DIVINE ADMINISTRATION IN EPHESIANS (2)

DIVINE ADMINISTRATION IN EPHESIANS (2)

Ephesians 2

SMcC I think the Lord would help us in relation to the eyes of our heart, so that they might be more and more enlightened in relation to this great unseen order of things centring in Christ as Man in heaven. The Spirit would serve us in bringing more and more into our minds the richness of what is involved in the working out of the administration as presented in this epistle in relation to Christ in heaven and the effectuation of the purposes and counsels of divine love in the saints. We need to give ourselves over entirely so that the fulness and richness that is linked with the place of the assembly in these counsels of love might be better apprehended and appreciated by us. We might refer a moment to the end of chapter 1, also keeping in mind the chapter we have read. The greatness of the work of God from Pentecost to the rapture is contemplated at the beginning of chapter 2, the historical and sacrificial side comes in from verse 11; the introduction of reconciliation, involving both Jew and Gentile reconciled in one body to God by the cross; then the great order of things in the realm of the testimony here below, the household of God, the habitation of God in Spirit. All this serves to bring out the dignity of the saints of the assembly, as being the particular objects of this administration, centring in Christ as Man in heaven and the Spirit here below in the assembly. It is a heavenly order of things, not seen by the natural eye but seen and known by faith.

RGN Would you say something about the expression “the eyes of your heart”?

SMcC The allusion would be to the affections entering into this great matter, the heart being particularly linked with the thought of affections. The spirit of wisdom and revelation involves the way our minds are affected as in this realm, and the eyes of our heart involving that our affections are entering into it. There is the side of light, intelligence, and there is the side of affections, both entering into this great matter of God’s inheritance in the saints.

PB Emphasis being laid on “So that ye should know what is the hope of his calling?”

SMcC It is interesting that the first prime feature that is mentioned is sonship. That is, the hope of his calling would be sonship in a heavenly way; it is heaven and the great thought of sonship that is in mind in the hope of God’s calling.

CAI Would “the eyes of your heart” carry the thought of enlightenment in the affections that go with sonship?

SMcC Well, I think so, because as to the great matter of sonship, while it is presented as a gift in the glad tidings, to be laid hold of by faith, God sends out the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, showing how we are to be inwardly affected by it.

WJB Would it be right to say that, “being enlightened in the eyes of your heart,” means that we really cannot see these things save as in some measure we are changed morally?

SMcC Well, exactly. The work of God in all its greatness, as viewed in Ephesians has in mind this great change, morally, in the saints, which enables them to take in and appreciate the richness of these thoughts that we have as to the saints of the assembly.

IBT “The hope of his calling” - hope usually looks forward, but this seems to be a backward look. Would you say something about it?

SMcC Well, the hope of His calling involves heaven and sonship. Sonship in actuality involves that our bodies will be completely conformed to Christ’s body of glory. Well, they are not conformed yet, so we do not have sonship in actuality, because it involves the body of glory; so the hope of His calling is referred to, because sonship is linked with heaven in the saints of this dispensation.

AMcKH Is that what is referred to in the “earnest of our inheritance?”

SMcC That is, we have an income. The earnest suggests that we have an income to sustain us in the present time in relation to these thoughts of spiritual grandeur while waiting until we are actually, as to our bodies, brought into them in their fulness.

WJB “Awaiting adoption, that is the redemption of our body,” Romans 8: 23.

SMcC So that sonship in actuality involves full correspondence to Christ, according to what He is now is as Man before God.

RGC Is inheritance connected with sonship?

SMcC I should think it is, “What the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” It would particularly allude to the distributed glory among the saints in relation to all the spiritual impressions that are put upon them through the work of God.

CFI Do we not need to think of that side more - “the riches of the glory of his inheritance”? It is really in view of what God is securing. Do we not too quickly go to the side of what we are securing?

SMcC An important thing to see, that the Spirit through Paul is drawing us over to the divine side in relation to the saints, and what divine thoughts are about the saints. It is striking that Paul should be in prison, as if God orders his circumstances so that, free from the arduous toil that his services entailed for him, he might be able, under the Lord’s hand and with the Spirit’s help, to expand in his thoughts, in his ministry, in relation to the glory of the saints from this viewpoint.

