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... There are those and possibly many who read Ephesians 2 as being purely objective, that is, something wrought in Christ altogether aside and apart from the persons to whom the apostle was writing. Now I do not judge that Paul’s words give any support to this objective view. On the contrary he very distinctly brings certain persons to view — not viewing them either as in the outlook of divine purpose, but their actual state and walk as men on earth. He affirms that these persons who had been formerly dead in offences and sins, and whose past history he describes in its actual activities, were now quickened with the Christ and raised up together and made to sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. It is a work done by divine power in those persons by which they are brought to the full height of God’s purpose for them. Of course it is in a spiritual way that this is effected now; the actuality will be at the rapture.

It was God’s purpose from eternity to associate the assembly thus with Christ in the heavenlies, and now the Head as risen and exalted is in the place to which God will bring the assembly. That in God’s mind the assembly may be taken account of as there, is true, for He sees the end from the beginning, and does not need to wait until His own blessed work in time has brought her into being and set her there. No doubt He saw Eve in Adam before the deep sleep fell upon him, but when He brought her to him it was no longer what He saw but what He had wrought, so that there might be a counterpart to Adam with him for his comfort and joy. Now I think that Ephesians 2 is not what God sees in the vision of purpose but it is that which He really works in men by His power so that His purpose may be effected. I do not think we can say ^[p. 393] exactly when it was done, but it speaks of men being brought by God’s power to the light of His purpose. It may have taken years to make it good in those at Ephesus, but I believe it had been made good in them.

When I said that in principle it takes in the whole assembly, I meant that it is characteristically assembly position, and nothing lower can be admitted as the height of God’s purpose. How far God in the power of His sovereign love has really brought it to pass as a spiritual reality is another matter, and one as to which there is room for much exercise and prayer.

You will think, perhaps, that I am too subjective, but I cannot see that one can make the scripture in question objective.