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Understanding Spiritual Position in Christ

The concept of a believer's "spiritual position in Christ" refers to the profound union between Christ and those who believe in him, a state described in various biblical texts and elaborated upon in Christian theology. This union is not merely metaphorical but signifies a deep, transformative connection that redefines the believer's identity and relationship with God [11].

Central to understanding this position is the idea of being "in Christ" and Christ being "in us" [2]. The Apostle Paul frequently uses phrases like "in Christ" or "in the Lord" to describe the new reality of believers. For instance, Colossians 3:1 states, "If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" [1]. This verse highlights that believers share in Christ's exalted status, being spiritually united with him in his heavenly position [9]. This union is a gift from God [2].

Scripture describes several facets of this spiritual position:

This spiritual union is maintained through faith (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17), abiding in Christ (John 15:4, 7), allowing his word to abide in us (John 15:7; 1 John 2:24), feeding on him (John 6:56), and obeying him (1 John 3:24) [2]. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to this union (1 John 3:24) [2].

Theological traditions have further explored the implications of this position. Augustine, for example, distinguished between "babes in Christ" who hold faith as a matter of belief and "spiritual" individuals who perceive it with understanding, receiving it as milk versus solid food [7]. He also noted that even "babes in Christ" who are still carnal possess the Spirit, having been born anew of the Holy Spirit, even if they do not yet fully comprehend what they have [10]. Charles Hodge emphasizes that the scriptural representations of this union are not to be explained away by philosophical theories but accepted as divine truth [8].

The spiritual position in Christ also entails a transformation from spiritual death, which is characterized by alienation from God, carnal-mindedness, and living in sin [4]. Deliverance from this state comes through Christ, leading to a new spiritual life [4]. This union also brings spiritual peace, which God ordains and Christ gives, a peace achieved through Christ's atonement [3].

Even in discussions about Christ's ascension, theologians like Aquinas consider the exalted place due to Christ's body, noting that while his body is physically beneath spiritual substances, its dignity is such that it is fittingly placed above all spiritual creatures in a spiritual sense [5]. This reflects the ultimate exaltation of Christ, in which believers are spiritually united.

Sources

  1. Colossians “Colossians 3:1 (BBE) — If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Peace, Spiritual — God is the God of -- Ro 15:33; 2Co 13:11; 1Th 5:23; Heb 13:20. God ordains -- Isa 26:12. God speaks, to his saints -- Ps 85:8. Christ is the Lord of -- 2Th 3:16. Christ is the prince of -- Isa 9:6. Christ gives -- 2Th 3:16. Christ guides into the way of -- Lu 1:79. Christ is our -- Eph 2:14. Is through the atonement of Christ -- Isa 53:5; Eph 2:14,15; Col 1:20. Bequeathed by Christ -- Joh 14:27. Preached By Christ. -- Eph 2:17. Through Christ. -- Ac 10:36. By ministers. -- Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15. Announced by angels -- Lu 2:14. Follows upon justificati”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death, Spiritual — Alienation from God is -- Eph 4:18. Carnal-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Walking in trespasses and sins is -- Eph 2:1; Col 2:13. Spiritual ignorance is -- Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:79; Eph 4:18. Unbelief is -- Joh 3:36; 1Jo 5:12. Living in pleasure is -- 1Ti 5:6. Hypocrisy is -- Re 3:1,2. Is a consequence of the fall -- Ro 5:15. Is the state of all men by nature -- Ro 6:13; 8:6. The fruits of, are dead works -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. A call to arise from -- Eph 5:14. Deliverance from, is through Christ -- Joh 5:24,25; Eph 2:5; 1Jo 5:12. Saints are raised from -- R”
  5. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Ascension of Christ, Art. 5: Article: Whether Christ's body ascended above every spiritual creature? I answer that, The more exalted place is due to the nobler subject, whether it be a place according to bodily contact, as regards bodies, or whether it be by way of spiritual contact, as regards spiritual substances; thus a heavenly place which is the highest of places is becomingly due to spiritual substances, since they are highest in the order of substances. But although Christ's body is beneath spiritual substances, if we weigh the”
  6. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you--This does not mean, "if the disposition or mind of God dwell in you"; but "if the Holy Ghost dwell in you" (see Co1 6:11, Co1 6:19; Co1 3:16, &c.). (It thus appears that to be "in the spirit" means here to be under the dominion of our own renewed mind; because the indwelling of God's Spirit is given as the evidence that we are "in the spirit"). Now--"But." if any man have not the Spirit of Christ--Again, this does not mean "the disposition or mind of Christ”
  7. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XVI. 12, 33 (continuea). (part 2): to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Gentiles foolishness; and to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the power of God, and the wisdom of God;"(1) but to the carnal, as babes who held it only as a matter of faith, and to the spiritual, as those of greater capacity, who perceived it as a matter of understanding; to the former, therefore, as a milk-draught, to the latter as solid food: not that the former knew it in one way out in the world at large, and the latter in another way in their secret c”
  8. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 140: passages in which the Spirit of God is said to dwell in his people, are so many proofs of the mystical union between Christ and all true believers. They are One. One with Him and one with one another. For by one Spirit they are all baptized into one body. ( 1 Cor. xii. 13 .) These representations of Scripture concerning the union between Christ and his people, are neither to be explained nor explained away. Both attempts have often been made. Numerous theories have been adopted and urged as divine truth, which in fact are only philosophi”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 52: to the Church.” 262 262 Ephes. 1:20 ; Phil. 2:9 ; 1 Cor. 15:27 ; Ephes. 4:15 ; Acts 2:33 ; 3:21; Heb. 1:4 . You see to what end he is so seated namely, that all creatures both in heaven and earth should reverence his majesty, be ruled by his hand, do him implicit homage, and submit to his power. All that the Apostles intends when they so often mention his seat at the Father’s hand, is to teach, that every thing is placed at his disposal. Those, therefore, are in error, who suppose that his blessedness merely is indicated. We may ob”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST." (part 27): perception of knowledge; but it is said, "Having not the Spirit." For it does not follow, that he who hath it, should also by knowledge perceive what he hath. 31. The "babes" then "in Christ" who have yet place in the Church, who are still natural and carnal, and cannot "perceive," that is, understand and know what they have, have this Spirit. For how could they be babes in Christ except they were born anew of the Holy Spirit ? Nor ought it to seem any wonder that one may have something, and yet not know wha”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
  12. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:11: 2:11 Christ performed a spiritual circumcision: Spiritual conversion to Christ is the Christian counterpart to physical circumcision. • the cutting away of your sinful nature (literally the cutting away of the body of the flesh): Just as Jewish boys have the flesh of their foreskin cut off to mark their initiation into the people of God, so believers have metaphorical flesh (translated sinful nature) cut off when they come to Christ.”
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