9.  STANDING AND STATE

IF BELIEVERS STILL SIN, HOW CAN GOD EVER TAKE THEM TO HEAVEN?
    All who believe on Christ are given a perfect standijng before 
God, even if their state may be far from perfect.  Colossians 2:10.

WHAT IS MEANT BY A BELIEVER'S STANDING?
    It  means  the  position  of  complete  favor  he has with God 
because he is in Christ.  Romans 5:1,2.
    The Christian has no right or merit in himself to stand before 
God.  His only title to heaven lies in the Person and Work  of the 
Lord  Jesus.  Thus God accepts  us, not because of  who or what we 
are, but because we belong to Christ.  Ephesians 1:6.

HOW CAN GOD LOOK UPON UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE AS RIGHTEOUS?
    He can do it because Christ  bore the punishment of their sins 
in His body on the Cross.  Ephesians 2:13.

DOES IT TEACH THIS IN THE BIBLE?
    Yes, it distinctly says this in 2 Corinthians 5:21: 
    "for  He (God) hath  made Him (Christ)  to be sin  for us, Who 
knew no  sin, that we  might be made  the righteousness of  God in 
HIM." 

DO I UNDERSTAND, THEN, THAT GOD ACCEPTS ALL BELIEVERS BECAUSE THEY 
COME TO HIM IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON?
    Yes that is right.  Christ is man's only title to heaven.
    "I stand upon His merit,
    I know no other stand,
    Not e'en where glory dwelleth
    In Immanuel's Land."

HOW LONG DOES A BELIEVER ENJOY THIS PERFECT STANDING BEFORE GOD?
    He  enjoys it as  long as Christ  enjoys it, because  he is in 
Christ, accepted in the Beloved One.  Ephesians 1:13,14.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE BELIEVER'S STATE?
    This means  his everyday  spiritual condition  here on  earth.  
Just as his standing is what he is in Christ, so his state is what 
he is in himself.

IS THE BELIEVER'S STATE SINLESS?
    No, the believer's  state is oftentimes far from being what it 
should be.  Colossians 3:8,9.

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL CONCERNING THE BELIEVER'S STATE?
    God's will  is that his  state should grow  more and more like 
his  standing.   This  is  a  process  that should be taking place 
continually throughout the Christian life.  Colossians 3:1.

WILL A BELIEVER'S STATE EVER CORRESPOND EXACTLY TO HIS STANDING?
    Yes, when  Christ takes him home to  heaven his condition will 
be as perfect as his position.  1 John 3:2.  

WHY   SHOULD  A  CHRISTIAN  WANT  TO  HAVE  HIS  STATE  CORRESPOND 
INCREASINGLY WITH HIS STANDING?
    His love for Christ should make him desire this.  John 14:15. 

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