CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHRIST
[p. 299] CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHRIST
Colossians 1: 12, 13; Colossians 2: 9 - 15
Ques What is the thought in verses 12 and 13?
JT The Father’s making us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light, and having delivered us, and translated us, bring before us the preparation that is needed for entering into the inheritance.
FHB Is the making fit developed in chapter 2?
JT Yes. It is at the end of the wilderness rather than the beginning. At the beginning we see authority vested in the Lord, rather than “the Son of his love” character here.
F What does “sharing the portion of the saints in light” signify?
JT We could refer to Numbers 26, the portions are found there. The Lord said, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places”, Psalm 16: 6. That is the portion in the inheritance. Both Numbers and Joshua treat of allotments.
M Is it what is enjoyed now?
JT This goes further, as is indicated in Numbers 26. The next thing is, ‘Am I fit for it?’. Colossians has the fitness in view.
FHB Naturally we are not fit for the inheritance and we are incapable of entering upon it.
JM What is in your mind as to the inheritance?
JT What we share with Christ, what God has prepared for them that love Him, as we were having yesterday. It is what we shall share with Christ in a spiritual way.
TE Does that include what the Lord has redeemed?
JT Yes, “the acquired possession”, Ephesians 1: 14.
TE As Peter says, “Reserved in the heavens for you”.
FHB The Lord having entered in has taken possession for [p. 300] us.
JT The identity of the tribe was to be preserved when they took up their inheritance. The man with great requirements got more than he with fewer. Suppose a man still further increased could he force out a weaker one? No, for after all “the land shall be divided by lot”, Numbers 26: 55. Whatever capacity you have is satisfied, but the sovereignty of God has to be recognised and each has to have a place.
FHB Is the quickening in chapter 2 the capacity to enjoy?
JT Yes, it is the Father’s action both in the preparation of the saints, and deliverance from the authority of darkness. Many of the saints are suffering from the authority of darkness.
TE Would the darkness be the cause of the superstition coming out?
JT Yes, the Father has delivered us out of that, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love; what a change!
TE Why is it the Father?
JT In view of the family.
FHB In the family you get rule, but it is by love.
JT In Ecclesiastes the preacher is the king, but the thought of king subserves that of preaching. Preaching is the important thing, and the king uses his authority as such to support what he says in preaching. In Proverbs, it is “Son of David, king of Israel” who speaks. Therefore Proverbs is more the kingdom of the Son of the Father’s love. The Lord is that, and He would instruct us in family relationships. The relationship makes subjection easier, and induces love.
M Is “made fit” connected with what you get in Proverbs?
JT Yes, the land was divided among the tribes, but the family was to retain its own place.
M Is “fitness” an intelligent response to the position?
JT Yes. Deuteronomy 1: 2 helps as to the preparation for the inheritance. So it gives the distance between mount Horeb and Kadesh; that way was not very long. Then Moses says, ‘This is the mind of God for you, but you are not to go in yet’. It took all that we get throughout the book to prepare them for it. Deuteronomy is not exactly God’s command; it is written by Moses’ own initiative.
FHB Do you mean that Colossians answers to Deuteronomy?
JT Colossians is a little beyond Deuteronomy. Moses leads you up to it. His work is more in keeping with Romans and Corinthians. He carried the people to the land, and desired God to give one to lead them in. So at the end of Deuteronomy you have Joshua (chapter 31). Deuteronomy is the burden of Moses’ exercises and you find he gives the people motive after motive for loving God. So we go into the inheritance loving God, who gave it us.
FHB In correspondence with the Son of His love?
JT Yes, in Deuteronomy 10: 12 - 22, you get Moses speaking to them so as to induce love for God.
JM They had a wonderful incentive to love.
TE Does Deuteronomy give us what Moses learnt experimentally with God?
JT Yes, he had come to have great affection for God’s people. Proverbs is the rule of the son. I am impressed with that. Proverbs runs parallel with Ephesians. The virtuous woman is the product of the teaching.
JM “In whom ...”, Colossians 1: 14. The Lord is thus presented to move the affections, and deliver [p. 302] one.
JT That one so great should be spoken of as a son! You go into the land with the full light of the knowledge of the Son.
JM It is like the way the Lord is presented on the other side of Jordan.
