The subject worked out for this month is—
The Christian’s Standing and State.
We are glad to be able to record that this month a considerably larger number of the Class have sent in papers, and this confirms us in the opinion expressed last month that the subject then selected had proved too difficult. At the same time we have had only one paper in two divisions, and from this cause the subject may not have been thoroughly worked out. It will be obliging if any who are compelled to give up sending in papers will let us know, so that the allotment of divisions may be more satisfactorily made.
Without anticipating the remarks to be made next month, we may call attention to the wonderful catalog of the blessings conferred upon us by God on the ground of the accomplished work of Christ, and thus ours unconditionally. How gracious of our God to secure them to us in so firm a foundation. May the consideration of His grace encourage us to live more to His glory who has done so much for us.
I. The blessings and privileges, past, present, and future connected with the believers’ standing in Christ, including all that he is said to be or to have, in virtue of a simple faith in Christ as his Savior.
PAST BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES.
He is saved from his sins, Matthew 1:21.
He is passed from death unto life, John 5:24.
He is clean through Christ’s words, John 15:3.
He is freely justified by God’s grace, Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7.
His iniquities are forgiven, his sins are covered, and sin is not imputed unto him, Romans 4:7, 8.
He is justified by faith, Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16; by the blood of Christ, Romans 5:9.
He is reconciled to God by the death of Christ, Romans 5:10.
He has received the reconciliation, Romans 5:11.
The grace of God and the gift by grace has abounded unto him, Romans 5:15.
He has received abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, Romans 5:17.
He is dead (or has died) to sin, Romans 6:2.
He was baptized unto the death of Jesus Christ, Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12.
He was buried with Christ, Romans 6:4.
He has been planted together in the likeness of Christ’s death, Romans 6:5.
His old man is crucified with Christ, Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20.
He is dead with Christ, Romans 6:8.
He is made free from sin, Romans 6:18.
He is become dead to the law by the body of Christ, Romans 7:4; 2:19.
He is delivered from the law, being dead to that (margin) wherein he was held, Romans 7:6.
He has received the spirit of adoption, Romans 8:15.
He was foreknown by God, predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, called and justified, Romans 8:29, 30.
He is called into the fellowship of God’s Son, 1 Corinthians 1:9
God has shined into his heart, 2 Corinthians 4:6.
God has reconciled him to Himself, 2 Corinthians 5:18. Colossians 1:21.
Christ gave Himself for his sins, to deliver him from this present evil world, Galatians 1:4.
Christ loved him, and gave Himself for him, Galatians 2:20.
He is blessed with Abraham, Galatians 3:9.
He has been redeemed from the curse of the law, Galatians 3:13.
The world is crucified unto him by the cross of Christ, Galatians 6:14. He has put on Christ, Galatians 3:26.
He has crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts, Galatians 5:24.
He is blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, predestinated unto the adoption of a child, Ephesians 1:3, 4, 5.
He is accepted in the Beloved, Ephesians 1:6.
God has abounded toward him in all wisdom and prudence, and has made known to him the mystery of His will, Ephesians 1:8, 9.
He has obtained an inheritance in Christ, in whom also he has trusted, and in whom he has been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:11-13.
He has been quickened with (also Colossians 2:13,) raised with (also Colossians 3:1), and made to sit in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 2:5, 6.
He is saved by grace, Ephesians 2:8.
He is the workmanship of God, Ephesians 2:10.
He is made nigh by the blood of Christ, Ephesians 2:13.
He is called in one hope of his calling, Ephesians 4:4.
He is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption, Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22.
God has forgiven him for Christ’s sake, Ephesians 4:32.
Christ gave Himself for him, Ephesians 5:2.
He is made meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, Colossians 1:12.
He is delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, Colossians 1:13.
His trespasses are forgiven, Colossians 2:13; 1 John 2:12.
He has put off the old man, and put on the new, Colossians 3:9, 10.
He has turned to God from idols, to serve the living and the true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10.
God has called him to His kingdom and glory, 1 Thessalonians 2:12.
He is called unto holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7.
He is chosen unto salvation, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and called by the gospel, 5.
He has received everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 2 Thessalonians 2:16.
He has received the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7.
He is saved, and called with a holy calling, 2 Timothy 1:9.
He is saved according to the mercy of God, who has shed the Holy Ghost abundantly on him through Jesus Christ his Savior, Titus 3:5, 6.
