As we go forward into a brand new year, 2022, we just want to ”renew our minds,” of The Doctrine of Positional Truth. Positional Truth, is our position, or our “Identity in Christ octrinewe received the moment we trusted Christ to be our personal Savior.” Our Identity is three-fold: JUSTIFICATION, SANCTIFICATION, & EXALTATION. Briefly, let us review the 3 components of our Justification,
A. As we already know, as we have been taught, the key that unlocks living a successful, functioning, Grace life depends upon if we truly understand and appreciate who God has made us to be in Christ Jesus. In other words, understanding our moniker/spiritual handle, our identity of righteousness, in Christ. (That’s who we really are! And our faithfulness to our Identity-in Christ will be evaluated at the BEMA where we all shall appear). 2 Cor. 5:21 teaches us “For we were made the righteousness of God, in Christ,” the moment we trusted Him to be our Substitute Redeemer! (To God be the glory!)
B. Now that we are saved, justified unto eternal life & sealed, baptized, ID through the cross work of our Substitute Redeemer, we can now have a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation of the three (3 components (lngredients) of our Justification. (Let us examine briefly the 3 ingredients)
*Ist Component (Ingredient) of Justification: “Forgiveness of Sins”
(1) “Forgiveness of (ALL) Sins:” past, present & future sins. The moment we trusted Christ as our Substitute Redeemer, Eph. 1:7 teaches us that: “we have redemption through his blood, according to the riches of his grace;” Col. 2:13 is clear: “And you (being twice dead Gentiles) God has quickened us (made us alive) together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses (ALL TRESPASSES/SINS).”
*2nd Ingredient of Justification:“Imputed Righteousness”
The same moment we were forgiven All our sins of commission & omission, we were granted: (2) “Imputed Righteousness,” in other words, God has credited our account with His righteousness. 2 Cor. 5:21: “For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Christ).” (When God looks down from heaven, first He sees His Son & then He sees you & me, we are clothed in His righteousness alone!)
*3rd Ingredient of Justification: “Atonement”
(3) “Atonement,” Now that we have been given {a)Total Forgiveness for ALL our sins; and have (b) God’s righteousness imputed/credited to our account, now (c)we have received the atonement (the 3rd ingredient of our Justification)Weare now reconciled (restored) to harmony/fellowship to God, through the sacrificial death of J.C. & we have received the atonement. At-one-ment: (we are at one with God). NOW, we are AT PEACE WITH GOD!
Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”(9) “Much more then, being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.) (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (we are reconciled/ restored to fellowship & are at perfect peace with God). ***OUR JUSTIFICTION: (1. Forgiveness of Sins; 2. Imputed Righteousness; 3. Atonement). And my prayer is, that we allow God to live through our Identity, producing the life of Christ, in 2022.
Colman J. Gilliland 