Bob Cassell, Messenger, RFTC
Heb. 4:10 states, “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” In contrast to this is Paul’s admonition. “Be perfect” (2 Cor. 13:11). Why should those who have been perfected forever be admonished to be perfect? Similar passages might be provided but these will serve to illustrate the point (Heb. 10:10).
These statements may appear to be contradictory, but such is entirely eliminated when it is understood that in each case the first verse refers to the believer’s eternal position in Christ. He is positionally sanctified or set apart for God’s eternal purpose. The believer is perfect in God’s sight because he is in Christ and no longer in his corrupt flesh. In each case the second verse refers to the believer’s life on earth which is called his walk, or state. His earthly life should be wholly set apart for God’s purposes. He should live a righteous life before God, but his earthly life is not his standing.
The believers standing is the eternal position wherein God has placed him and is as God forever sees him because he has received Jesus Christ as Savior. It is God’s acceptance of him in Christ and as a royal member of the household of God. is
The believer’s state is the condition of his earthly life. It is the demonstration or expression of his spiritual life in and through his earthly body. It is the sum total of his experiences when in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and is demonstrated by the exhale of joy, peace, longsuffering and fruit bearing. To whatever degree these things are lacking the state is out of harmony with the standing. The purpose of the discipline of grace is to harmonize the state with the standing which is perfect and unchangeable. The believer is to work his position in Christ, which is perfect, into his imperfect condition which is in himself. i.e. while he is out of fellowship and controlled by the old sin nature.
The believer’s standing or his position in Christ is unalterable and man does not and cannot contribute the least toward it. A clear realization of this exalted position is imperative in order to understand the magnificence and power of God’s amazing grace.
A most inclusive statement of that which takes place when a believer is placed into union with Christ is found in these words, “Who (God the Father) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 12:13). This matchless statement is nothing less than being taken out of the realm over which Satan dominates and being placed in the realm of the Son of God. The moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as savior, while still in the world, he is no more of the world (John 17:11, 14).
This is a change from the lowest and least human level to the highest and best divine position. It gets no higher nor better than to be positioned and perfected forever in the total, absolute and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is also the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Notice the union here! It is by means of the holy Spirit and the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ.
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you (for how long?) FOREVER. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him; but you know him; for he dwells with you and shall be in you” (John 14: 16,17). “At that day you shall know that I AM in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14: 20).
The standing before God of all who are not in union with Jesus Christ is that of aliens and enemies to God “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled” (Colossians 1:21). In contrast, all who are in the family of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ have been reconciled to God. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). These who have believed in Christ have also been made nigh to God. “But NOW in Christ Jesus you who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). They are NOW “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
To accomplish this great change from being without God (Eph. 2:12) to the closest and most intimate position that can be held by any creature, several things must be performed by God. All of these eternal things become efficacious the instant a person believes in Christ.
First to be mentioned is redemption from “under the law” (Gal. 4:5).
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). This unique and magnificent redemption was purchased with the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Together with redemption from under the law, there is complete and full forgiveness of all sins committed against that law. “In whom (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence” (Eph.1:7,8). The purging of sins is accomplished specifically by means of the Son of God Himself “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb.1:3). This complete forgiveness of sins against the law must not be confused with the forgiveness of sins against God the Father, which is conditioned upon confession (1 John 1:9). This complete forgiveness is the first part of the standing: the second part is related to the state of the believer. The first is the believer’s sure position in Christ and it is fixed forever because it is in Christ. The state or condition of the believer relates to fellowship. This fellowship is based on the believer’s continuous awareness of overt and covert sins. To commit either causes an interruption in fellowship and that interruption grieves or quenches the Holy Spirit. Such sins must not be allowed to remain in the life of any believer as to regard iniquity in the heart is not to be heard by the Lord “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). The command is “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). “Quench not the spirit” (1 Thess. 5:19).
Another element of the believers standing, that is directly related to redemption, is justification. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). This justification is a free gift that is made possible by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and because He “bare our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). “For He (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Justification is more than forgiveness of sins. It is to be perfected in Jesus Christ, clothed in His perfect righteousness: standing before God as one who has been cleansed from all sins forever.
This eternal position in Christ includes the relationship of a child to his Father. “But as many as received him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, . . . Which were born, . . . of God” (John 1:12, 13).