CSK Would the princes in Numbers, as bringing forward their offerings each on his day, be representative of the saints, as being the inheritance of God in that way? “Let my son go that he may serve me.”

SMcC You mean that the wealth in the princely offerings would represent somewhat, the principle of this?

CSK I just wondered that. They are representative of the saints of God, as being for Him, are they not, as having something to present to Jehovah?

SMcC What wealth there was there! Although I suppose in fulness what we have here brings us to the Canaan side.

Ques Is there the thought here that we are quickened in relation to these things?

SMcC Well, the work of God comes on to our view now in what you refer to. The work of God in its entirety, embracing all the saints from Pentecost to the rapture. It is the totality of the work of God presented in the opening verses in Ephesians 2.

Ques Does the administration of the fulness of times, cover the whole period of time?

SMcC The administration of the fulness of times is a reference to the millennium. In the millennium you will have this particular working of administration, so that all that every age was intended to yield in the way of a quota in regard of God, is gathered up and set out in display under the hand of Christ in the administration of that day.

PB What is the difference between that and the 22nd and 23rd verses of the 1st chapter? How are they linked? “And gave him to be head over all things to the assembly which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.”

SMcC Well, it is to bring out the greatness of the assembly; that the assembly shares with Christ in the greatness of the administration that is linked with Him. It says, “And gave him to be head over all things to the assembly,” that is, she is with Him in this great matter of the administration that is proceeding from Him.

CAI Would you say something as to the assembly being the fulness of Him who fills all in all?

SMcC Well, we have a remarkable allusion to the greatness of Christ in that He fills all in all, and to the greatness of the assembly in that she is said to be the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

AJC Is the greatness of the glory of God seen in that He secures this in a scene where Satan has challenged the rights of God?

SMcC Exactly. That is, it is not here viewed as in eternity, although the administration will go right on throughout all eternity, in its essence and intrinsic value. We have here before us the greatness of the present moment, the assembly viewed in divine thoughts as the complement of Christ, and capable of sharing with Him in the blessedness of the administration that is committed to Him.

GAA Is what we have looked at and spoken of in verses 17, 18 and 19, acquired on the line of praying? I was thinking of the word, “would give you” in verse 17.

SMcC “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of him;” this is to be noted. Paul seems to sense the readiness of divine Persons to help the saints in this great order of things, this heavenly order of things, especially in view of all the truth. Ministry is given in view of all the truth being arrived at; the full knowledge of Him.

WJB It seems, in this prayer, he desired that the saints might have light; in the next prayer in the third chapter it seems as if it is power, would that be right?

SMcC Exactly. So that the prayer in the third chapter touches more the state in the saints; and the intensity of his attitude is more emphasized in that he bows his knees.

WJB I thought this ministry that we are looking at now is objective, that the saints might have an impression of the greatness of God’s thoughts; the subjective side being emphasized in the third chapter.

SMcC So that it is important that we should apprehend fully, on the objective line, the immensity of the scope of these great thoughts that stand linked with the administration of Christ in heaven at the present time, the assembly being the chief item, we might say, in regard to that administration now.

AMcKH We have the thought of riches in the terms “the riches of his grace,” “the riches of the glory” and “being rich in mercy.” If we were formed in the apprehension of that, would we come out in those features?

SMcC We would. So that as we apprehend the greatness of this heavenly order of things, in which we have part, by faith and the Spirit, we should be marked by richness. We would not be marked by poverty but by richness, in our operations, whether in regard to grace or mercy or to glory.

CAI Is the power important? It seems to have a large place here. “The surpassing greatness of his power.”

SMcC Yes. It is to impress us that it is not merely academic. While we say it is objective, it is not objective in the sense of being merely academic. “The eyes of your heart” means that there is a certain state of inwardness linked with this objective apprehension of the greatness of divine thoughts - power entering into it.

WJB An apprehension of divine power, whereas in the 3rd chapter that power is to operate in us.

SMcC “According to the power which works in us,” chapter 3, verse 20. In chapter 1 God is before us “in the might of his strength in which he wrought in the Christ in raising him from among the dead;” and the same power extends to the saints in this anticipative way. That is contemplated in the second chapter, where the full and total result of the work of God is before us.

