notice  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.

THE I M P O S S I B L E TRIANGLE

 As the weird “Impossible Triangle” shows, things are not always what they seem to be! The same can be said of Escher’s “Waterfall” ─  As the weird “Impossible Triangle” shows, things are not always what they seem to be! The same can be said of Escher’s “Waterfall” ─

 And of Escher’s ever-ascending (or are they descending?) stairs …

 There is an important spiritual lesson here, a kind of spiritual magic carpet, which is nowhere better shown than in a study of our …

Standing and State Some thoughts on our position in Christ by Ken Chant Some thoughts on our position in Christ by Ken Chant

text “(We are) God's church, made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God's holy people along with people everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2) “(We are) God's church, made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God's holy people along with people everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

introduction  There are two realities −

1) YOUR STANDING  This describes your true position in Christ in the heavenlies. It is your legal status, one of imputed righteousness. It is the way God sees us in Christ. 1) YOUR STANDING  This describes your true position in Christ in the heavenlies. It is your legal status, one of imputed righteousness. It is the way God sees us in Christ.

2.YOUR STATE  This describes your actual condition on earth. It is the degree to which we have actualised the heavenly reality. It recognises that in daily life we always fall short and are never entirely free from sin. 2.YOUR STATE  This describes your actual condition on earth. It is the degree to which we have actualised the heavenly reality. It recognises that in daily life we always fall short and are never entirely free from sin.

 Notice how Paul was always careful to tell his readers who they were in Christ before he told them what to do as Christians. How often that pattern is unhappily reversed today! Let us learn to tell the difference...  Notice how Paul was always careful to tell his readers who they were in Christ before he told them what to do as Christians. How often that pattern is unhappily reversed today! Let us learn to tell the difference...

YOUR STANDING

 Scripture declares many things that are true of us in Christ … All these things are true NOW of every believer. This is how we NOW appear to the Father; it is our legal standing, which is freely given because of what Christ has wrought for us at Calvary.  But at once we face a troubling problem...  Scripture declares many things that are true of us in Christ … All these things are true NOW of every believer. This is how we NOW appear to the Father; it is our legal standing, which is freely given because of what Christ has wrought for us at Calvary.  But at once we face a troubling problem...

 This legal standing does not instantly become real in daily experience. Thus your earthly state may be quite different from your heavenly standing.  How can that difference be reconciled?  This legal standing does not instantly become real in daily experience. Thus your earthly state may be quite different from your heavenly standing.  How can that difference be reconciled?

YOUR STATE

 See Colossians 3:5-9; and Ephesians 4:

“Therefore, put to death whatever is carnal in you – such things as sexual sins, perversion, passion, lust, and greed … Also get rid of savage anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and such like. Stop lying to one another. … Yes, you must get rid of all bitterness, wild rage, selfish anger, loud quarrelling, cursing, and hatred!” “Therefore, put to death whatever is carnal in you – such things as sexual sins, perversion, passion, lust, and greed … Also get rid of savage anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and such like. Stop lying to one another. … Yes, you must get rid of all bitterness, wild rage, selfish anger, loud quarrelling, cursing, and hatred!”

 Would you call those people Christians? Think again about the things they were doing!  Would you call those people Christians? Think again about the things they were doing!

 Didn’t Paul care about the way they were living? Of course he did!  He wanted them to live righteously; but he would not allow human action to dominate divine grace. So he gave them revelation before rebuke.  Didn’t Paul care about the way they were living? Of course he did!  He wanted them to live righteously; but he would not allow human action to dominate divine grace. So he gave them revelation before rebuke.

 Paul places us firmly in the “heavenlies” before he gives any attention to what is happening on the “earthlies”. He understood that only righteous people can live righteously.  Paul places us firmly in the “heavenlies” before he gives any attention to what is happening on the “earthlies”. He understood that only righteous people can live righteously.

 But the tendency in many churches is to turn the gospel around: "When I see you doing righteously, then I will say that you are righteous." Yet a poor state does not change a Christian's standing. See how well Paul speaks about those sinful Colossians …  But the tendency in many churches is to turn the gospel around: "When I see you doing righteously, then I will say that you are righteous." Yet a poor state does not change a Christian's standing. See how well Paul speaks about those sinful Colossians …

“(You are) God's holy and faithful people, our brothers and sisters, who are united with us in Christ … Goodwill and peace from God our Father belong to you in Christ! So set your heart upon the things that are above, where Christ sits enthroned at the Father’s right hand. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now your life, and when he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 1:2; 3:1-4) “(You are) God's holy and faithful people, our brothers and sisters, who are united with us in Christ … Goodwill and peace from God our Father belong to you in Christ! So set your heart upon the things that are above, where Christ sits enthroned at the Father’s right hand. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now your life, and when he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 1:2; 3:1-4)

 Paul's goal was always to make our unchanged legal standing the basis of an appeal for a changing actual state. Thus, the true way of faith is to claim your legal standing in Christ BEFORE you make any attempt to alter your actual state on earth.  Paul's goal was always to make our unchanged legal standing the basis of an appeal for a changing actual state. Thus, the true way of faith is to claim your legal standing in Christ BEFORE you make any attempt to alter your actual state on earth.

NARROWING THE GAP

 You can now see that Christian life is primarily a matter of narrowing the gap between your standing and your state.

 We must enter into that process with goodwill because a faith union with Christ cannot be sustained in the presence of wilful and unrepented sin. In other words, any true grip of the standing God has given us in Christ will irresistibly create in us a hunger to bring our state into conformity with that standing.  We must enter into that process with goodwill because a faith union with Christ cannot be sustained in the presence of wilful and unrepented sin. In other words, any true grip of the standing God has given us in Christ will irresistibly create in us a hunger to bring our state into conformity with that standing.

 Thus "narrowing the gap" is neither a matter of works, nor of fierce struggle. Rather, it should be a natural product of our use of the means of grace.  Thus "narrowing the gap" is neither a matter of works, nor of fierce struggle. Rather, it should be a natural product of our use of the means of grace.

 Indeed, there are only two ways to change yourself – 1.Look ahead, setting up an image of what you want to be, and struggle to achieve it; or 2.Look up, see what you already are in Christ, and realise it by faith!  Indeed, there are only two ways to change yourself – 1.Look ahead, setting up an image of what you want to be, and struggle to achieve it; or 2.Look up, see what you already are in Christ, and realise it by faith!

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

1.You should use your legal standing as the sole basis upon which you resist Satan, whether he attacks you by word or deed − see 2 Co 10:3-5 …

“The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We … pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” (GNB) “The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We … pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” (GNB)

2.You should use your legal standing as the sole basis upon which you approach the throne of God boldly in prayer − see Hebrews 10:19-23 …

“We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain, that is, through his own body. … So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith … (and) let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.” (GNB) “We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain, that is, through his own body. … So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith … (and) let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.” (GNB)

 Christians who have found security in the righteous standing God has given them in Christ, and who refuse to be moved away from that position, not even by their own sin, will be able calmly and steadily to bring their state closer and closer to the heavenly reality.

“Remember these things, and never let anyone push you off the bedrock of your faith. Strive to excel in everything you do for the Lord … Stay alert. Stay firm in your faith in Christ. Stay full of courage and be strong in Christ!” - 1 Co 15:58; 16:13 “Remember these things, and never let anyone push you off the bedrock of your faith. Strive to excel in everything you do for the Lord … Stay alert. Stay firm in your faith in Christ. Stay full of courage and be strong in Christ!” - 1 Co 15:58; 16:13