BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 29TH, 1917

BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 29TH, 1917

My Dear Brother, — I am glad to have your letter of the 13th inst.

As to a ‘Christian fulfilling his responsibilities’ I believe my thoughts are the same as your own — the same as are generally held among the saints. Of one thing I am sure and this is that “we all offend often”, that whatever marked the saints at the beginning, the church has utterly failed in her responsibility. I am certain too that in Christ only do we see absolute perfection in the path of responsibility. Of Him only could it be said that He did always those things that pleased God.

But as regards Christian responsibility — whether it may be said to have been fulfilled in any sense — it is obvious that our enquiry should be ‘How does Scripture view it?’ As the English word ‘responsibility’ is not in the Bible, we simply employ it as many other words to express thoughts in Scripture which correspond with its ordinary meaning. It means — ‘The state of being responsible, answerable or accountable; that for which one is answerable, a duty, trust or obligation’. Does Scripture affirm or afford evidence that what is thus expressed found an answer in others than the Lord Himself? Unquestionably it does. Instances of it are too many to enumerate. I give a few: 2 Timothy 4: 7; Philippians 3: 17; Ephesians 1: 1, 15; Acts 2: 14 - 47. A notable illustration is Acts 14: 26: “The work which they had fulfilled”. The Holy Spirit had called them to this work (Acts 13: 2) and they had fulfilled it. The apostles were responsible (compare 1 Corinthians 9: 16, 17) for this work and they fulfilled it (compare Romans 15:18 - 28). Here then is an instance of fulfilled responsibility according to Scripture, and this is in spite of the fact that one of these associates with the apostles (Mark) had failed!

But the question of fulfilled responsibility goes deeper than isolated cases — it involves what Christianity is — the character of the dispensation. The teaching of Romans shows that God has triumphed through the gospel not only in being able in righteousness to justify the believer, but that the believer having the Holy Spirit answers to God’s requirements — “That the righteous requirement of the law should be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to flesh but according to Spirit” (Romans 8: 4). “Requirement” is, of course, what is demanded in the law (Deuteronomy 10: 12) and hence responsibility. It is said to be fulfilled (note the word) in us who walk not according to flesh but according to Spirit. Note: it is not said ‘who should walk’, but ‘who walk‘ — that is, it is presented abstractly, but, of course “us” refers to persons known to Paul including himself. A point has been made here that “fulfilled” refers to ‘in’ not ‘by’ but if it fails a fulfilment must involve ‘by’. It is required that I should love God and the brethren — love involves by (see 2 Corinthians 3: 14 for a similar use of the word ‘in’ — “done away in Christ”). This also involves by — the Lord’s death. Then there is the responsibility flowing from the relations in which we are set and the calling with which we are called. Colossians and Ephesians treat of these. Fulfilment of responsibility in measure is recognised in both. The saints are called faithful and they are said to have love for all other saints. These epistles teach the responsibilities flowing from our position in Christ (see Ephesians 2: 10 and Colossians 2: 6).

As to the church’s responsibility there is scarcely need to affirm that it has failed in it for I do not suppose that any Christian holds the contrary. There is not only “from whence thou art fallen” now but the “depths of Satan”. We cannot take this too much to heart. But how refreshing to revert to the ‘former days’ in which there was an answer in the church to the light and privilege vouchsafed (Acts 2: 5; compare Hebrews 10: 32 - 34). There was a continuing steadfastly in certain things involving responsibility. The righteous requirement of the law was there fulfilled (Acts 2).

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.