RGW Would you say a word as to the expression “the fulness of him?” Is it the substantiality of Christ in expression?

SMcC It alludes to the glory of His Manhood. While it is said of Him that He fills all in all, a reminder to our hearts of His deity, the assembly is not the fulness of deity, but the fulness of the exalted Man and that would allude to all that comes out in relation to His Manhood.

PB We have the fulness of the earth in scripture.

SMcC If you think of the fulness of the earth, you think of the trees, the crops, of all that comes out of the earth in its productive power. Well, the fulness of Christ as Man alludes to all that has come out in Him as Man. The gospels would help us as to it.

DB Does the fact of the two expressions being put together, suggest the nearness of the assembly to Christ?

SMcC Yes, and the nearness of the assembly to deity. While she is not said to be the fulness of God, or the fulness of deity, she is the fulness of the exalted Man who fills all in all, a beautiful reference to His deity, but linked with His position as the exalted Man.

CSK Does this imply that the assembly as such is over all things, too?

SMcC She shares with Christ in this great matter of the administration of all things, in the light of Genesis, chapters 1 and 2. It says in verse 21 of Ephesians 1, “But also in that to come; and has put all things under his feet;” now the assembly is not one of the things that is put under His feet. She is not put under his feet. She is with Him in the administration of all the things that are put under His feet.

CSK Is there another allusion then to the greatness of the place of the assembly?

SMcC What an exalted place the assembly should have in our minds from this viewpoint.

TRH Is power the great thought in this section, the, power of resurrection, the greatest power in the universe, which is working to secure all this for God’s pleasure? The power is great enough to secure it.

SMcC So that our minds and hearts should be affected, by this great matter of the power operating in resurrection. You get two expressions in verse 19, “the surpassing greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to the working of the might of his strength.” They should bring into our minds the greatness of what is involved in the resurrection.

WIB Psalm 18. “Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled and shook, because he was wroth ... . And he bowed the heavens, and came down,” and so on. “He reached forth from above, he took me, he drew me out of great waters.”

SMcC That would intensify in our minds as set out in type in David’s history the great mighty power of God that has operated in the resurrection realm. It will operate in relation to every family. Every family will be affected in some way by the power operating in resurrection. But this ministry is concentrating our attention now on the application of that power to the saints of the assembly.

GHR Is it of interest that this chapter deals with the two great thoughts of sonship and of the assembly?

SMcC Well, it is. We get both the masculine side and the feminine side, first the side of sonship, then that linked with the assembly as united to Christ in the heavenly realm. She is not united to Christ here below, but is united to Christ as the Centre of the heavenly domain.

TRH Would Matthew’s gospel as the assembly gospel give us the impression of resurrection power, in regard of the angel?

SMcC It says that he sat upon the stone. In one gospel the stone was removed, but in Matthew it is said of the angel, that he came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it and his look was as lightning, and his clothes white as snow. I think the apprehension of this resurrection power helps us two ways, both in regard to our part and place on the upward line in the service of God, and on the lower and outward line in testimony before men.

CAI Does this matter of power enter into the 6th verse of the next chapter, as raising us up together? Would that be the present operation of power?

SMcC Yes, we are to know something of the way that this power is operating in us now, quickening coming in in verse 5, “Has quickened us with the Christ and has raised us up together and has made us sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” The assembly now is the immediate object of the application of the power that we are referring to.

CSK Does this suggest that this power mentioned here that was manifested in Christ is operating in relation to the saints now? The operations of it began in relation to Him.

SMcC And by faith on our side and with the help of the Spirit, we are able to apprehend anticipatively this great act; because it is evident that we are not raised up together as to our bodies, we are still here in flesh and blood; what is contemplated in Ephesians 2 is the totality of the work of God in the dispensation. We anticipate it by faith and as having the Spirit.

GRD Is the beginning of chapter 2 a reference back to the personnel, the saints viewed individually?

SMcC Yes, as to the matter of moral history. When we come to the assembly in the light of divine purpose, it is a sinless institution. It has no history of sin, but when we come to the members, we find that there is a history of sin that has to be dealt with in view of our being set free in relation to the greatness of the assembly as in the divine conception.

GRD Would that include the latter part of verse 6, “Has made us sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” Does that involve the thought of sonship again?

