APRIL, 1911
APRIL, 1911
Miss F. J. Elwood.
Dear Miss Elwood, — As to ‘ground’, the ground I take is that I am heavenly, and heaven is my place; this is my calling, and I wish to walk worthy of it. Who can deny, in the light of Ephesians, that this is normal christian ground? As to being raised with Christ and not ascended; the former is no more true than the latter. We are not actually raised, and [p. 104] we are not actually ascended; but both are true in faith. It is a question of God’s counsel and power; and in the light of Ephesians, all is regarded as accomplished. Faith takes account of things as God does and He calls things that be not as though they were. “Whom he has justified, these also he has glorified” (Romans 8: 30, N.T.). In truth the possession of the Spirit involves that we are glorified; F.E.R. said this. We are as much seated in the heavenlies in Christ as we are risen with Him. “In Christ” is characteristic of Ephesians and makes for His full official place in God’s counsels. Others, as well as we, are in Him, for, it is God’s thought to head up all things in Him; but we are in Him in a special way, for we are seated in the heavenlies in Him, “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ”. It is true that “risen with Christ” is wonderful ground to be on, and I believe “risen with” is peculiar to Christians; but it is on the road to heaven and not heaven, or full Christian ground. As a matter of fact Romans lays the ground for Ephesians from the divine side (compare Romans 8: 29; and 16: 25, 26). Colossians is the experimental side. It shows how we enter in. Privilege refers to what we are called to, not the way we reach what we are called to. Gilgal is most important for us, on account of the flesh, but it is not referred to when the land is spoken of as the sphere of purpose. Joshua and Caleb presented the tidings of the land, and although they had to go through Jordan and Gilgal, they would always think of the whole land as that to which they were called. This is the ground they would take. The people were brought out that they might be brought in. Colossians is the way in experimentally, because of the flesh, but Ephesians shows us how God takes us out of death, and the power of the enemy, and places us in heaven. Here (Ephesians 2) there is neither baptism nor circumcision: but it gives the full church position, and as we take the ground there is conflict. We are entitled to take it, both as involving privilege and blessings and testimony.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.