I agree with all you've said.
Josh McDowell was one of the first authors I read after I was saved back in the mid-seventies.
There is one statement you make that I understand but cannot find in the N.T.
This idea of "positional".
Could you list some verses?
I DO believe we are positionally justified, if I understand the term correctly.
However, I don't understand how we could be positionally sanctified if Jesus did indeed leave us with instructions to follow.
IOW, if I don't do anything of what God would want me to do,,,am I still positionally sanctified?
Hi Fran, our position in Christ is
Justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ; Jesus Christ righteousness becomes our righteousness and this is the reason we are declared
"Not Guilty", or
"Justified" before a Holy God. When God looks at each born again believer He sees His Son Jesus Christ and we are pronounced
"Not Guilty", before God's court of justice.
It is not by anything a Christian can merit to receive our Justification it is only through the righteousness of our Savior that we are pronounced not guilty. Our position before God is Justified by the imputed righteousness of His Son; "There is therefore now
no condemnation for those who are in Christ
." (Rom8:1).
You can see why the people who insist that they need to
"add works to God's grace" is foolishly wrong. Fruit or works are
"Evidence" that God has saved us, we are saved by grace alone,
"Not By Works", I am speaking only about "
how we are saved", and not about putting
our daily practice in Christ to work. You cannot mix your position in Christ with your practice in Christ, apples and oranges.
There are many more bible verses which speak of our
"position in Christ",
Genesis15:6
And he believed the Lord, and
he counted it to him as righteousness.
Jeremiah23:6
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called:
‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Philippians3:9
"And be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."
Romans4:5
However, to the one who does not work, but
believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is
"credited" as righteousness."
Romans4:6
Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom
God counts righteousness apart from works:
2Corinthians5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that "in him we might become the righteousness of God"
Romans4:25
And to the one who does not work
but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
1Corinthians1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God--that is,
"our righteousness", holiness and redemption."