His sins are purged by Christ, Hebrews 1:3.
He is delivered from the fear of death, Hebrews 2:15.
He is sanctified by the will of God through the offering of the body of Christ once, Hebrews 10:10.
He is perfected forever by the one offering of Christ, Hebrews 10:14.
God has begotten him of His own will with the word of truth, James 1:18.
He is begotten again unto a living hope, 1 Peter 1:3.
He is redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:19.
He is born of the incorruptible seed, the word of God, 1 Peter 1:23.
He is called unto God’s eternal glory, 1 Peter 5:10.
He has obtained precious faith, 2 Peter 1:1.
God has bestowed on him all things that pertain unto life and godliness, and great and precious promises, 2 Peter 1:3, 4.
He is purged from his sins, 2 Peter 1:9.
Present Blessings and Privileges.
He is the light of the world, Matthew 5:14.
He is in the way that leadeth unto life, Matthew 7:14,
He is the object of the Father’s constant care, Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7.
Power is given to him to become a Son of God, John 1:12.
He possesses eternal life, John 3:15.
As drinking of the water that Christ gives, he has in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, John 4:14.
He is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, John 7:39; 14:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:8.
He hears and knows the voice of the Good Shepherd, John 10:14, 27.
He receives the peace of Christ, John 14:27.
He is kept by the Father from evil, John 17:15.
He is not of the world, even as Christ was not of the world, John 17:16.
He is sent unto the world by Christ, as Christ was sent into the world by His Father, John 17:18.
He is sanctified through the truth, John 17:19.
He is called of Jesus Christ, Romans 1:6.
And called a saint, Romans 1:7.
Salvation is his, Romans 1:16.
He lives by faith, Romans 1:17.
The righteousness of God is unto and upon him, Romans 3:22.
Righteousness is imputed unto him, Romans 4:6.
He has peace with God, Romans 5:1, access by faith into grace, 5:2, and has the glory of God as his hope, 5:2.
He is able to glory in tribulation, Romans 5:3.
The love of God is shed abroad in his heart, Romans 5:5
He joys in God, Romans 5:11.
He is not under the law, but under grace, Romans 6:14.
He is become the servant of righteousness, Romans 6:18.
He is married to Christ, Romans 7:4.
There is no condemnation to him, Romans 8:1.
He is made free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2.
He is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, Romans 8:9.
Christ is in him, Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5.
He is a debtor not to the flesh to live after the flesh, Romans 8:13.
He is the child of God, the heir of God and joint heir with Christ, Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:6, 7.
He has the first fruits of the Spirit, Romans 8:23.
He is saved in hope, Romans 8:24.
All things work together for good to him, Romans 8:28.
Christ makes intercession for him, Romans 8:34.
Nothing can separate-him from the love of God, Romans 8:34.
He is a vessel of mercy, Romans 9:23.
He is the Lord’s, Romans 14:8.
He is sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:2.
Christ is made to him wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
He has the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16.
All things are his, 1 Corinthians 2:21.
He is washed, sanctified, justified, 1 Corinthians 6:11.
His body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Corinthians 6:19.
He is bought with a price, and his body is God’s, 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23.
By one Spirit he and his fellow believers are baptized into one body, 1 Corinthians 12:13.
God gives him the victory through his Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:57.
God comforts him in all his tribulations, 2 Corinthians 1:4.
He stands by faith, 2 Corinthians 1:24; and walks by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
He is an epistle of Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:3.
He with unveiled face beholds the glory of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
He is a new creature in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
He is made the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Through the poverty of Christ he is rich, 2 Corinthians 8:9.
He is a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:26.
He knows or rather is known of God, Galatians 4:9.
He is the child of promise, Galatians 4:28.
He, through the Spirit, waits for the hope of righteousness by faith, Galatians 5:5.
He has redemption through the blood of Christ, Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14.
God’s power toward him is exceeding great, Ephesians 1:19.
Christ is his peace, Ephesians 2:14.
He has access through Christ by the Spirit unto the Father, Ephesians 2:18.
He is a fellow citizen with Lie saints and of the household of God, Ephesians 2.19,
He is a partaker of the promise of God, Ephesians 3:6.
He has boldness and access with confidence, Ephesians 3:12.
He is privileged to know the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:19.
