MARCH 27TH, 1911
MARCH 27TH, 1911
Mr. H. W. Selby.
My Dear Brother, — I think all this exercise as to Colossians and Ephesians will work out for good. Romans and Ephesians are not corrective epistles; the former lays the ground for the latter — compare Romans 8: 29, 30; and 16: 25, 26. God brought Israel out of Egypt that He might being them into Canaan. Colossians is not Canaan, but the way into it. It is on the experimental side; it is necessary on account of the [p. 103] flesh in us. But viewed from the divine side, Ephesians follows Romans. Ephesians shows how God takes us from a state of death and as under Satan’s power, and sets us down in heaven in Christ. This is full Christian position, and it is the ground we should take in the faith of our souls. Colossians shows how the believer enters into this in a practical way now; hence we have circumcision, burial, resurrection with Christ by faith, and quickening with Christ. These things are most blessed, especially that we are risen and quickened with Christ; they involve wonderful spiritual experience — but they are a means to an end and not the end. The end is heaven, hence we have, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3: 1). God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, and He has made us to sit down in the heavenlies in Christ, and we are thus entitled to take this ground in the faith of our souls, both as involving privilege and testimony. “In Christ” in Ephesians has reference to His full official place as Head. Some speak of it as abstract, meaning that we are not there literally, and that thus in is used instead of with. We are not there literally, but the statement has in view our being there literally, and when we are there literally, the statement will have the same force that it has now — it will not be dropped. All shall be headed up in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth. We shall truly sit with Christ on His throne, but Ephesians is God’s purpose and hence Christ’s full place as Head is in view, and so in is right — with does not go beyond quickening. It fits in on the road to purpose and is most precious; but as we love Christ, we are glad to recognise His full official place.
I agree that sonship in Galatians is the light in which God regards all Christians, and affections are formed according to the relationship.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.