The Principle of Position: Foundations of Spiritual Growth

by Miles J. Stanford

Nothing Additional

Genres: Christian

78 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1976

Reviews

[Jeri Massi · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PRINCIPLE OF POSITION is part of the longer work called THE GREEN LETTERS by Miles J Stanford. For Christians just coming out of legalistic Christian Fundamentalism (the IFB or Free Presbyterian or Bible Pres churches), this book is a great help. Stanford explains in painstaking detail documented from the text of the Bible that all believers are accepted by God and stand upon their POSITION in Christ rather than their CONDITION in life. Fundamentalists tend to think that God frowns less on the littler sins and lots more on the biggies. And so their lives are all about controlling sin and trying to make up for it.

While some sins are more gross and perverted than others, God doesn't accept any sin. But He accepts the righteousness of His Son, which is granted to those who are in Christ. It's very hard for former legalists to learn this, but the people atoned for by Christ are fully accepted with God in Christ, because of Christ, and that acceptance ALWAYS comes from Christ. Fundamentalists use Justification as a promise of heaven. But being justified also means that we have acceptance with God right now, giving us freedom to pray without fear and to rely on God as our Help.

Stanford explains the basis for this standing of our position in Christ in the Scripture, and then he elaborates on how this principle of position works through our lives and spiritual growth. It is a tremendously liberating little book.

Some caveats: Stanford was thoroughly dispensational, even meriting some criticism for Hyper-Dispensationalism (which he refuted). His writings also ring of the Keswick theology, which is another problematic sub-theology in parts of Fundamentalism. I think there comes a point in the CHristian life where the believer can simply go to Ephesians chapter One and get everything Stanford says, without the added bonuses of Stanford's other baggage. But until then. start with this as an aid in comprehending Ephesians One and the book of Galatians.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, well-written foundation for spiritual growth. Stanford is a strong writer with an even stronger understanding of the growth truths. The Principle of Position serves as a foundation for understanding the New Testament's plan for spiritual growth: our position in Christ.

I appreciated this when I read it long ago, and have reread it many times. I highly recommend it, I look forward to going back.