Pilgrim, you cited:
1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV) "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
Would it then be considered 'cocky', presumptuous even, by seeming ourselves FIRST (even if it is 'relational' ) as seated in the heavenlies with Christ, being found IN HIM....
Would I be playing with antinomian fire. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I see a slight similarity between this and the issue of God's sovereignty and human responsibility....while both are true...one came after the other. God's work always precedes man's. No?
I agree that there is great comfort and even greater profit in knowing the convicting (to the already regenerate mind) basis of our justification...and that God has taken a completely polluted sinner (even having Christ die for us while we were yet sinners) and clothed him/her in the perfect robes of Christ righteousness, imputation of perfection ...but AFTER that....how then should we see ourselves and what should motivate us to greater spiritual heights? Seeing ourselves as still sinners in constant need of renovation (while true, like human responsibility is true) ...ever pulling ourselves up (which smacks of trying to become something we ALREADY are) ....or from God's sovereign vantage pt, albeit 'relational' that we need to BECOME what we already are?
Romans chapter 6 is supposedly where this idea is best seen. We are no longer slaves to sin...we are new creatures...so act/live like it.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Paul, who is well aware of his sinfulness in Chapter 7/8 of Romans, seems to be saying in Chapter 6, ..."work with me people.... how can you live for sin having been freed from it's bonds?....redeemed people are slaves to righteousness, not sin...you have been freed...now go live like a freed people!"
Also, you said our being 'seated with Christ' is relational, not 'actual'...but does that change anything? Does that matter in this instance? Does that weaken the argument I'm trying to make?
blessings,
