GREENWICH, OCTOBER 29TH, 1890

^[p. 32] GREENWICH, OCTOBER 29TH, 1890

Mr. J. Edmondson.

My Dear Brother, — Looking at things from the divine side I do not think there is any intermediate state between being dead in trespasses and sins and being quickened together with Christ — for God’s work is looked at as one whole, and with Him is no such thing as time. Looked at, however, on the realisation side, I can understand a person being in the Romans 7 state (truly born again) before it could be said to be alive to God in Christ — I doubt if this last could be said until the Spirit is received — for it says “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his” — still new birth is morally life, for the new-born soul appreciates what is of God — but life by which I enjoy the new relationship and scene in which grace has placed me depends on the power of the Spirit of Christ working in the new man in the believer, without it is no such thing as liberty — I cannot view life in any complete way apart from the relationships and scene which are proper to it, and which are for the heavenly. I have no present intention of visiting Dublin. I am not sure that they would be all well pleased to see me.

Believe me,
Your affectionate brother,
F. E. Raven.