SMcC Well, it does. It involves sonship in the saints and a restful position. The light of it as affecting us would help us.

PB So that it refers to that which has been done and it abides, therefore quickening is a permanent thing.

SMcC Quickening is a permanent thing. Resurrection has to do with the external side, but quickening has to do with the inward side, although we must keep in mind that quickening in Romans 8, verse 10, refers to the action of the Spirit in relation to our bodies; but here the inward side would be in mind.

CAI The operation of this power in relation to us involves our elevation into another order of things, an entirely heavenly order.

SMcC That is the point, and you feel that is what we need help in regard to, that we should see that these things are not beyond us, that in faith and in the resource that we have in the Spirit, there is power to enter upon this elevation, and to lay hold of what is linked with this remarkable order of things in relation to Christ’s administration as Man in heaven.

JBT Is this quickening, in verse 5 subsequent to verse 8, where it says, “ye are saved by grace, through faith?” Is the quickening subsequent to salvation?

SMcC What is chronological does not enter into the first part of Ephesians 2. It presents the totality of the work of God viewed apart from a point in time. It is just the greatness of the work of God by itself, and the salvation referred to in Ephesians 2 is not a question of our sins, or of the power of the enemy. It is a question of being saved entirely - our place in heaven being involved in it.

WJB Would it correspond with the use of the word “salvation” in Hebrews 2, “The leader of their salvation”?

SMcC Yes, and with what was referred to this morning as to Christ being perfected, meaning in that relation, that the full position is reached by Him as Man in accord with the purpose of God.

WHW Would the totality of the work of God in chapter 2 be commensurate with the thoughts of God in chapter 1?

SMcC That is, we are in the presence of divine Persons and Their operations, and as has often been said, the approach is equal to the revelation. The high level of the operations in chapter 2 corresponds with the high level of the conceptions in chapter 1.

CFI “The great love wherewith he loved us” would be the love and purpose that we have in chapter 1.

SMcC Yes, and yet the reference to His being rich in mercy shows how divine love adapts itself to the need of the members of the assembly in relation to that which held them.

MRJM Is that calculated to give us right feelings in relation to divine Persons? “God being rich in mercy.” Where would we be if it were not for His mercy?

SMcC The whole ministry here is, intended to affect us inwardly, so that all our inward parts are charged by the richness of what enters into divine thoughts as laid before us in the ministry here.

CSK So that we should be holding the truth in love as in the 4th chapter.

SMcC So that what we are considering is not just academic, it is not just a picture objectively, but quickening would involve the saints as made to live.

PB “Quickened us with the Christ, and has raised us up together and has made us sit down together.”

SMcC The raised up together, means all the saints together. Now this should help us as to our relations with one another, and as to what is immediately before us in the rapture, that we shall all go up together, there will not be one left behind. The working out of the administration in Ephesians involves that, that we are all together, and we should think of one another practically, more in this light.

WJB We get a similar use of the word “quickening” in Colossians, do we not, where it says, “You ... he has quickened together with him?”

SMcC Yes, and what is to be noted, is that in Colossians the resurrection comes first, quickening comes second. In Ephesians quickening comes first and resurrection second. Now we are to notice the change of order in these two epistles. In Colossians, where we are not viewed as off the earth, resurrection is the prime thought, as the great testimony to the power of God, and it is mentioned first. It says, Colossians 2:12,13, “Buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with him through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead. And you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him.” But when we come to Ephesians; quickening is the prime matter, because we are on the heavenly side in Ephesians. So this mighty operation puts us into accord with what is in view in the heavenly teaching of that epistle.

AIC Would the truth of this give us greater liberty in the service of God?

SMcC Well, that is the point, and free us from tension. I think if there is anything that we need to learn in the service of God it is relaxation, if we might be permitted to use the expression, to be free from tension, and these operations have that in mind.

WJB Would David, as he sat before Jehovah be an instance?

SMcC Exactly. “Raised us up together and has made us sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” This would have an effect upon us in going on together, and working out things together.

CAI Would the seventh day of the operations in Genesis 1 enter into it?

SMcC Yes, involving the rest of God.

AMcKH Paul says, “For this reason,” in chapter 3, as though he sums the whole thing up, he has a reason for bowing his knees.

