33 Things - Our Position In Christ

Some require faith John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Some don’t require faith Genesis 9:11 “Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.””

Promises depend on the veracity and faithfulness of The Promiser

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Numbers 23:19 ““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

Revelation 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

3,573 - 5,467 - 7,487 - 8,810 put your name on one

One Promise to Start

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

1. The Promiser is God

2. The offer (salvation) is given to the world - whosoever. The Spirits work in the unbeliever John 16:8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” Not a sin issue, but a Son issue

3. The object of the promise

4. Belief is the way to appropriate the promise

5. The promise is EVERLASTING LIFE (should not perish)

The Spirits work in the believer is different (sanctification) John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

Our Position and Our Experience

Our position is established at the moment of salvation once for all time with are granted everlasting life. We are saved.

Our Experience is a life in the world. As a disciple we enter a process known as sanctification - discipleship = growing into the image of Christ.

It is important to understand these two very different distinctions. The Bible is very confusing without bringing this understanding to the context of portions of Scripture.

Examples of interpreting position and experience verses:

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

What is Our Position as Believers?

There are 33 things that are accomplished for the believer at the moment of salvation.

These are directly taken from Lewis Sperry Chafer’s book Salvation. (for the complete list now, buy the book or find the 33 things online)

Preface:

These are not experienced by our senses (not charismatic in character)

These are fulfilled by promise upon the believer by God in an instant

These are gifts of grace - lest any should boast

These are revealed by the Spirit (Jn 16:13) from the Bible. Scripture tells us Who we are “in Christ”, Where we stand, How we are loved, What He has given us...

These 33 things are eternal, everlasting and as such can never be lost, taken away, or forfeited

Chafer’s 33 Things that God has accomplished for the believer at the moment of salvation

1. In the Eternal Plan of God

Foreknown Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

1 Peter 1:2 “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

Elect 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.”

Romans 8:33 “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;”

Titus 1:1 “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,”

Predestinated Ephesians 1:11 “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,”

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:5 “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

Chosen Matthew 22:14 ““For many are called, but few are chosen.””

1 Peter 2:4 “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,”

Called 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

2. Reconciled

Reconciled by God

2 Corinthians 5:18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,”

Colossians 1:20 “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Reconciled to God

Romans 5:10 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

3. Redeemed

Redeemed by God

Colossians 1:14 “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

1 Peter 1:18 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,”

Romans 3:24 “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

Out of all condemnation

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

John 5:24 ““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

1 Corinthians 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

John 3:18 ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

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