Standing Vs. State

As we go into this Lord’s Day weekend, it would be rather fitting that we use this time to reflect upon our standing and state with the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many today confuse the two, with some even thinking they are synonymous terms when, in reality, they are not.

One’s spiritual standing with the Lord is the all-important and eternal matter of salvation. If an individual is saved (born-again), his standing (position) is that of a child of God. Many today espouse that ALL people are children of God, when they are not. Galatians 3:26 states it so simply and clearly, “For ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” One’s faith solely in the work of Christ  Jesus being sufficient to save one and not in man’s works or anything added to what Christ did for us results in the grace of God extending to that individual (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Titus 3:3-7). Therefore, if one is not in the position of being a child of God, then as Jesus clearly put it, “Ye are of your father the devil…” (John 8:44).

One’s spiritual state with the Lord is also vital -- not just for that individual but for the others around him -- and has eternal consequences (the loss of eternal rewards). The “state” of an individual can also be termed as one’s “walk”. The Scriptures tell the believer:

“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:13-14).

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:16-17).

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;… For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:2-3,10).

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” (Ephesians 4:17-22).

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:6-8)

Many believers today unfortunately fulfill both what the Bible states in Judges 17:6, “…but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” and what occultist Aleister Crowley so aptly stated, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” See what God has to say about that way of living and thinking: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15);  “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts” (Proverbs 21:1).

May we all truly allow the Lord to show us what really is in our hearts, exposing our sins, our lusts, and our desires, and humbly acknowledge the error of our ways. Then, may we walk in His ways and in His truth, never to turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.