The Journey: Part 11 - Let Us Settle Our Spiritual Position in Christ

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 11 - Let Us Settle Our Spiritual Position in Christ

The letter of Romans is written to existing believers who have already been saved by the gospel of grace. In this regard, Paul is now laying a strong foundation that will keep believers stablished (stable) in the faith, so that they will not be tossed to and fro by all manner of false, man-made doctrines.

In the previous posts of this series, labeled, "The Journey", we have covered key topics from Romans chapters 1-7. In summary these topics are as follows,

• We are made alive in spirit through salvation of the gospel.
• At salvation, we are connected to God in newness of life. 
• Just as sin was imputed to us by Adam, so also, righteousness, by the grace of God, is imputed to us through Jesus Christ
• Through this work of justification by God, we are dead to the effects of sin through the law in our spiritual position in Christ. 
• We do not frustrate the grace of God by trying to live by faith in the flesh. Neither do we try to live by faith through the law. These are the greatest hinderances to what God is working within us. 
• Our life is not our own to live anymore. We are now 'married' to another. The life we now live in the flesh, we live by faith in Christ, that is, by the knowledge and operation of His written Word within us.

These points above contribute to our spiritual standing in Christ. None of the above is achieved by our own strength or ability. The above is entirely the work of God, by His grace, by His perfect justice, and by the means of Christ. This work is perfect and permanent. Nothing you do can touch or taint the finality of this position you now have in Christ. You are sealed unto the day of salvation through the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30) and you have been hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Paul's Summary of our Spiritual Standing in Christ

Chapter 8 of Romans is a conclusion of all that is discussed before. Paul has fully explained the work of God in justifying and sanctifying us in a new spiritual position. What Paul has dealt with in these previous chapters is of great importance. These chapters must not just be head knowledge. They must become engrafted in us. Our faith must be established on its contents. How do we establish our faith on it? We read it, and then read it again, and then read it again. It must become a part of you. You read it, listen to it, study it, and repeat the process again, until it saturates the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:23) so much that it feels like you are going to burst! (That last part is just my exaggeration, but let it be so!) At some point it will drop into your heart, and then, suddenly, it will become real to you, and you will understand it intricately. Then it will be established in faith, and nothing will be able to move it off that foundation.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The above verse is the evidence you will experience in your soul when you have faith in Romans chapters 1-7. Remember, as Romans 1-7 had taught us, we do not live by faith by walking in the flesh. Neither do we live by faith by walking under the law. Believers have the position of "no condemnation" because they live under the advocacy of Christ. Note how the verse says, "to them which are in Christ Jesus". Those "in Christ" are not under the curse of the law. They are one with Him who fulfilled the law in every respect. Their sins are no longer theirs; their consciences are free from the responsibility of paying for them. Had they remained under the flesh and the law, they would have been condemned.

Rom.7:6, But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Since the believer has freedom from sin and has been freed from death, they walk by a new set of operating principles—the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Walking in the flesh, under the Mosaic Law, points out sin and condemns, whereas walking after the Spirit (or in the Spirit), frees us from both sin and death and brings liberty.

Now, wait a moment! Walk after (or in) the Spirit? I know what it means to walk in the flesh, but how does one walk after (or in) the Spirit? Do not be hasty in your understanding of what it means to walk after (or in) the Spirit. As you continue in this journey towards maturity, you will learn to understand this concept in much more detail. For now, just know that it is not you, trying to walk righteously by your own efforts. To walk after (or in) the Spirit is far deeper than this. It is a work being done in your spirit, and one that you grow and mature in as you are changed progressively by the increase of the Word in you, and your knowledge of it.

When your spiritual position before God, revealed in Romans chapters 1-7, becomes real to you, and you understand it by faith, nothing can move you from the peace and steadfastness you have by knowing 'who you are in Christ' and from the position of righteousness you have before God. Nothing that life and circumstances can throw at you will be able to shift you from this truth. Your righteousness is settled.

When we get to Romans chapter 8, Paul provides a final summary of the overarching concepts of positional justification and sanctification, dealt with throughout Romans chapters 1-7. In chapter 8 there is great emphasis given to the move from flesh to the Spirit, from death to life, and from law to liberty. The power to move you from one to the other is not by your own efforts but by the operation of the Spirit and by faith. Paul's summation of this is intricately detailed between verses 2 and 17,

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Justification and the spiritual aspects of sanctification, being set apart for a holy purpose, are instantaneous events which God performs at salvation, but the process in its entirety also deals with an active and progressive part that we must do. Paul has already written above concerning mortifying the deeds of the flesh, and he will also soon mention the need to renew the mind. These aspects of our practical sanctification can only be effective by a continued growing in knowledge and practical understanding of the Word and of the formation of Christ within you. We will get to these practical applications in another post.

God bless.