SMcC So that the greatness of the saints should affect us, because I think the basis for working out everything administratively in our local gatherings is our apprehension and appreciation of the saints in this light.

CSK Is it the divine thought that we should be able to enjoy divine relationships in restfulness, regardless of anything else?

SMcC We are to learn, as being with God, to magnify His work wherever found. This would help us to see it in its greatness among the saints.

CSK What I meant was that we cannot enjoy divine relationships merely as individuals. It is collective, is it not?

SMcC We cannot enjoy this by ourselves, we need the brethren.

MRJM So does not verse 18 of chapter 1 involve our coming into our inheritance with the brethren before God comes into His?

SMcC What verse were you referring to?

MRJM Verse 18 of chapter 1, “The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” would involve our coming into ours first of all in right relations with the brethren?

SMcC Well, God’s enjoyment, we might say, is bound up with what we are to one another in relation to His own great thoughts.

WHW What is involved in “Has made us sit down together?”

SMcC Well, I think, that it is not just an arbitrary exercise of divine power. Love enters into the operation of making us to sit down together as if it is essential that we should sit down together in relation to these great thoughts.

WHW Does a sense of the riches of His mercy help us in these things in the working of them out together?

SMcC Well, it does.

AJC Would we be helped in the spirit of restfulness you referred to as having to do with God?

SMcC We have in verse 10 “For we are his workmanship.” Think of that expression. We like to speak of workmanship in relation to things here. Much is made of workmanship; but think of the saints of the assembly, as being God’s workmanship; as if God is in this chapter bringing forward the saints and saying “That is what I can do.” We are His workmanship!

DB Does the expression, “the Father of glory,” bear on all this?

SMcC It does. It is another enriching expression, showing how great the realm is that we are in.

GAA It speaks of sitting down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Is that the atmosphere in which we sit down together?

SMcC No other family in the universe of God will ever have the status that the assembly has. The assembly will be known in the universe of God in all her uniqueness because of her status.

GRD Does the reference to the past history in the beginning of the chapter come in to magnify what God is able to do? In spite of what is referred to in the first three verses He is able to reach the full thoughts in His purpose.

SMcC It is to throw into relief, over against that dark background the greatness of these conceptions of divine love, and the operations of divine Persons, in effectuating them.

AJC Would it involve that all the glory is for God? God has to do with everything, has He not?

SMcC Exactly. The thought of His workmanship is that we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. Now we have to understand what these good works are. Where do we see them and find them? They must be there somewhere. God has created us in Christ Jesus for good works. They refer to what we find in the gospels in relation to Christ.

CAI Are you thinking of the various activities of Manhood that appeared in the Son of God as here?

SMcC Yes. Think of the good works that came to light in the working out of Manhood in all its moral glory in Jesus here under the eye of God, in the place of testimony here before men.

MRJM So that it is said of Him as serving in Sonship in Mark’s gospel, “He does all things well.”

SMcC Matthew would help us in relation to the good works on administrative lines. Luke would help us on the lines of the Gospel. Think of the Lord and the woman in the 7th of Luke, and think of Him in relation to other parts of that gospel, the help He was to souls in distress. “How God anointed him ... who went through all quarters doing good, healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10: 38. We are to walk in these good works, and to do good wherever we can.

RGC Luke 10: 37 - “Go and do thou likewise.”

SMcC That would be the point; the good works would involve what is worked out and expressed in Manhood in moral glory in Jesus in the gospels.

Ques Is that in mind when he says that God has before prepared them?

SMcC Yes. “Which God has before prepared that we should walk in them.” They have been before God in Jesus and now we should walk in them, so it would be a great responsibility to us to walk in the good works of Jesus as presented in Luke, the anointed Preacher, alleviating distress wherever it could be alleviated, assuaging the grief of humanity as it came in in regard to the widow of Nain and others.

TRH Would it be covered by “To do thy good pleasure my God is my delight and thy law is within my heart?”

SMcC All that would enter into it basically.

GP Would the appreciation of the person of Christ come in? The Lord says in Mark of the woman, “She has wrought a good work as to me,” Mark 14: 6.

