How Do Know When You Have Seen Redemption of Jesus in Your Life

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

Our position in Christ is our legal standing with God: Are nosotros guilty or not guilty? Debtors or free? His enemies or His friends? Agreement these things makes a deviation in how we live twenty-four hour period in and twenty-four hours out.

In His goodness and past His grace, God changes our standing — our position — earlier Him when nosotros place our trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians two:7 affirms that our new condition flows out of that wonderful phrase "the riches of God'southward grace."

This report will explore the riches of God'south 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's Grace for the Laic

Next Steps: Learn Virtually More Core Christian Beliefs

Defining Grace

How practice we define grace? A common definition is "God's riches at Christ's expense." Another style to describe grace is "the unmerited favor and kindness of God." And oh how He has acted out of his kindness for the good of the laic! There was justice due for the penalty of our sin, just God paid that debt through the sacrificial expiry of His Son. Ephesians 1:3 says we were (past tense – when we first believed in Jesus) blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace!

The riches of God's 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 messages in the New Testament draw a sharp distinction between what God has done for united states by grace and how we are to live in view of this fact. The Volume of Ephesians, for example, first makes united states "sit and learn" of our position in Christ and then, in view of this position, encourages the states to live a life consequent with it.

In other words, the Christian life is condign (in feel) who yous already are (as God sees yous). This divine order is clearly seen in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans amid others. Every bit a report of your own, read the book of Ephesians and write down all that God has washed for you lot and that which yous are called to do yourself. You should see a sharp distinction between the first 3 chapters and the last three (with the connection betwixt the 2 at 4:i). Commenting on Ephesians, Watchman Nee says:

Most Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the true order. Our natural reason says, If we practice non walk, how can nosotros ever achieve the goal? What tin nosotros attain without effort? How can nosotros get anywhere if nosotros do not move? But Christianity is a queer business! If at the offset we try to do anything, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big Do, merely with a large DONE. Thus Ephesians opens with the argument that God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" and we are invited at the start to sit downwardly and enjoy what God has done for us; not to set out to endeavour and attain it for ourselves.¹

So we want to build on that which is DONE and, through faith, be enabled to residue in the finished piece of work of Christ (significant what Jesus achieved past His death and resurrection) and our position in Him.

What Our Position in Christ Ways (and What Information technology Doesn't Mean)

The framework for the following has been loosely taken from "Salvation" by Lewis Sperry Chafer. Before looking at that which God has done for the believer in Christ, hither is a summary of the five points Chafer raises²:

Our position in Christ is a result of our new life in Christ from which precious experiences may grow. For instance, justification – meaning all of our past sins being covered – leads to joy and peace.
The Christian position is equally perfect and consummate the instant it is possessed equally information technology ever will be in the ages to come.
This position has nothing to do with what nosotros take accomplished or earned. It is based solely on the merit of the Christ. The Christian is "accepted (now and forever) in the beloved."
This position does not ever change. Our sensation and feelings about our position may vary day to twenty-four hour period, just the abiding fact that we are a new cosmos in Christ remains.
Our position can only be known through God revealing it to us. Its reality can be grasped simply by believing the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for anyone who volition believe.

How to Found These Truths in Our Hearts

At present, we volition explore the riches of God. But before you start racing through the list, recall! Yep, recall about His riches. Meditate on them and what they hateful for y'all. Yous see, I've read lists like this before, and I know the temptation to race through them. But I believe that these are truths that God wants to firmly institute within our hearts, for they glorify His grapheme and evidence the extent of His work on the Cantankerous for us. In his volume "Sit down, Walk, Stand," Watchman Nee says:

Our Christian life begins with the discovery of what God has provided. From this point onwards Christian feel proceeds every bit it began, not on the basis of our own work but always on that of the finished work of some other.ⁱⁱⁱ

Every new spiritual experience begins with acceptance by faith of what God has done. As you read each signal, think what yous take only read: These truths are eternal and are equally truthful of y'all today every bit they ever will be. They do not grow or increase but are free gifts of God'due south astonishing grace.

God has subconscious these truths from the proud and cocky-confident. But for those who truly see their need of God, the gifts of grace become their greatest delight!

Y'all enter into new experiences of God'due south love as you take by faith that which God has done in Christ.

