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Positional truth is foundational not only to the spiritual life and growth of the New Testament church but also to its spiritual warfare. Within the framework of covenant, it serves to identify the eternal position or status of human beings in relationship to God.
Positioned “in Adam” Concordant with the Renovation Covenant, God designed the human race as one collective entity in the form of head and body. Adam, the first man and archetype of humanity, was appointed the representative head of the human race. By stipulation of the Renovation Covenant, his posterity was appointed as his covenantal body. By stipulation of the Renovation Covenant, the head and body of the human race were joined in covenantal union by law. The posterity of Adam was legally and organically positioned under his representative headship. Therefore, the New Testament describes the legal and organic position of the fallen human race as “in Adam.” (1 Corinthians 15:22; cf. Romans 5:12-19) Positioned “in Adam,” it shares his legal and organic status before God. Consequently, when Adam committed the original sin, the entire human race shared the penalty, both legally and organically. Joined legally and organically to Adam, the position of the fallen human race is unrighteous: |
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Positioned “in Adam,” the human race was relegated to existence within the “domain of darkness” (realm of satanic authority). As a result, it was legally subjected to the authority of Satan. Without personal remedy, the fallen human race is powerless to cope with his wrath and left to its own finite, fleshly resources to manage spiritual hostility.
Baptized Into Christ In contrast to the fallen human race, the New Testament church is not positioned “in Adam.” Instead, it is graciously positioned “in Christ.” The New Testament church was legally and organically positioned “in Christ” when it was “baptized into” Him. (Romans 6:1-11) The English word “baptize” does not constitute a translation from New Testament Greek but a transliteration from the Greek word “baptizo.” Therefore, it is merely an English representation of a Greek word. The best translation of the Greek word “baptizo” is “identification with.” Consequently, when the New Testament church was spiritually baptized into Christ it was identified with His redemptive work: |
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Positioned “in Christ”
In contrast to the first man, Adam, Jesus Christ is the “last Adam” and the “second man.” Therefore, Jesus is not just another Adam. Instead, He is the fulfillment of the first Adam. Within the protective framework of the Eternal Covenant, God designed the New Testament church as one collective, covenantal entity. He created it in the form of head and body. By stipulation of the redemptive Eternal Covenant, Jesus Christ was predetermined to be the perfect representative head of the New Testament church. The elect members of the ecclesia were appointed as His covenantal body. The head and body of the New Testament church were joined in covenantal union by law. As a result, the church body was legally positioned under the representative headship of Christ. Positioned “in Him,” the New Testament describes the body of the ecclesia of God as “in Christ,” “in Christ Jesus,” “in the Lord,” “in Him,” etc., more than 150 times. Joined legally and organically to Christ, the position of the New Testament church is righteous: |
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The new life of the church positioned “in Christ” is vastly different from the old life positioned “in Adam.” It is obligated but not indebted; regenerated; intimately joined to God by union of shared life; enlightened; and empowered by the immediate presence of His indwelling life (zoe).
Positioned “in Christ,” the New Testament church was “rescued… from the domain of darkness” (realm of satanic authority) and transferred to the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) where it is positioned in King Jesus. He is the perfect remedy for satanic wrath and hostility. |
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Position and Condition “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… 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. 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. Our condition is what we are in our Christian walk, in which we develop from infancy to maturity. Although our position remains immutable, our condition is variable. Through the exercise of faith, our eternal position (source) affects our daily condition, but in no way does our condition affect that heavenly position. When we concentrate on our condition, we are not living by faith but by feelings and appearances. The inevitable result is that we become increasingly self-conscious and self-centered. Our prime responsibility is to pay attention to the Lord Jesus, to rest (abide) in him as our position. There will then be growth, and He will be more and more manifested in our condition. If the believer does not know of his position in the Lord Jesus, and how to abide in Him as his very life, there will be but one result. He will struggle in this un-Christlike condition rather than rest in his Christ-centered position. In most cases, a believer is more aware of his condition than of his position. This is the reason for so much failure and stagnation. If we are to grow and become fruitful, our faith must be anchored in the finished work of our position in Christ. There is no basis for faith in our changeable, unfinished condition.”1 Faith “Scriptural, fact centered faith in the Lord Jesus as our position before the Father is the one means of experiencing that finished work in the growth of our daily condition. Spiritual birth placed us in our accepted position, from which our spiritual condition is being completed, by faith. Every Christian has been positioned forever in the risen Lord by spiritual birth. But only the believer who knows, grows. It is faith in the facts of our position that gives us the daily benefits of growth in our condition. If the believer is not clearly aware of the specific truths of the Word, he cannot exercise the necessary faith for growth and service. He can only seek his resources in the realm of self.”2 Put On the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) The New Testament church is no longer positioned “in Adam.” Instead, it is gloriously positioned “in Christ.” Positioned “in Adam,” however, the fallen human race is susceptible to satanic schemes. In contrast, positioned “in Christ” the New Testament church is equipped with everything it needs to overcome the schemes of the devil. According to the Apostle Paul, the New Testament church was eternally positioned “in Christ” when it was “baptized into” (spiritually identified with) Him. (Romans 6:3) As a result, it was “clothed… with Christ” (Galatians 3:27) The New Testament church is privileged to appropriate its position “in Christ” in accordance with the Apostle Paul’s command to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:14) It is an act of grace through faith alone, predicated on its legal and organic position “in Christ.” Eternally positioned “in Christ,” the New Testament church is protectively armored with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is the “armor of God.” Therefore, “putting on” and “taking up” the armor of God is synonymous with putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Fully armored, In Christ, the New Testament church has access to infinite life (zoe) and incomparable power. Together its members appropriate His life (zoe) and power by faithfully putting on and taking up the “full armor of God” in the context of intimate, prayerful community. © 2023 James Hiatt |
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