JOHN AND PAUL

^[p. 192] JOHN AND PAUL

I believe we have in John what is essentially heavenly, that is, what is out of heaven, and what is out of heaven is heavenly, and cannot change its character. It does not bring before us the exaltation of man in virtue of redemption as does Paul, but the moral excellence of what has come forth from heaven — the living bread and the Father’s love. Hence eternal life is to know the Father and Jesus Christ His sent One (not exactly His glorified One). And we feed on this heavenly grace which has come out of heaven, and live by it. We enter into it while we are here, but it does not lose its heavenly character, and by Christ’s death we are free from the system in which flesh has its life.

I think to enter into and enjoy what is essentially heavenly, as having come thence, is almost greater privilege than to enter into the divine counsels which have their centre in Christ in glory, which is Paul’s line. If a concordance were consulted, I take it, heaven would be more often found in John than in Paul, only with the former it is more what comes thence, but without changing its character, and with the latter what goes there.