Grace is given to him according to the measure of the gift of Christ, Ephesians 4:7.
He and his fellow-believers are members one of another, Ephesians 4:25.
He is a dear child, Ephesians 5:1.
He is light in the Lord, Ephesians 5:8.
He is a member of the body of Christ, Ephesians 5:30.
God works in him to will and to do of His good pleasure, Philippians 2:13.
His conversation (citizenship) is in heaven, Philippians 3:20.
His name is in the book of life, Philippians 4:3.
God supplies all his needs, Philippians 4:19.
A hope is laid up for him in heaven, Colossians 1:5.
Christ is in him, the hope of glory, Colossians 1. 27.
He is complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10.
His life is hid with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3.
He is the elect of God, Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4.
He serves the Lord Christ, Colossians 3:24.
He is the child of light, 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
He looks for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and his savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13.
He is one with Christ, who is not ashamed to call him His brother, Hebrews 1:11.
Ile is a partaker of the heavenly calling, Hebrews 3:1.
He enters into rest, Hebrews 4:3.
He has a great high priest—Jesus, the Son of God, Hebrews 4:14.
He can come boldly unto a throne of grace, Hebrews 4:16.
He has a strong consolation, Hebrews 6:18; and a hope as an anchor of his soul, ver. 19.
He draws nigh to God.
Christ appears for him in the presence of God, Hebrews 9:21.
The Holy Ghost is a witness to him, Hebrews 10:15.
He has boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19.
His heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience, his body washed with pure water, Hebrews 10:22.
He has in heaven an enduring substance, Hebrews 10:31.
He lives by faith, Hebrews 10:38.
A better thing has been provided for him, Hebrews 11:40.
He has come unto Mount Sion, &c., Hebrews 12:22.
He receives a kingdom which cannot be removed, Hebrews 10:28.
He has an altar, Hebrews 13:10
He is kept by the power of God, 1 Peter 1:5.
He is a living stone, built into a spiritual house, 1 Peter 2:5.
He is chosen a royal priest, one of a holy nation, and of a peculiar people, 1 Peter 2:7.
He has the word of prophecy made more sure, 2 Peter 1:19.
His fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ, 1 John 1:3.
He has fellowship with his fellow believers, 1 John 1:7.
He knows the Father, 1 John 2:13.
He has an unction from the Holy One, 1 John 2:20.
A promise, even eternal life is made to him, 1 John 2:2.3.
The Father has bestowed such love on him that he is called the child of God, 1 John 3:1.
Love is made perfect with him, 1 John 4:17.
He is born of God, 1 John 5:1.
The truth dwelleth in him, 2 John 2.
He is sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ and called, Jude 1.
Future Blessings and Privileges.
He shall not come into judgment, John 5:21.
He shall never perish, John 10:29, 30.
If dead at the time of Christ’s return he will live, and if living he will never die, John 11:25,26; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17.
A place is prepared for him, to which Christ will come and receive him, John 14:2, 3.
He will be with Christ and behold the glory which God has given Him, John 17:24.
He will be saved from wrath through Christ, Romans 5:9.
He will be saved by the life of the Son of God, Romans 5:10.
He will reign in life by Jesus Christ, Romans 5:17.
He will be in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection, Romans 6:5.
He will live with Christ, Romans 6:8.
His mortal body will be quickened, Romans 8:11.
He will bear the image of the heavenly, 1 Corinthians 15:49.
God will raise him up by Jesus, 2 Corinthians 4:14.
He will obtain an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Corinthians 4:17.
He will be to the praise of God’s glory, Ephesians 1:12.
In the ages to come God will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness to him through Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:7.
God who has begun a good work in him, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.
Christ will change his body of humiliation and fashion it like unto His body of glory, Philippians 3:21.
He will be presented holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in the sight of God, Colossians 1:22.
He will appear with Christ in glory, Colossians 3:4.
A rest remains for him, Hebrews 4:9.
He shall be saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25.
Christ will appear unto him, the second time without sin unto salvation, Hebrews 9:28.
When Christ appears he will be like Him, 1 John 3:2.
He looks for the mercy of his Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, Jude 21.
Unto Him that loveth us, and hath washed us from our sins in His blood, and hath made us a kingdom, priests unto His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2. —The blessings and privileges, past, present, and future, connected with a believer’s practical state, including all that may characterize him, or that he may become in virtue of a godly and faithful walk.
