This is the practical side of the believer’s position. It is what he is in himself, not what he is before God, and the great aim of every true soul is to make his state correspond to his standing. My standing is perfect in every way, and all I have to do is to make my state correspond as far as possible. It will be noticed in every epistle that the standing of the believer is given first, before his state is touched on. Our state is based on standing, not standing on state. I cannot make myself the son of any one by acting like one; but being one (as to standing) I am to behave like one (state).