SMcC That is an excellent illustration of a good work, that we should walk in. That is, in walking in that kind of work we will be concerned as to honouring Christ, not man after the flesh, but Christ.

EB Would there be a moral order in the way the matter is presented? First we have “made us to sit down together” - the acme of the thoughts of God in regard to us. We are to take that in, in faith, and by the Spirit. Then, down here, we are to come out as an expression of the movements of that Man when He was here. We must be conscious of our place up there before we can come out in expression of Him here.

SMcC Yes. We can only fill out our part in responsibility in the testimony rightly as we come out from heaven.

CAI Do you think that is how it was with Jesus? The blessed heavenly One was here, a Man from heaven, was He not? Is it not to be so with the saints now that what was seen in Jesus is to be seen in them?

SMcC Yes, because these good works would not be for heaven. They would be for what is down here in the testimony, linked with the administration working out from Christ in heaven.

CSK Is this the answer to God’s original thought that man should be here as representative of Him?

SMcC Yes, and it gives us the balance in the truth again, that it is not all an objective matter. The whole section brings in the close link between what we are objectively, in the light of divine thoughts, and what we are to be in testimony.

WHW So that would you say the feeding upon Christ in His manhood here, would build us up in the manhood that would enable us to walk in these good works?

SMcC That is the whole point, and I think we need to repair to the gospels more. We go back to the gospels and are confirmed in the truth, especially as contemplating and feeding upon Christ’s manhood as presented there.

MRJM Is it right that there is not a feature of manhood that is according to God that is to be displayed in the saints here but has been found first in Jesus in Manhood here?

SMcC It would be all set out in Him as Man and we are called upon to walk in these good works, which God has prepared that we should walk in them.

Ques Does this work out in the first chapter of the Acts, the things that Jesus began to do were to be continued, were they not, and they were?

MRJM And have we this advantage now that we know that Man as glorified? Mr. Stoney said, “We must be with Him where He is to be for Him where He was.”

SMcC So God would remind us about these good works. Our objective view in relation to heaven is to be balanced in the way we take up a suitable position here below.

ATS Would you be free to say something about the good works as presented in John’s gospel?

SMcC Well, they are interesting, if we take account of them, as in chapter 10 for instance, where the Lord Jesus refers to the way that He came in by the door, and the porter opened to Him, and the way He served the sheep. Then earlier in the 9th chapter the way He served the blind man in whom the works of God were to be manifested.

GP Would these good works affect the service of God? By one Spirit we have access to the Father, but do these good works in testimony affect the service of God?

SMcC So that the position in the assembly is a solid one. It is not just abstract, but there are those concrete good works which are in expression. The first part of the chapter has in mind what is abstract and anticipative, especially what is anticipative, but verse 10 brings us to what is concrete, what we are to walk in.

CSK Do you think we might well challenge ourselves as to activities we may contemplate, whether they would come under this list of good works? Is it like Christ, is it like God for me to act so?

SMcC That is right. That would be the right reaction with us affected in this way. The thought of reconciliation comes up in the second section. The great truth of the work of Christ bringing in reconciliation, which involves unity of affection between Jew and Gentile, and involves unity of affection between us in our relations with one another; all this brings up what is pleasing to God.

WHW Much is made of being “brought nigh” in this section and certain things being removed.

SMcC It is important to see that, because reconciliation involves, as we were taught many years ago, that the distance is not bridged, it is removed, and in the place of the distance there is nearness; the point of complacency being in Christ.

CFI “And might reconcile both in one body to God by the cross.” Is that word “by the cross” of great importance there?

SMcC It is. It should touch our spiritual emotions, and I think we should be helped to see reconciliation from this viewpoint, because the enemy has wrought in recent time to divide the saints, to bring about wounds and distance. We want to see what is involved in this, the importance of reconciliation in this regard that the enmity has been dealt with and that where enmity was there is nearness, and we are standing together in unity of affection.

RGC Do we have the thought in Isaiah 58:12, “And thou shalt be called Repairer of the breaches, restorer of frequented paths?”

