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
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