DOCTRINE OF POSITIONAL TRUTH
May 3, 1985
  1. Definition and description.
    1. Positional truth is a name for the spiritual union with Christ, which occurs at salvation in the Church Age.
    2. In the Greek it is represented by the preposition plus the locative of sphere, for example:
      1. Jn.15:2 "Every branch in Me".
      2. Rom.6:11 "in Christ Jesus".
      3. Rom.16:8 "in the Lord".
      4. Gal.1:22 "in Christ".
      5. Eph.1:7 "In Him".
      6. 1Thess.1:1 "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ".
    3. Positional truth is a current blessing of believers, Rom.16:3,7-13,22; 1Cor.3:1; 2Cor.12:2.
    4. Positional truth is the work of God, 1Cor.1:30.
    5. Nothing can separate us from position in Christ, Rom.8:35-39.
    6. All believers in this Age share positional truth, Gal.3:28; Eph.2:13.
    7. It is related to the mystery doctrines of the Church Age, Eph.1:9; 3:17.
    8. Sometimes it is called current positional truth, based on Eph.2:6, or positional sanctification, based on 1Cor.1:2,30.
    9. Positional truth constitutes the believer a part of a new humanity, 2Cor.5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come". Gal.6:15 "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation."
    10. Jesus first taught the new relationship which believers have in this age, Jn.14:20 "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."
    11. Illustrations of positional truth in the New Testament.
      1. Vine and branches, Jn.15:1-16.
      2. Body, Rom.12:5; 1Cor.12:27.
      3. Bride of Christ, Eph.5.
      4. Building, 1Pet.2:4-7.
    12. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the mechanics of positional truth, which therefore begins for the believer at salvation, Gal.3:26-28; 1Cor.12:13.
    13. Positional truth constitutes a new beginning, neutralizing the long term effects of position in Adam, 1Cor.15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."
      1. Position in Adam is the result of the imputation of Adam's original sin to the indwelling sinful trend of Adam (STA) at physical birth, resulting in spiritual death, Rom.6.
      2. Position in Christ replaces spiritual death with eternal life and guarantees the body a future resurrection, Rom.6:23; 1Thess.4:13-16.
    14. The administration of the blessings (Phase 1, 2 and 3 see point II) associated with union with Christ is taught in Scripture, 1Cor.2:12; Eph.1:18.
    15. Positional truth does not guarantee the believer experiential (Phase 2) victory over the flesh, Satan, or the cosmos, 2Thess.3:12; 1Cor.3:1; 4:10.
    16. It does guarantee that we share in Christ's victory at the Cross, (Rom.6:3), called retroactive positional truth; what He is currently at God's right hand, Eph.2:46; and all that He will be.
  2. Blessings associated with positional truth, Eph.1:3; 1Cor.1:4.
    1. Eternal life, Rom.6:23, and no condemnation, Rom.8:1,2.
    2. Imputation of righteousness (+R), 2Cor.5:21; Gal.3:14; Phil.3:9.
    3. Redemption, 1Cor.1:30.
    4. Forgiveness, Eph.4:32; 1Tim.1:14.
    5. Sealing and guarantee of a resurrection, Eph.1:13,14.
    6. Sonship, Gal.3:26.
    7. Peace, Jn.16:33.
    8. God's love, Eph.1:6.
    9. Bible Doctrine, Rom.9:1; 1Cor.1:30; Eph.4:21; 1Tim.3:13.
    10. Liberty, Gal.2:4.
    11. Access to God, Eph.3:12.
    12. Spiritual gifts, Eph.4:7; 1Cor.1:4,5.
    13. Living grace, Phil.4:19.
    14. Encouragement, Phil.2:1.
    15. Surpassing grace blessings in Phase 3, Eph.2:7; Phil.3:14.
    16. Teachers of Bible Doctrine, 1Cor.4:15,17; 2Cor.12:19.
    17. Spiritual enlightenment, 2Cor.3:14.
    18. Confidence, Eph.3:12.
    19. Promises, 2Cor.1:19,20.
    20. Phase 3 hope, 1Cor.15:19,22; 2Tim.2:10.
    21. Common human problems, though not a blessing, are associated with positional truth, 2Cor.13:4; Phil.1:13; 2Tim.3:12.
  3. Phase 2 is the believer's opportunity to exploit positional truth by divine good production, Eph.2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them", as seen in:
    1. The analogy of the vine and the branches in Jn.15. This teaches that "much fruit" demands more than just being a branch.
      1. The two kinds of branches represent two kinds of believers in Christ.
      2. The productive branches are those who "abide in Christ" (a reference to the filling of the Holy Spirit, not positional truth) and who possess the indwelling of Christ, defined as Bible Doctrine within, Jn.15:4,5,7.
      3. The nonproductive branch is a believer whom God disciplines and denies reward, Jn.15:2,6.
    2. The goal of doctrinal teaching as stated in Col.1:28.
    3. The exhortation of Col.2:6,7; cp. 1:3,4.
Reviewed: March 19, 1987

Reviewed: April 10, 1988

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