Positional Conduct
A Christian's position with Christ gives them an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, enabling them to reign in life.
Miles J. Stanford preaches about the profound truth that believers, who have received an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ, are positioned to reign in life. The separation between law and grace is bridged by the Cross, where grace offers immediate heavenly position leading to right conduct, contrasting with the law's requirement of earning earthly position through right conduct. As believers are placed in an exalted position with Christ in heavenly places, they are called to walk in kingly manner, not to reach the throne, but as a natural outcome of their elevated status.
Text
"They who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1 7).
"Law and grace are separated by the infinite chasm of the Cross. Law required right conduct first, with earthly position to be earned thereby. Grace gives heavenly position immediately, which ultimately produces right conduct. "Ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).
"The believer does not walk in order to reach the throne. On the contrary. His walk is determined by the fact that he has been placed with the Lord Jesus in a position of immeasurable ascendancy. He has been made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places in order that, having received an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, he might reign in life by one, even the Lord Jesus.
"He walks like a king because he is a king (Revelation 1:6). He is not called upon to walk in kingly fashion in order that he may reach the throne. God's order is different. The Christian begins at the throne and his kingly manner is only the inevitable outcome of his exalted position.
"Our frustrations and agonies in an effort to attain the unattainable, our shame and our defeats such as we find in Paul's own experience tabulated so faithfully in Romans 7, come about naturally and inevitably when, failing to grasp all this, we put the emphasis on our conduct rather than our position, which must come first." -F.J.H.
"Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever " (Revelation 1 :5, 6).
Sermon Outline
- Positional Conduct vs. Earned Conduct
- The Christian's Position
- The Christian's Walk
- The Dangers of Emphasis on Conduct
- Frustrations and defeats when emphasizing conduct over position
- Shame and defeats when failing to grasp positional truth
- Reigns in life by one, Jesus Christ
Key Quotes
“Law and grace are separated by the infinite chasm of the Cross.” — Miles J. Stanford
“He walks like a king because he is a king.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Recognize that your position with Christ gives you an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness.
- Walk in a kingly manner, knowing that your position determines your conduct.
- Avoid emphasizing conduct over position, as this can lead to frustration and defeat.