We would add here that some of the Class do not appear to have quite understood the scope of this division of the subject. It was not intended that the exhortations to, or the characteristics of, a godly and faithful walk should be searched out, but rather the blessings and privileges which are and will be the believer’s in consequence, as we may put it, of his following out these exhortations and exhibiting these characteristics in a practical manner during his path in this world. Some of the papers which have been sent in however have given us a hint as to what is likely to prove an acceptable subject for a future occasion.
We trust that in reading the list of blessings that follows, each one will carefully refer to the context, so as to see the conditions on which they are ours; the result will then be of real practical benefit.
Present Blessings.
Matthew 5:3-11; Luke 6:20-23.
He is the child of his Father which is in heaven, Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35; 2 Corinthians 6:18.
He finds rest in bearing Christ’s yoke, Matthew 11:29.
He is recognized by Christ as His brother, Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35.
He does not walk in darkness, but has the light of life, John 8:31.
He is a disciple of Christ indeed, and knows and is made free by the truth, John 8:31.
“My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him,” John 14:23.
He bears fruit as abiding in Christ, John 15:4.
His prayers are answered, John 15:8.
He abides in Christ’s love, John 15:10.
He is the friend of Christ, John 15:14.
He has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, Romans 5:22.
He proves what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God, Romans 12:2.
He is acceptable unto God and approved of men, Romans 14:8.
His labor is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 15:58.
He is able to rejoice in the testimony borne by his conscience, 2 Corinthians 1:12.
He is acceptable unto the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:9.
The God of love and peace is with him, 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9.
He does not fulfill the lust of the flesh, Galatians 5:16.
He is not under the law, Galatians 5:18.
He is blameless and harmless, the son of God, shining as a light in the world, Philippians 2:15.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps his heart and mind through Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7.
He pleases the Lord, Colossians 1:10.
He is a good minister of Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 4:6.
By practicing godliness he has promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Timothy 4:8.
He is a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work, 2 Timothy 2:21.
He may be the instrument for the repentance of those who oppose the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25.
And may cause them to be ashamed, Titus 2:8.
He and his fellow-believers may be the house of Christ, and partakers of Christ, Hebrews 3:6, 14.
He is rewarded by God, Hebrews 11:6.
God deals with him as with a son, Hebrews 12:7.
He is perfect and entire, wanting nothing, James 1:4.
He puts to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Peter 2:15.
He is neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:8.
The love of God is perfected in him, 1 John 2:5.
He has confidence toward God, 1 John 3:21.
He has both the Father and the Son, 2 John 9.
Future Blessings.
He will receive a reward for faithfulness during his Lord’s absence, Matthew 24:46.
He will be confessed before the Father, Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8.
He will receive from God a recompense for giving up all for Christ, Mark 10:21, 30.
He will receive a reward, 1 Corinthians 3:14.
He will be acceptable unto the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:9.
He will of the Spirit reap life everlasting, Galatians 6:8.
In due season he will reap, Galatians 6:9.
He will receive of the Lord whatever good thing he has done, Ephesians 6:8.
He will receive of the Lord the reward of the inheritance, Colossians 3:24.
He will receive rest, 2 Thessalonians 1:7.
He will reign with Christ, 2 Timothy 2:12.
He will receive a crown of righteousness, 2 Timothy 4:8.
He will receive a crown of life, James 1:12.
The trial of his faith will be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:7.
He will be the means of bringing glory to God in the day of visitation, 1 Peter 2:12.
He will see good days, 1 Peter 3:10.
An entrance will be ministered unto him abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:11.
He will have confidence and not be ashamed before Christ at his coming, 1 John 2:28.
He will receive a full reward, 2 John 8.
He will eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God, Revelation 2:7.
He will eat of the hidden manna and will receive a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which no man, s lye he, will know, Revelation 2:17.
He will have power over the nations, Revelation 2:26, and will receive the Morning Star, (ver. 28).
He will be clothed in white raiment, his name will not be blotted out of the book of life, and Christ will confess his name before His Father and before His angels, Revelation 3:5.
He will be kept from the hour of temptation, Revelation 3:10.
He will be made a pillar in the house of God: and upon him will be written the name of God, and the name of the city of God, and Christ’s new name, Revelation 3:12.
He will sit with Christ on His throne, Revelation 3:21.