christ in heavenly places; and as we meditate on that,
we can see ourselves as God sees us. We are no longer sinners saved by
grace. We were sinners, but we have been saved by grace. Our mind has to be
renewed to this, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 20:7).
If you believe you are a sinner, you will sin, however, if you see your self as the
righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you will act righteous. We have to look at
what God says about us, He says, “we are more than conquerors”, “the head
and not the tail, above only and not beneath”, “the righteousness of God in
Christ Jesus”.
Many people feel as though the devil is in charge in the world, but that is not the
way it should be. I Peter 5:8-9a says “be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith”. The devil would devour all of us if
he could, but we are told, “to give no place for the devil” (Ephesians 4:27).
James 4:7-8a gives us sound advise, it says, “submit yourselves therefore to
God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will
draw near to you”. Our part is to resist the devil, and draw near to God.
Jesus equipped us to walk in our spiritual position, He proclaimed after Peter’s
revelation of who He was “and Jesus answered and said to him, blessed are you,
Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father
which is in heaven. And I say to you, that you are Peter and upon this rock, I will
build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give
to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on
earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19).
He repeats this in Matthew 18:18 and goes on in verses 29-20 to say “again I
say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”.
He sent the twelve disciples out with power, and then the seventy others also,
and when they returned in Luke 10:17-19, it says “and the seventy returned
again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Your
name. And He said to them, I behold satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you”.
We are supposed to reign in this life (Romans 5:17) “for if by one man’s (Adam)
offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ”.
And in Revelation 5:10 it says “and have made us to our God kings and priests;
and we shall reign on the earth”.
Our citizenship is in heaven (II Corinthians 5:17,20) “therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God”.
In Ephesians 2:19-22 it says “now therefore you are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief corner stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together grows
to an holy temple in the Lord. In whom you also are built together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit”. And in Philippians 3:20 it says “for our
citizenship is in heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ”. Remember that we are in this world but not of this world.
Psalms 82 is God speaking to us; it says “God stands in the congregation of the
mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and accept
the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to
the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and fatherless; do justice to the needy;
rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they
understand; they walk on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of
course. I have said, you are gods, and al of you are children of the Most High.
But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O god, judge
the earth; for You shall inherit all nations”.
Because it has been established that we are seated in heavenly places
(Colossians 3:1-2) says, “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection
(mind) on things above, not on things on the earth”.
We are called the salt and light of the world, and we have been commanded to
“go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Let us take our position and proclaim the good news, many people don’t know
that Jesus came to pay the price for the sins of the whole world, and that
whosoever believes on them should not perish, but, have everlasting life.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 16, 2010
Before coming to Christ, we were all sinners (Romans 3:23) “for all have sinned,
and come short to the glory of God”, but God has justified us through Christ
Jesus as it says in (Romans 3:24) “being justified freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus”; justified means (just as we had never
sinned); and God has raised us up and we are seated in heavenly places
together with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-13) says “and you has He quickened
(made alive) who were dead in trespass and sins. Wherein in time past you
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air; the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the
children of wrath, even as others. But God who is rich in mercy, for His great
love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins has quickened us
together with Christ, by grace you are saved. And has raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to
come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God. not of works, less any man should boast. For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has
before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember that you
being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that
which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands. That at that time
you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made
near by the blood of Christ”.
Our spiritual position is in Christ in heavenly places; and as we meditate on that,
we can see ourselves as God sees us. We are no longer sinners saved by
grace. We were sinners, but we have been saved by grace. Our mind has to be
renewed to this, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 20:7).
If you believe you are a sinner, you will sin, however, if you see your self as the
righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you will act righteous. We have to look at
what God says about us, He says, “we are more than conquerors”, “the head
and not the tail, above only and not beneath”, “the righteousness of God in
Christ Jesus”.
Many people feel as though the devil is in charge in the world, but that is not the
way it should be. I Peter 5:8-9a says “be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith”. The devil would devour all of us if
he could, but we are told, “to give no place for the devil” (Ephesians 4:27).
James 4:7-8a gives us sound advise, it says, “submit yourselves therefore to
God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will
draw near to you”. Our part is to resist the devil, and draw near to God.
Jesus equipped us to walk in our spiritual position, He proclaimed after Peter’s
revelation of who He was “and Jesus answered and said to him, blessed are you,
Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father
which is in heaven. And I say to you, that you are Peter and upon this rock, I will
build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give
to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on
earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19).
He repeats this in Matthew 18:18 and goes on in verses 29-20 to say “again I
say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”.
He sent the twelve disciples out with power, and then the seventy others also,
and when they returned in Luke 10:17-19, it says “and the seventy returned
again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Your
name. And He said to them, I behold satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you”.
We are supposed to reign in this life (Romans 5:17) “for if by one man’s (Adam)
offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ”.
And in Revelation 5:10 it says “and have made us to our God kings and priests;
and we shall reign on the earth”.
Our citizenship is in heaven (II Corinthians 5:17,20) “therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God”.
In Ephesians 2:19-22 it says “now therefore you are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief corner stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together grows
to an holy temple in the Lord. In whom you also are built together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit”. And in Philippians 3:20 it says “for our
citizenship is in heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ”. Remember that we are in this world but not of this world.
Psalms 82 is God speaking to us; it says “God stands in the congregation of the
mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and accept
the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to
the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and fatherless; do justice to the needy;
rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they
understand; they walk on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of
course. I have said, you are gods, and al of you are children of the Most High.
But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O god, judge
the earth; for You shall inherit all nations”.
Because it has been established that we are seated in heavenly places
(Colossians 3:1-2) says, “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection
(mind) on things above, not on things on the earth”.
We are called the salt and light of the world, and we have been commanded to
“go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Let us take our position and proclaim the good news, many people don’t know
that Jesus came to pay the price for the sins of the whole world, and that
whosoever believes on them should not perish, but, have everlasting life.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 16, 2010
