What is the true position of a Christian? What is his work? These two questions are of the very deepest practical importance. It is assumed, of course, that he has eternal life: without this, one cannot be a Christian at all. “He that believeth on the Son [of God] hath everlasting life.” This is the common portion of all believers. It is not a matter of attainment, a matter of progress, a thing which some Christians have and others have not. It belongs to the very feeblest babe in the family of God, as well as to the most matured and experienced servant of Christ. All possess eternal life, and can never, by any possibility, lose it.
But our present theme is not life, but position and work, and in briefly considering it, we shall begin with a passage in Hebrews 13. We cannot do better than quote it. There is nothing like the plain and solid word of Holy Scripture.
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” vv. 9-14.
Here we have one grand aspect of the Christian’s position. His position is defined by the position of his Lord. This makes it divinely simple, and, we may add, divinely settled. The Christian is identified with Christ. Amazing fact! “As He is, so are we in this world.” It is not said, “As He is, so shall we be in the world to come.” No; this would not come up to the divine idea. It is, “So are we in this world.”
The position of Christ defines the position of the Christian. This glorious fact states the Christian’s position in a double way: It declares his place before God, and it declares his place as regards this present world. It is on the latter that Hebrews 13 instructs us so blessedly, and it is that which is now more specially before us.