JT The way the Lord is here presented completely sets free from philosophy. People are in danger of the working of man’s mind; that is where the authority of darkness comes in. The enemy would use education and ceremonialism against the saints. Christians who would not think of the theatre might be caught by other things, which might have a hold, for instance, social status among neighbours. Balaam, who could not curse the people, taught them, but what did he teach? To go on social lines. It succeeded in drawing them away. That is what Colossians is guarding against.
M All things that destroy the spiritual sensibilities.
JT In appreciating the Son of the Father’s love, you are delivered from all that. A philosopher with any amount of book-knowledge would have had no effect on the company in John 12. Mary was there, and she had heard about the Father. The world can give you nothing, though it professes to have new light. The Lord is head of all principality and authority, “Ye are complete in him, who is the head”, Colossians 2: 10. In Ephesians you have “above every principality” (Ephesians 1: 21); that is to deliver us. Next we are circumcised, that is, made to correspond with Him in putting off the flesh.
FHB That is flesh as a whole, not only the bad flesh.
JT In Joshua, the crossing of the Jordan comes before circumcision, but the latter is first here, because it was needed most; it cuts you off positionally. It is not a question of whether I am up to it, but the position set out.
FHB The flesh says, “Bring us not over the Jordan”. Only those who have accepted circumcision want to go over.
JT You bring nothing into the assembly that you have pride in naturally; the reproach of Egypt is rolled away.
TE What is the need for baptism?
JT “Buried with him in baptism”, Colossians 2: 12. You are viewed as in identification with the death of Christ. One who loves Christ would value these statements. There is no resurrection of the believer in Romans, but it comes in here, because Colossians is to place me in correspondence with Christ.
JM This would be the soul coming into what has already taken place.
M In the type the Jordan is before circumcision?
JT In Colossians, saints are exposed to the mind of man, the better side of the flesh. You might accept baptism, but circumcision is more definite.
TE The children of Israel were commanded to do the circumcision themselves.
JT And it involves suffering. It is presented on the divine side here. You go through it in relation to Christ.
FHB In the book of Joshua, he is commanded to do it.
JT Circumcision comes in as Moses came from the wilderness (Exodus 4: 24 - 26).
FHB What answers to circumcision after the people were in the land is “Put to death therefore”.
JT Here it is rather how things stand on account of Christ’s death and resurrection, “If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ”. The way is open to you and all is done in the power of affection. It is as a risen living people that you accept death.
FHB The Lord appears on the other side to attract and draw us. Love makes the doctrine effective.
JT “[p. 304] Have your mind on the things that are above”, because the mind is the vulnerable point. The Spirit of God greatly enhances the mental capacity.
FHB The mind governs the man.
TE “We have the mind of Christ”.
JT No natural intelligence can compare with one who has the mind of Christ.
Ques What is the difference between “put to death” and “put off”?
FHB Is it the inward working of the thing?
JT Yes.
JM The things to put off are habits.
FHB What about quickening?
JT That brings you into living touch with Christ. He is made to live in our affections, and response is created in our hearts to Him.
FHB It is set forth in John 20. We have not only power to live, but to do so in relation to Christ, “Having forgiven us”, the coast is clear; there is nothing in your way.
F The children of Israel were only eleven days’ journey from the land.
JM It takes us as long as it took them.
JT Very few of us go into the land.
TE Is Ephesians in the land?
JT In the light of it.
M We think we are in if we taste the fruit of it.
JT Yes.
FHB Going into the land does not take us out of the wilderness. There are periods in which we may enter in, but we come back in the strength of that.
JT Passing out is by the Spirit, not faith.
JM Would you not agree that we should always have as light our heavenly position?
JT Surely; even if you are compelled to admit that few saints go in, you do not lower the standard.
[p. 305] The Preacher was wise, he still taught the people. You do not give up; you keep on bringing it before them.
FHB The morning meeting is the most favourable occasion for entering in.
F There love takes us in.
Rem The apostles took possession of the enemy’s land. The conflict today is to hold what we have. Acts 20 is the climax.
JT God is acting for us. We little realise the awful things that are going on.
FHB All the divisions have been conflicts.
JT Coming out of the place of privilege into the wilderness. Colossians gives what governs you as having been in. Romans gives what governs before you go in, “And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him”, Colossians 3: 17. That marks a man who has been in the land.
FHB J.N.D. said that Numbers comes after Joshua with us.
JT You get that from Numbers 15.
M After a taste of the land we are better able to take up our wilderness relationships.