The Riches of God's Grace for the Believer

The following things are truthful of everyone who has placed his or her organized religion in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. They are God'southward 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 earth had even been created, God knew and chose those who would be His children through faith, and in the course of time, He called them to Himself. Do we fully sympathize it? No style! Non until He explains it all in heaven. Practise we notwithstanding believe information technology? Aye, both through the Word of God and the experience of God'south call upon our lives. Believers are:

Foreknown: Romans viii:29 — "For those whom He foreknew He besides predestined to be conformed to the paradigm of His Son, in social club that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Besides see 1 Peter ane:2.)
Elected: one Thessalonians ane:four — "For nosotros know, brothers loved past God, that He has chosen you." (Also see Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:ane.)
Predestined: Ephesians ane:xi — "In Him nosotros have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined co-ordinate to the purpose of Him who works all things co-ordinate to the counsel of His volition"
Chosen: one Peter 2:9 — "But you are a called race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession ..." (Also see Matthew 22:14.)
Called: Romans 9:xi — "... though they were not even so born and had done nothing either good or bad — in club that God'south purpose of election might continue, non because of works but because of Him who calls." (As well encounter 1 Thessalonians v:24.)

Brought Near to God

The Bible says the blood of Christ brings us virtually to God. In the apostle Paul'due south writings, everything the blood of Christ accomplishes is too accomplished by the expiry and the cross of Christ. They are interchangeable ideas. If we are declared righteous past the blood, we're alleged righteous by His death. It isn't the physical makeup of the blood that accomplishes something, it is the sacrificial giving of life that allows u.s. to come up near.

Reconciled past God: 2 Corinthians 5:18 — "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (Too run across Colossians 1:twenty.)
Reconciled to God: Romans 5:10 — "For if while we were enemies nosotros were reconciled to God by the expiry of His Son, much more, now that nosotros are reconciled, shall we be saved past His life." (Likewise see two Corinthians 5:20.)
Redeemed: Colossians 1:14 — "... in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Also run into 1 Peter 1:eighteen; Romans 3:24.)
Brought Near: Ephesians two:13 — "In Christ Jesus you who in one case were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Given Access: Ephesians two:18 — "For through Him we both take access in one Spirit to the Father." (Besides see Ephesians three:12; Romans 5:two; Hebrews 4:fourteen-16; 10:nineteen- xx.)

Children of God

Can someone who is born become unborn? Tin a son or daughter in a family somehow cease being a son or daughter? No! If you have been built-in into a family then yous may change your name, simply you cannot change your DNA. You are forever a son or daughter of your father. The same applies to our spiritual birth! The believer is a son or daughter of God.

Born Again: 1 Peter 1:23 — ". . . since you take been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God." (Too see John one:12; three:vii.)
Children of God: 1 John 3:ii — "Dear, nosotros are God's children at present, and what we will exist has non yet appeared; just we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall meet Him as he is." (Besides see 2 Corinthians 6:eighteen; Galatians iii:26.)
New Creations: two Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come up." (Besides run across Galatians vi:15; Ephesians ii:x.)
Adopted: Romans 8:xv — "For you did non receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fearfulness, but yous take received the Spirit of adoption every bit sons, past whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (As well see Galatians 4:v.)
Heirs: Galatians 4:vii — "So y'all are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Totally Acceptable to God Through Jesus Christ

Do yous have to be perfect to get to heaven? Nigh say no because no i is perfect. Yet could a perfectly holy God allow anything less than perfection into His presence? No! So therefore, yes, you do have to be perfect. But how could this always exist achieved past an imperfect, sinful creation? In Christ, righteousness and perfection are a gift! His announcement is that believers are forever justified – a position that means we are alleged righteous. He completely covers our past.

Justified: Romans 5:ane — "Therefore, since we accept been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Also see Romans iii:24; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus iii:7.)
Righteous: Philippians three:8-9 — "... in order that I may gain Christ and be institute in Him, not having a righteousness of my ain that comes from the police force, merely that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on religion." (Too see Romans 3:22; five:17; ten:3-4; i Corinthians one:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21.)
Sanctified: i Corinthians 1:30 — "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us … sanctification and redemption ..." (Also come across 1 Corinthians half-dozen:xi; Hebrews x:ten.)
Fabricated Perfect: Hebrews 10:14 — "For past a single offer He has perfected for all time those who are existence sanctified." (Also see Hebrews 10:i-two for the results of being made perfect.)
Accepted: Ephesians ane:5-6 — "... he predestined us for adoption to Himself as 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 Love." (Also see ane Peter 2:5.)
Forgiven: Colossians ii:13 — "And you, who were expressionless in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made live together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Also see Colossians 1:14; three:thirteen; Ephesians 1:vii; iv:32.)
Consummate: Colossians 2:x — "You have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Forever United and Joined with Christ

Believers have been placed "in Christ" so that any has happened to Christ has as well happened to them. When Jesus died and rose again, so did we spiritually, and never again will God see a believer as annihilation other than a new creation in Christ Jesus. Nosotros are forever united and joined to Christ, and His history is our history!

