Chapter 51 - Principle of Position

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Only two people in the history of the world have served in the role of headship; Adam and Jesus Christ. Consequently, every human being has been legally and organically “positioned” under the headship of one or the other.

Simply stated, the word “position” can be defined as “an advantageous place or location.”[1] While it cannot be said that being positioned under the headship of Adam is advantageous, there is no greater privilege than being positioned under the headship of Jesus Christ. It provides unparalleled advantage.

Original Covenantal Headship

Within the protective framework of the Renovation Covenant, God designed the human race as one collective entity. He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness …” (Genesis 1:26) The Hebrew noun for “man” was 'adam. Used by Moses in a collective sense, it provided a clear indication that God created mankind as one collective, covenantal entity.

Concordant with the stipulations of the Renovation Covenant, the first man, Adam, was appointed the covenantal head of humanity. Descended from Adam, the source of humanity, the remainder of the human race was appointed by God as his covenantal body.

The head and body of the human race were originally united by covenantal law and life. Made as one legal and organic entity, the head and body of the human race were legally representative and organically representational of one another.

Through his position of representative (legal) headship, the legal consequence of Adam’s original sin was imputed (credited) to the account of the entire human race. The imputation was direct, immediate, and binding. As a result, all mankind became burdened by insurmountable legal debt and experienced legal alienation from God.

Concordant with his position of representational headship, the organic penalty of Adam’s original sin also affected the entire human race. The natural or physical penalty for Adam’s sin was separation from divine life (zoe). The result of the separation was organic degeneration. Therefore, the entire human race experienced organic degeneration with Adam. Indirectly transmitted by means of natural or seminal inheritance, it is evidenced from generation to generation by progressive physical degeneration and eventual death.

The representative (legal) and representational (organic) headship of Adam proved fallible. It was incapable of mediating between God and the human race.

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New Covenantal Headship

With foreknowledge, God was fully aware that Adam would eventually make the wrong choice to eat from that would lead to the fall of humanity. Therefore, He was prepared beforehand. Within the protective framework of the Eternal Covenant, God provided for a new race of redeemed human beings. Jesus was the “firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18) The “many brethren” were chosen human beings who would be redeemed by the blood of the Eternal Covenant. In this present age, they comprise the New Testament church.

The Eternal Covenant was initiated by the members of the Godhead in eternity before the foundation of the world. Its stipulations were fulfilled in time by the mediatorial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through His mediation of the Eternal Covenant those responding by faith would receive the benefit of new headship, law, and life. They would ensure legal suitability and organic compatibility with God. In this present age, the New Testament church is the primary beneficiary of the Eternal Covenant.

Baptized Into Christ

The New Testament church shared in the benefit of the Eternal Covenant by means of spiritual baptism. The Apostle Paul stated, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death …” (Romans 6:3-4a)

It is an unfortunate truth, however, that the New Testament church on earth is largely unfamiliar with the importance of spiritual baptism “into Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) Occurring at the moment of salvation, it provided the church with the privileged opportunity to experience fullness of life shared with Jesus.

As previously stated, the word baptism is a transliteration of the Greek word baptizo. Its literal meaning is to dip, immerse or submerge. Figuratively, baptizo can mean “to overwhelm.” “Theologically, baptism may be defined as an act of association or identification with someone, some group, some message, or some event.”[1] As used in the context of the New Testament, the most suitable translation of the Greek word baptizo is “identification with.”

Concordant with the benefit of the redemptive Eternal Covenant, the New Testament church was spiritually “identified with” the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. As a result, it was eternally assembled in one body positioned under His representative (legal) and representational (organic) headship. (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:45-47) Thus, spiritual baptism into Christ is often referred to as the principle of position or “positional truth.”

Positioned under the headship of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church shares both His legal and organic status. Consequently, the New Testament describes the church as “in Christ,” “in Christ Jesus,” “in the Lord,” “in the Lord Jesus,” and “in Him” more than 150 times.

