This Month's Subject: The Christian's Standing and State

 •  19 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
The subject worked out for this month is—
The Christian’s Standing and State.
We are glad to be able to record that this month a considerably larger number of the Class have sent in papers, and this confirms us in the opinion expressed last month that the subject then selected had proved too difficult. At the same time we have had only one paper in two divisions, and from this cause the subject may not have been thoroughly worked out. It will be obliging if any who are compelled to give up sending in papers will let us know, so that the allotment of divisions may be more satisfactorily made.
Without anticipating the remarks to be made next month, we may call attention to the wonderful catalog of the blessings conferred upon us by God on the ground of the accomplished work of Christ, and thus ours unconditionally. How gracious of our God to secure them to us in so firm a foundation. May the consideration of His grace encourage us to live more to His glory who has done so much for us.
I. The blessings and privileges, past, present, and future connected with the believers’ standing in Christ, including all that he is said to be or to have, in virtue of a simple faith in Christ as his Savior.
PAST BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES.1
He is delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, Colossians 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13).
He is sanctified by the will of God through the offering of the body of Christ once, Hebrews 10:1010By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10).
Present Blessings and Privileges.
He is not of the world, even as Christ was not of the world, John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16).
He is sent unto the world by Christ, as Christ was sent into the world by His Father, John 17:1818As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:18).
He has peace with God, Romans 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1), access by faith into grace, 5:2, and has the glory of God as his hope, 5:2.
All things are his, 1 Corinthians 2:21.
He, through the Spirit, waits for the hope of righteousness by faith, Galatians 5:55For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:5).
He is a fellow citizen with Lie saints and of the household of God, Ephesians 2.19,
Christ is in him, the hope of glory, Colossians 1. 27.
He looks for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and his savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13).
He draws nigh to God.
Future Blessings and Privileges.
In the ages to come God will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness to him through Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:77That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7).
Unto Him that loveth us, and hath washed us from our sins in His blood, and hath made us a kingdom, priests unto His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2. —The blessings and privileges, past, present, and future, connected with a believer’s practical state, including all that may characterize him, or that he may become in virtue of a godly and faithful walk.
We would add here that some of the Class do not appear to have quite understood the scope of this division of the subject. It was not intended that the exhortations to, or the characteristics of, a godly and faithful walk should be searched out, but rather the blessings and privileges which are and will be the believer’s in consequence, as we may put it, of his following out these exhortations and exhibiting these characteristics in a practical manner during his path in this world. Some of the papers which have been sent in however have given us a hint as to what is likely to prove an acceptable subject for a future occasion.
We trust that in reading the list of blessings that follows, each one will carefully refer to the context, so as to see the conditions on which they are ours; the result will then be of real practical benefit.
Present Blessings.
He has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, Romans 5:22.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps his heart and mind through Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).
Future Blessings.
He will receive a reward for faithfulness during his Lord’s absence, Matthew 24:4646Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (Matthew 24:46).
An entrance will be ministered unto him abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:1111For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11).
He will be clothed in white raiment, his name will not be blotted out of the book of life, and Christ will confess his name before His Father and before His angels, Revelation 3:55He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5).
 
1. We may remark that while some of the passages placed under this heading refer to the value of the work of Christ as regards the past of a believers life, many, and indeed most have application also to the whole of his Christian course