Crucified: Romans 6:6 — "We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the trunk of sin might be brought to zippo, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (Too run across Galatians 2:20.)
Dead: Romans 6:8 — "At present if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him." (Besides Colossians 3:iii.)
Buried: Romans 6:4 — "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just equally Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Male parent, we besides might walk in newness of life." (Also meet Colossians two:12.)
Raised: Colossians 3:1 — "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the correct paw of God." (Likewise see Romans 6:4.)
Ascended: Ephesians 2:half dozen — "... and raised us up with Him and seated the states with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Jesus' Very Ain Possession

In a parable about the kingdom of God, Jesus likened Himself to a human being who found a treasure in a field (Matthew 13:44). And because of His immense joy, He sold all that He had so that He could purchase that field. The treasure in the field stands for those in the world who believe in His name. For them, He was willing to surrender all that He had (His life), and for the joy ready before Him, He endured the cantankerous (Hebrews 12).

His Gift: John 6:37 — "All that the Father gives Me will come up to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.'' (Besides come across John 10:29; 17:half-dozen,11,12,twenty)
His Bride: ii Corinthians 11:2 — "For I experience a divine jealousy for y'all, since I matrimonial you to one husband, to nowadays y'all every bit a pure virgin to Christ." (Also come across Ephesians v:25-32; Revelation 19:7; John 3:29.)
His Inheritance: Ephesians 1:18 — "... that you may know what is the promise to which He has chosen y'all, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints."
His Possession: Ephesians one:14 — "... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory."

Blessed With the Holy Spirit

Believers are also given the Holy Spirit, not only equally a means of living the Christian life in this age but likewise as a guarantee that, every bit God's possessions, nosotros will participate in the glory of the historic period to come up! At that place is no truthful Christian alive who has not been given the Holy Spirit.

Born of the Spirit: John 3:6 — "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Baptized: 1 Corinthians 12:thirteen — "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of 1 Spirit."
Indwelt: ane Corinthians half-dozen:19 — "Do y'all not know that your torso is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you lot have from God?" (Also encounter i Corinthians 2:12; John 7:39; Romans 5:five; 8:ix; ii Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 4:six.)
Sealed: Ephesians ane:thirteen-14 — "In Him you too, when you heard the word 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 acquire possession of information technology, to the praise of his glory."

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

Think of information technology – when we were sinners and enemies of God, He fully justified united states from every charge because of our faith in His precious Son, Jesus. How much more than now, as His treasured possession, will believers find themselves the objects of His care!

Objects of His Dearest: Ephesians 2:4 — "But God, being rich in mercy, considering of the cracking love with which He loved us ..." (Likewise run into Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 3:1.)
Objects of His Grace: Romans 5:two — "Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and nosotros rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Also see Ephesians ii:7-8; Titus 2:12-xiii.)
Objects of His Power: Ephesians 1:18-19 — "... that you lot may know ... what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Also see Philippians 2:13; one Peter 1:v.)
Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews 13:5 — "I will never get out yous nor forsake yous." (Besides see Philippians 1:half dozen; i Corinthians 1:eight-nine; Jude 24.)
Objects of His Peace: Philippians iv:9 — "The God of peace volition be with you lot." (Likewise come across Philippians 4:vii.)
Objects of His Encouragement: 2 Thessalonians two:16 — "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good promise through grace ..." (Also come across Romans 15:4-v.)
Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews 7:25 — "Consequently, He is able to salvage to the farthest those who draw about to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Likewise see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24.)

A Heavenly Dwelling Bodacious

Last, but nearly chiefly of all, He has given u.s. citizenship in sky – where nosotros will be fellow heirs with the Male monarch of kings! We live as strangers and exiles on this earth, far from our true dwelling to come up. Nosotros are ambassadors of God in a country not our ain. Only our heavenly domicile is assured, and our inheritance is waiting, kept safety by God himself!

Heavenly Citizens: Philippians 3:20 — "Our citizenship is in heaven." (Besides see Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 12:22.)
Members of God's Household: Ephesians 2:xix — "You are swain citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Also encounter three:15; Galatians 6:10.)
Have a Heavenly Inheritance: 1 Peter one:four-5 — "... an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (Too come across Ephesians one:14; Colossians iii:24; Hebrews 9:xv.)

One last thought: From the simplicity of a blossom to the complexity of space, the more than humankind explores the work of God, the more we stand in awe of His perfection. With such a creative and anointed God, practice you retrieve He would consummate anything less than perfection in the important work of our salvation?

The riches of God'southward grace are incredible! Just as Chafer says, it's only the start! One day, when Christ comes once again, the procedure shall be complete and we shall exist changed into His likeness. And and so, for the ages that are to come, His helpmate shall exist a visible witness to the incredible kindness and grace of God (Ephesians two:seven). Permit me cease with a quote from Jonathan Edwards that reflects what our reality will 1 mean solar day be: "Grace is merely glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."

Next Steps

Learn more about cadre Christian beliefs such as the Holy Spirit, heaven and the Trinity.

Notes:

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

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