A Believers Standing and State
It is important that a believer understands the standing of the believer (his position in Christ) and his state or walk. The believer's standing, or position, is the result of the work of Christ and is perfect from the moment the believer is received by faith. Nothing one does in this life, following their salvation, adds anything to this standing or the believers security. We receive our standing in God's sight by faith alone. A believer's standing deals with his salvation, relationship and position in Christ. His state deals with his service, fellowship, and condition with Christ. A believer can lose their fellowship but can never lose their relationship with Christ. When a believer understands that their standing with Christ is perfect and eternal they can then fully concentrate on their fellowship in their day by day walk. We should also remember that the weakest believer has the same title as the most illustrious believer.
What is the title and standing of a believer? All of these experiences happen to be true of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Not one of these
experiences are gained by prayer, service, giving, church attendance, self denial, holiness of life, nor of any other
good works. These are gifts that come through Christ by faith and belong to all believers equally. What a believers actual state is may be quite different at various times and is sure to be below his standing in the
sight of God. A believer doesn't become holy, priestly, or heavenly in his walk as he does at once in his standing.
A believers state changes day by day. The state of a believer is a daily living out of the Christian life in which he
stands. There is no comparison of a believer's state to his standing which is perfect and secure for eternity. For a better understand look at the following contrasts. On the part of the believer, God's work is: Salvation is a free gift from God: Salvation is a present possession: The Bible mentions five crowns: Rewards are a future possession
Standing of a Believer
State of a Believer
Paul expresses his thanks to God for the believers spiritual gifts and his confidence that God will continue to
bless them, 1 Corinthians 1:2-9
In their day to day walk the Corinthians were far from perfect. Paul said he couldn't speak to them as
spiritual but as carnal, as babes in Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:1.
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Believers are washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit of God, they are just as if they had never sinned, 1
Corinthians 6:11.
The Corinthians believers had problems in their daily walk. Paul said there was a fault among them because they
went to law with one another, 1 Corinthians 6:7.
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Believers bodies are members of Christ, 1 Corinthians 6:15.
Some of the Corinthians visited temple prostitues so Paul asked, How can we be joined to Christ and joined to sin
at the same time?, 1 Corinthians 6:15.
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Paul tells us that Father in heaven revealed to Simon (Peter) that Christ is the Son of the living God. In other
words he was taught that by God, Matthew 16:17
Jesus now tells Peter (Simon) to get behind him, Satan, thou art an offence unto me. Peter was now thinking with
the mind of man instead of with the Word of God, Matthew 16:23.
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God the Father delivers believers from the power of darkness and translates them into the kingdom of His dear Son,
Colossians 1:12-13.
Believers are not perfect in their day to day walk and are told to put off all anger, wrath, malice, etc., and not
lie to one another, Colossians 3:8-9.
A Believer's Gift
A Believer's Exhortation
The love of believers is made perfect that they may have boldness in the day of judgment, 1 John 4:17.
He that abideth in Christ should also walk in Christ, even as He walked, 1 John 2:6.
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Our body is crucified with Him so that we no longer have to serve sin, Romans 6:6.
If you are dead with Christ why as though living in the world are you subject to ordinances, Colossians 2:20.
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Believers are to walk like Christ and having His mind, Philippians 3:15.
Philippians 3:15. Leave the elementary things behind and go forward in spiritual growth, Hebrews 6:1.
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Believers are the light of the world, Matthew 5:14.
Let your light shine so that men may see your good works and glorify your Father, Matthew 5:16.
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By one offering God perfected for ever those that are sanctified, Hebrews 10:14.
Compare yourself to Christ and not to others and follow after Christ, Philippians 3:12.
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Jesus saves believers not according to their works but acording to his purpose and grace, 2 Timothy 1:9.
Believers are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, Philippians 2:12.
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Believers are sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6.
Seek the things above where Christ sits on the right hand of the Father, Colossians 3:1
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When Christ appears believers will appear with Him in glory, Colossians 3:4
Mortify your members which are upon the earth, Colossians 3:5.
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God has given believers, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Paul prays God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of Jesus, 1 Thessalonians
5:23
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Believers were in darkness but now are in light, Ephesians 5:8.
elievers are now light in the Lord and are to walk as children of light, Ephesians 5:8.
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Believers are children of light and day, not of night nor darkness, 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
Believers are not to sleep as others but to watch and be sober, 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
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Believers are not appointed to wrath but to salvation, 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
Believers are to comforth themselvers together and edify one another, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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Believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once and for all, Hebrews 10:10.
Jesus asks the Father to sanctify believers through His truth and His Word is truth, John 17:17
