As Christians, our position and performance are not always the same. We are all saints—not because we are perfect, but because we are in Christ. Our sainthood is rooted in our position, which was secured the very moment we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior (1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:3). Yet, despite our perfect position in Christ, we continue to struggle with human viewpoint thinking that requires constant renewal (Rom 12:1-2). We contend with the sin nature (Rom 7:18; 1 John 1:8), live in a fallen world (John 16:33; 1 John 5:19), and, yes, we still commit personal sins (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:10). This gap between who we are in Christ and how we sometimes behave is a real part of the Christian experience, but it does not change our identity in Him. This struggle will remain until the day we leave this world.
To better understand the difference between position and performance, consider the analogy of American citizenship. A person becomes an American by birth or naturalization, and that status is not revoked because of poor behavior. Someone might break traffic laws or lie on a tax form—both are serious offenses with real consequences—but such actions do not cancel their citizenship. Their position as a citizen remains secure. In the same way, our position as saints is secure in Christ. Once saved, always saved (John 10:28).
A similar picture is seen in the life of a prince. A prince is royalty by birth, and although he is expected to carry himself with dignity, he may at times act in ways that are anything but noble. He might go out, get drunk, and behave disgracefully, but even then, he remains a prince. His status is not nullified by his poor choices. Likewise, our identity in Christ is not undone by moments of spiritual failure. Though we may sin or fall short of our calling, our standing before God—as saints, redeemed and secure—remains unchanged. Sin brings real consequences, including divine discipline (1 Cor 11:30-32; Heb 12:6), but it never results in the loss of salvation (John 10:28). Our failures may grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30), but they do not negate our position in Christ (1 Cor 1:30; Eph 1:13-14).
These analogies underscore a vital truth: our position and our performance are not the same, and one does not automatically guarantee the other. Our position in Christ is immovable—founded upon God’s grace and the finished work of Christ on the cross. But living in a way that reflects that position takes intentionality. It requires our volition, commitment, daily growth, and transformation. It involves renewing our minds by the Word of God (Rom 12:2; 1 Pet 2:2), depending on the Holy Spirit to overcome the sin nature (Gal 5:16; Eph 5:18), and choosing to align our behavior with God’s revealed will (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 John 2:1). Our identity as saints in Christ lays the foundation for the transformation of our character. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, our performance can increasingly reflect our position. We will advance in godliness, as God calls us to do (Tit 2:11-14).
Here’s the danger if we blur the line between position and performance: we start evaluating our salvation by our behavior instead of Christ’s finished work. That turns the Christian life into a probation, not a position. Instead of resting in God’s promise, we end up on an emotional rollercoaster—secure one day, anxious the next. But Scripture anchors us to the truth: we are accepted “in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6), sealed with the Spirit (Eph 1:13-14), and preserved by God’s power (1 Pet 1:5). This gives us the freedom to grow, not the fear of being cast out.
In light of these truths, the Christian life isn’t about striving to earn or maintain salvation—it’s about learning to live out who we already are in Christ. We are called to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). Our position as saints is permanent, secured by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). But God desires more than positional truth—He desires transformation (Rom 12:1). He calls us to grow in grace (1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), renew our minds (Rom 12:2), walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16), and reflect the character of Christ (Eph 5:1-2). While our performance will never be flawless in this life (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10), it can increasingly reflect our position as we saturate our hearts with Scripture (Col 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15) and walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7) as obedient-to-the-Word believers (1 Jam 1:22).
Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.
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