• Most of us have a position, for some it is student; for others it is employed or retired. For others it may be the owner of a small company or large corporation. For some the position may be military or even still housewife or like my self, pastor.
• In verse two of Romans five we read that those who have come to Christ by faith have a position. We have a standing before God that we didn’t possess before salvation.
• Even the Old Testament Jew, with all of his religion, was not allowed into the very presence of God
• Only one person was allowed into the place where God dwelled upon the earth, the place of the holiest of holies. This location can be found in the tabernacle, and later in the temple and synagogues. The only person allowed in this place was the high priest and then it was only once a year to offer the blood sacrifices.
• As most know, the holy of holies was separated from the rest of the temple by a curtain known as the ‘veil’
• The veil prevented entrance by anyone except for the high priest.
1. POSITION (VS 2)
• Being Christian’s we now have a new position in Christ; a new standing in the eyes of the only one that matters
• Too often in this world, our ‘position’ or social standing takes precedence in our lives
• The ‘status quo’ is too often ungodly
• “The trouble is that too many people
Are spending money
They haven’t yet earned
For things they don’t need
To impress people they don’t like.”
• Unfortunately, we find ourselves extending ourselves financially, in time and how we look instead of how we look or our ‘POSITION’ before God
• Because of Christ’s death, the separation we once suffered from is no longer present
• Mark 15:38: “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
• Let us consider the monumental blockade between us and God with the veil
• “Solomon’s Temple was 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2) but Herod had increased the height to 40 cubits according to the writings of Josephus, a first century Jewish historian. There is uncertainty as to exactly what a cubit equaled in our feet and inches but it is safe to assume that this veil was somewhere near 60 feet high. Josephus also tells us that the veil was four inches thick, and that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart. And the account in the Book of Exodus teaches that this thick veil was fashioned from blue, purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.”
• “Imagine a little girl, riding her bike to a huge metropolitan bank. She brings her bike into the lobby, and no one has a word of complaint. She makes her way past several customers, tellers, and security guards. She walks past the most important secretary in the building, and then brazenly opens the door of the bank president. Not one person stops her. She then walks right around the president’s desk, and climbs into the lap of the president and says, "HI, DADDY!"
• This illustration is similar to our position we have with God after salvation
• Romans 8:15-16: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
• Our position in the text above is the position with which we stand
a. It is not a TEMPORARY position
i. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
b. It is not a PRECARIOUS position
i. “Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another.”
ii. We do not have to rely on the ‘priest’ or someone else to confer with Jesus with our needs
iii. 1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
c. It is a PERMANENT, SECURE position
i. Romans 8:35-37: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
• Why is this position so secure? Because of the scripture above. Nothing can take the salvation of Jesus Christ from us
• Just as we have children with our DNA, when we get saved we have the DNA of Jesus. Once the DNA is given; it can never be taken away
• The ‘Prodigal Son’ is the perfect illustration of God’s continued love for us, that even in times of failure and shortcoming, God stands at the door looking for our return (Luke 15: 11-32)
• This does not mean that we can live as I please. As I stand as a child, and in His favor, as a believer, I should want to please him
• A new position brings new projections for the future
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
• New Creatures do New Things; (Psalms 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”)
• When we have a NEW POSITION; our wants and needs should change to pleasing God and being obedient to his call
• When we have access to God’s presence, and stand in His grace, there is joy
• We, as Christians, have a great hope
• One day, we will be glorified, that is, we will be like Jesus in such a way not possible now
• 1 John 3:1-3: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
• Because of our POSITION, our standing in grace as a child of God, rejoice in the hope of His glory
• So far, we have covered two essentials to a productive, effective life of service
