DECEMBER 10TH, 1910

DECEMBER 10TH, 1910

Dear Brother, — Colossians being corrective, the full church position is not stated — deliverance from man’s mind in its activity philosophically and religiously is in view. It is Christ ^[p. 97] and what He is personally and our relationships with Him, and not His and our position in the counsels of God.

It is not a heavenly people on earth, but those who refuse the flesh (accepting Christ’s circumcision as the end of it) and the world in which the flesh lives (baptism answering to this) but still exposed to the influence of man’s mind. The doctrine and exhortations suppose a work of God in the saints but not to the extent that enables us to take complete church position.

I used to think that Colossians and John 20 were equivalent but now I see that the latter corresponds more to Ephesians. I think therefore, that while Colossians supposes the Christian circle it is not such as Ephesians would contemplate. Quickened together with Christ involves association with Christ in life but it does not go to the length of association with the ascended Man. Colossians contemplates a company on earth in the life of Christ, but not in the place designed for them in God’s counsels. Christ is the hope of glory.

They are not there as in Ephesians. I would object, therefore, to Colossians being regarded as proper Christian ground.

There is great need of maintaining the balance between the objective and subjective. Wherever the desire for leadership exists the former is sure to be made much of and no doubt this is because the latter is necessarily wanting; if it is present we are content in obscurity.

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.