SMcC A remarkable title that is given in that section, and you will remember what precedes it about what people are saying, the removal of wrong language. We might just look at it now that it comes up, Isaiah 58:5, he speaks of the fast and the affliction of soul, is it “that he should bow down his head as a bulrush, and spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to Jehovah? Is not this the fast which I have chosen; to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, and to send forth free the crushed, and that ye break every yoke?” and then it says, Isaiah 58:8, “Then shall thy light break forth as the dawn, and thy health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearguard. Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger and the unjust speech, and thou proffer thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in the darkness, and thine obscurity be as mid-day;” then it says, Isaiah 58:12, “And they that come of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations that have remained, from generation to generation; and thou shalt be called, Repairer of the breaches, restorer of frequented paths.” It is an interesting chapter as bearing on what we have here, our practical relations with one another.

PB So it is not merely outward unity here?

SMcC It involves unity of affection.

CAI In the 15th verse of Ephesians 2:15 it says “having annulled the enmity in his flesh.”

SMcC How great the barrier was. It was what you might call an insuperable barrier, a barrier that could not be surmounted, but by the cross - a touching allusion to the instrumentality that has been divinely employed. By the cross there has been removed this great barrier between Jew and Gentile; so that they are set together, not just in light, but in unity of affection.

CSK Would it rather suggest that if such a great barrier could be removed as between Jew and Gentile, the extremes brought together, any difference by nature can be overcome in this way?

SMcC That is the whole point. So that, as we were saying the other night, there should be no thought of an impasse reached among the saints, whether in our relations with one another as individuals or in our relations corporately, as together in the assembly; there should be no such thing as an impasse.

CFI How do we take home this teaching of the cross to help us to arrive at unity? Is it that each one of us takes home to himself, that man has been exposed and terminated in the death of Christ, and that man is myself?

SMcC I take it home to myself and see how that man has been ended, terminated judicially in the cross, and if God does not make any room for him, I am not going to make any room for him.

WJB Do we have to watch our prejudices that may be very strong?

SMcC Yes, because that is the thought in this section. It is a matter of strong religious prejudice between Jew and Gentile; what you might call almost an insuperable barrier, as far as men are concerned.

AMcKH That is not only the literal Jew but the characteristics of the legal man, is that right?

SMcC Well, that is how it would work out with us now. It involved literally, Jew and Gentile, but it would work out with us now that all that is linked with that side of things is removed by the cross, so that we might dwell in nearness to one another and to God. Because it goes on to say, verse 18, “For through him,” that is Christ, “we have both access by one Spirit to the Father.” I think that is a delightful reference flowing out of adjusted relations between Jew and Gentile.

CSK So that there is one new man which shuts out everything that we might be by nature.

SMcC It is again showing how the testimonial side is in mind, because the term “one new man” would have no force in heaven; it has force down here, and refers to what is coming out testimonially as the result of the work of God and the work of Christ.

CFI Then would, “in one body,” be the inward side?

SMcC That would be it, stressing the organic links between us, “in one body.”

JBT In the epistle to the Romans, we get reconciliation by His death; the death of Christ. Is it significant here it is by the cross? There is a difference, is there not?

SMcC Well, there is. The death of His Son in Romans 5, refers to divine affections entering into this great matter of the removal of the distance between us and God, so that we should be before God in all the complacency that Christ as Man is in before God; whereas, here because of the Jewish side, the religious side, the cross is brought in. In Galatians what Paul insists on, in dealing with the Jewish mind is the cross.

WJB Is that because it is a most shameful matter?

SMcC Yes. We sometimes think, according to standards of human propriety, that Corinthian sin is the most degrading, but we want to see that what is most heinous in the sight of God is religious and ecclesiastical evil, as comes before us in Galatians.

GWB Following “the new man” we get “making peace.” Earlier it says “He is our peace,” something that is really made, is it?

SMcC Yes.

WHW Do we see here in verse 18, really what divine Persons have done in view of the Father’s pleasure?

SMcC We have been speaking of the mediatorial system, and the operations that have proceeded from God. We might think now, as to what goes in to God, “For through him (that is Christ we have both access by one Spirit to the Father.” A beautiful reference to the unity between Jew and Gentile in this matter of the approach. And then we might finish with an allusion to the holy and happy state of things that the chapter closes with, fellow-citizenship, the household of God, and the assembly increasing to a holy temple in the Lord, and the Gentiles built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. What fulness enters into these references in regard to the position in testimony!