STANDING AND STATE

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a

workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the Word of truth."

II TIMOTHY 2:15

Here is one of the most wonderful and helpful principles of Bible

understanding. The New Testament cries out from one end to the other, and yet

the appalling ignorance of this simple truth has caused no end of confusion

and false doctrine.

The writer will never forget the first time he ever heard

this term used, while just a babe in the faith. A question had been asked

about a certain thing that a believer might fall into, and the speaker had

replied: "It would affect his state, not his standing." This seemed clear to

the older saints, but to some of us just saved, it was quite puzzling.

Briefly stated, the believer's standing is the way God sees him in Christ,

as perfect in Him. But his state is the way God sees him in his daily walk,

which is sinful and erring, and needs to be improved and corrected. Now for

scriptures that make use of these terms:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our

Lord Jesus Christ: by whom we have access by faith into this grace WHEREIN WE

STAND" (Romans 5:1-2).

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto

you, which also ye have received, and WHEREIN YE STAND" (I Corinthians 15:1)

"...the true grace of God WHEREIN YE STAND" (I Peter 5:12)

"That I may be of good comfort when I know your STATE. For I have no man

likeminded who will naturally care for your STATE" (Phil. 2:19-20)

"For I have learned in whatsoever STATE I am, therewith to be content"

(Phil. 4:11)

"All my STATE shall Tychicus declare unto you" (Col. 4:7)

Nearly all the present day false doctrines that teach some form of human

works or merit for salvation, are based upon scriptures that deal with the

believer's state and have nothing to do with salvation at all. It must be

apparent to any reasonable mind that God's Word would not be complete if it

did not teach both the sinner how to be saved and the believer how to conduct

himself after he is saved. Many of the difficulties of understanding the

scriptures would disappear if we would always ask: is this verse about our

standing or our state?

One notable instance of this principle of Bible understanding is found in

the first epistle to the Corinthians. In the first chapter, Paul refers to

them as saints who "are sanctified." But in the third chapter he says they

are carnal, or fleshly, because of the envy, strife, and divisions that rage

among them. As to their standing, they were sanctified in Christ Jesus --

perfect in him. But in their actual earthly walk or state, they were carnal.

In their standing they are safe, as secure and as perfect as the blood of

Christ can make them. But in their state they needed exhortation and

improvement.

Again, in Col 2:10 we read: "And ye are complete in Him." This refers to

the perfect standing which the believer has in Christ. It cannot be improved

upon: it is already "complete" in Christ. Yet in our walk we cannot say that

we are sinless, for "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (I John

1:8).

God looks upon every saved person as if he were already in heaven, as far

as his standing is concerned. This blessed truth is brought out in Ephesians

2:6: "And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly

places in Christ Jesus." But as far as his earthly state is concerned while

he is awaiting the homecall, the believer is admonished thus: "Mortify

therefore your members which are upon the earth" (Col. 3:5). So we see that

the believer is said to be both in heaven and on the earth. "Standing and

State" is the only explanation of this.

One of the most outstanding portions of the Word concerning this subject

is the Book of Ephesians. It contains six chapters and is divided evenly in

two parts, three chapters in each part. The first part ends with the word

"Amen", in the end of the third chapter. This word means "Be it so," and is

often used to show the end of a certain thought or message. We use it in this

way in closing our prayers. But in the middle of the epistle to the

Ephesians it is most significant. The first three chapters deal with the

believer's standing in heaven, wherein God "hath blessed us with all spiritual

blessings in heavenly places in Christ." This whole subject of the believer's

standing in Christ is covered in these chapters in wonderful fashion, and then

the word "Amen" marks the end of that section. The fourth chapter then starts

out of the word "walk" in the first verse, and the believer's walk or state,

is the subject all through the last three chapters.

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it

in the lusts therof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of

unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are

alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto

God" (Romans 6:12-13).

Obviously, much more of the Word is given instructions for the believer's

state than to his standing. His standing is heavenly, eternal, and perfect.

It was accomplished by the work of Christ on the cross, and is God's free gift

to the sinner. His state is earthly, temporary, and imperfect. The believer

should be "zealous of good works", not in order to get saved because he is

saved. It is the Father's desire that he endeavor to make his earthly state

conform more to his glorious, heavenly standing.

Grace Bible Church

9 Beach Road

Hampton, Va 23664

804-851-1405

Clyde Pilkington, Jr. Pastor


Index of Preacher's Help and Notes

These documents are free from BelieversCafe.com, the complete christian resource site with more than 5000 webpages.