Baptism into Christ is also referred to as “identification truth” because the New Testament church was “identified with” Jesus Christ and His mediatorial, redemptive work. Positioned under His representative (legal) and representational (organic) headship, it was “identified with” His death and burial (Romans 6:3-6, 8; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:12; 20), righteousness (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21), resurrection (Romans 6:4-5, 8, 11; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:12-13; 3:1), ascension (Ephesians 2:6a), seating (Ephesians 2:6b), and glorification. (Romans 8:30; Colossians 3:4).

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Benefits of Identification

Spiritually identified with the death and burial of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church exists in a position of complete forgiveness of all transgression of divine law (sin). It was not only forgiven of its past sins but its present and future sins as well.

Spiritually identified with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church exists in a position of perfect righteousness. The righteousness of Jesus Christ was imputed (credited) to its account and as a result, it was declared righteous with an eternally binding declaration. Therefore, the New Testament church was made legally suitable with God.

Spiritually identified with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church was resurrected to new life. Through regeneration it was made organically compatible with God. By spiritual birth, the New Testament church received the impartation of His life. Thus, it exists in a position of shared life with God Jesus Christ.

Spiritually identified with the ascension of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church ascended with Him into heaven. As a result, it was positioned far above all that is contrary to God, including the evil associated with sin, Satan, and this fallen world.

Spiritually identified with Jesus Christ, the New Testament church was seated with Him in the heavenly realm. It is a position of ultimate victory.

Spiritually identified with Jesus Christ, the New Testament church is glorified with Him. Consequently, its expectation of future glory has already been realized.

To restate, the spiritual baptism of the New Testament church into Christ provided unparalleled benefit. As a result, it is forgiven of all sin; past, present, and future, declared righteous with an eternally binding declaration, resurrected to new, eternal life shared with God, ascended into heaven where it is seated with Him in perfect victory. Therefore, the New Testament church now and forever shares the radiance of His transcendent majesty.
Principle of Position

Few have explained the principle of position as clearly as Miles Stanford. He said, “All spiritual life and growth is based on the principal of position. It can be summed up in one word: source.

Through physical birth we entered our human family position, from which source we derive certain characteristics. We are the product of our position. Just so in our spiritual birth. When we are born again, the risen Lord Jesus is the source of our Christian life; in him we are positioned before our Father, in whom “we live, and move, and exist” (Acts 17:28), “for we are His workmanship, created (born anew) in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10). Our Father, in redeeming and recreating us, “raised up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6)

Our position, the source of our Christian life, is perfect. It is eternally established in the Father's presence. When we received the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit caused us to be born into Him. He created us in the position that was established through His work at Calvary. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (creation)” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the eternal position in which every believer has been placed, whether he is aware of it or not. The Christian who comes to see his position in the Lord Jesus begins to experience the benefit of all that he is in him. His daily state is developed from the source of his eternal standing.”[1]

Congruent with the eternal standing of the New Testament church in its position “in Christ,” the Apostle Paul explained it was “clothed… with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27) The English word “clothed” is translated from the Greek word enduo (en-doo'-o) which means “to clothe, to dress, to put on.” It is used 28 times in the New Testament. Being clothed with Christ is synonymous with having “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” and having “put on the full armor of God” (Jesus is the full armor of God). (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:11, 14)

The English word “abide” is also used in the New Testament in regard to the New Testament church’s eternal position “in Christ.” It is translated from the Greek word “meno” (men'-o) which means to remain or dwell in a place. In addition to “abide” it is otherwise translated in the New Testament as “stay; remain; endure; continue; dwell; etc.

The Apostle John used meno a number of times in reference to the New Testament church’s eternal position “in Christ.” For example he stated, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:56) and “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)
“Baptized into Christ,” the New Testament church has been positioned “in Him” and thus, “clothed with Christ.” As a result, it is said to “abide” in Him.

Positioned “in Christ,” “clothed with” Him, and abiding “in Him,” the New Testament church was “identified with” His person and mediatorial work. Therefore, it was joined as one with Jesus Christ, both legally and organically. (Romans 7:4) Thus, it was “blessed… with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

© 2025 James Hiatt

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