Thank you for joining us as we continue our exciting series exploring the timeline of our great salvation, from its beginning to the end of time. Every part of salvation is accomplished by God through His grace. We encourage you to read the previous articles in this series for additional context on God’s wonderful plan of redemption.
In this article, we will begin discussing the believer’s remarkable positions in Christ. At the moment of salvation, through faith in Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross, believers receive four primary spiritual positions before God. We will examine the first two in this article and explore the remaining two next time.
Position 1: We are God’s Possession
As New Testament believers, God has redeemed us (purchasing us at the cross) and has enabled us to become His peculiar possession (1 Peter 2:9).
How does God accomplish making us His possession?
- The Holy Spirit’s sealing – We are marked as God’s possession at salvation by the Holy Spirit who is given to us (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9). This is a great promise and a result of our belief in salvation by faith alone in Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- His workmanship – Upon belief, we are also remade into God’s image (Ephesians 2:10) as a new work. Please see just below under Baptism for further detail.
Position 2: Spiritual Baptism
This biblical truth is vital in understanding who we are as Christians.
- First, let’s consider the word itself. In the Epistles, when baptism is mentioned, it refers almost always to spiritual baptism. Water baptism might be considered as an external ritual to signify the internal event. The word βαπτιζω (baptizoo) in Greek (the original language of the New Testament) was an old term borrowed from the dye trade. It meant that a piece of cloth immersed in a dye became ‘identified’ with the new color.
- Second, how is being ‘identified’ with Christ associated with being a Christian? Fortunately, a lot! When we believe in salvation, we are identified with Christ’s gracious death and resurrection. At this time, our old self died and was buried with Christ. We are raised now to new life with Him, and God views us as sitting with Him at His right hand (Romans 6:2-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 2:12-13).
Similar concepts in scripture that also appear to speak to spiritual baptism are: regeneration (Titus 3:5), born again (John 3:5), and new man (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
Why is this concept so important?
- Believer’s sin – Although every believer sins, we possess the power to say ‘no’ to sin because our new person in Christ is now able to live a victorious life.
- The reason for the resurrection – Baptism teaches us the importance of the resurrection because Christians are raised with Christ to new life, without which they would still be dead in sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).
- Eternal security – Baptism helps each believer know they cannot lose salvation because Scripture does not indicate that committing a sin will kill the new person and bring the old dead self back to life!
- Prayer – Believers who are now holy can approach God at any time, directly in prayer, in confidence. Old Testament believers did not have this advantage, being limited to the Day of Atonement when only the high priest could approach the most holy God (Heb 10:19-22).
Secure in Our New Life
Through salvation, we have been permanently transformed and raised with Christ into a new life. We are free to serve Him, obey Him, and approach Him confidently in prayer.
The failures and sins associated with our old self cannot undo what God has accomplished. Our position in Christ is based on His completed work, not on our ability to maintain our salvation.
What great comfort and assurance we receive from the truth of Scripture!
In summary, believers receive four wonderful positional promises because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. These promises involve permanent changes in both our legal standing before God and our spiritual nature.
In this article, we examined the first two positions: we are God’s possession, and we have received spiritual baptism. For a broader overview, please read Positions in Christ - Teleios, Inc. (teleiosresearch.com).
Please join us next time as we discuss our legal justification and our adoption into God’s family. What wonderful promises God has given to assure us of our great salvation!
William C. Stewart, MD
Email - info@teleiosresearch.com
Website - http://teleiosresearch.com/
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Disclaimer - This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.
