We Have Received a New Position (1)

Introduction - Our Position Before We Were Born Again

When we were born again we received a change in our position. Before we were saved we were in one place, the authority of darkness. After we were saved we were in another place, the kingdom of the Son of His love. We will look at eight different aspects of the negative position we were in before we were born again.

1. In Darkness

Before we were born again, we were in darkness. We couldn't see anything clearly. We were blind to the things of God, and even to the purpose of our own human life. We didn't know whether God truly existed. We didn't know that we needed a Savior. Our human life was empty and meaningless. This shows that we were in darkness. But Colossians 1:13 tells us that by being born again we were "delivered out of the authority of darkness."

2. Under the Authority of Satan

Before we were born again, we were under the authority of Satan, God's enemy. Unless people are born again, they are in Satan's kingdom and are under his authority. That is why Paul was commissioned by the Lord to turn people from "the authority of Satan to God" (Acts 26:18). Of course, people like to think that they belong to themselves and are under their own authority. They believe that they can live their own life on their own terms. But according to the Bible no one is under his own authority. Everyone is in either the kingdom of Satan or the kingdom of God.

"But according to the Bible no one is under his own authority. Everyone is in either the kingdom of Satan or the kingdom of God"

3. In Sin

Before we were born again, we were in sin. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). This is true of every human being. We offended God all the time, but did not know it. We not only committed sin, but we were dwelling and abiding in sin. Our entire life was in sin. This was our former position before being born again.

4. In Death

The Bible tells us that before we were born again, we were in death. Sin and death are closely related. "Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Because we were in sin, we were also in death. The best way to describe being "in death" is to say that we did not have any feeling. In particular, our human spirit was dead.

5. Under God's Judgment

Before we were born again we were under God's judgment. "Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may fall under the judgment of God" (Rom. 3:19). God gave the law to expose people's sinful and unrighteous condition and bring them under His judgment. Before we were born again we were also under His judgment.

6. Condemned

Not only were we under God's judgment, but we were condemned. To be condemned is both to be found guilty and to be completely disapproved. For us, God's judgment was "unto condemnation" (Rom. 5:16). Before we were born again, our position was one of condemnation.

"Before we knew the Lord, we were just slaves. That was our position."

7. Slaves to Uncleanness and Lawlessness

The Bible tells us that we were slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness. "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness unto sanctification" (Rom. 6:19). Before we knew the Lord, we were just slaves. That was our position. What were we enslaved to? We were slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness. We had no way to free ourselves. We probably tried many times. This was our hopeless position before we were born again.

8. Children of Wrath and Sons of Disobedience

Finally, before we were born again we were children of wrath and sons of disobedience. "In which you once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit which is now operating in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all conducted ourselves once in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Eph. 2:2-3). Who were we before we were born again? We were just children of wrath and sons of disobedience. This was our nature and position by birth. Even when we were young, we had a propensity towards disobedience. We were disobedient to our parents, and disobedient to our teachers. Then when we grew up, we were disobedient to God Himself.

We Have Been Transferred into a New Position

Formerly we were poor, hopeless sinners in a miserable and desperate position. But now we have nothing to do with where we were before. God has transferred us into an entirely new position. We have been completely transferred out of our former position by being born again!

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