RECONCILIATION AND FAILURE OF THE LAW109

`He ... came to Nazareth (with His parents), and was subject unto them' (Luke 2:51).

In Romans 8:7 the two words `enmity' and `subjection' are seen to be irreconcilable:

`... the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be'.

The word `subject' involves the idea of a `willing surrender'. All must come down in that day. Some by being

`abolished' or `destroyed', others by a willing surrender like unto that of the Son of God Himself. In Romans 8:20 it

is revealed that the creation has become involuntarily subjected to vanity, and this cries aloud for that willing

submission of all things to the true goal of all creation - Christ. The word is used in Philippians 3:21, where the

transforming of the body of humiliation is said to be according to the self-same energy whereby He is able to subject

all things to Himself. Surely this cannot include the power that destroys - it is foreign to the thought. Destruction or

subjection is the idea of 1 Corinthians 15.

While 1 Corinthians 15 is mainly concerned with the human phase of the great purpose of God, as expressed in

the words `in Adam', nevertheless the reference to `all rule and all authority and power' goes beyond the sphere of

Adam. Before the Son delivers up the kingdom, all rule, authority and power will be abolished (arche, exousia,

dunamis). These are the principalities and powers of Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21. They are linked with

death in the closing verses of Romans 8, over which the believer is more than conqueror. Ephesians 6 reveals that

the church of the one body has principalities and powers among its spiritual enemies, and Colossians 1:16-20 shows

that principalities and powers will be reconciled. Once again we are forced to see that the reign of Christ before `the

end' is reached will be a process of discrimination. Some will be `destroyed', others will be `reconciled', and when

all enemies will have been abolished and all the redeemed and unfallen brought into perfect line (subjection carries

with it the idea of perfect order and harmony) with the great Archetype of all, then `the end' is reached and God will

be all in all.

There is a tendency on the part of some expositors to wander outside the passage and introduce subjects which

are quite foreign to the intention of the apostle. This is so with regard to the word `death'. What `death' is intended

in verse 26? The subject is introduced in verse 21 definitely and exclusively. There can be no doubt as to what is

`... by man came death ... as in Adam all die' (15:21,22).

`... Death is swallowed up in victory' (15:54).

Its sting is removed (verse 55), which sting is sin (verse 56).

By comparing the two balancing portions of this chapter together we shall get further and fuller light upon the

whole subject. The two portions are balanced in the structure (p. 212):

15:13-33. Adam and Christ. Death destroyed. `When?'

15:36-57. The first and last Adam. Death swallowed up. `When?'

(1) The differences of every one's `order' are amplified (15:23 with 15:37-44).

(2) The nature and relation of Adam is explained (15:21,22 with 15:45,47,49).

(3) The nature and relation of Christ is explained (15:20-22,28 with 15:45,47,49).

(4) The meaning of the destruction of death is given (15:26 with 15:54).

(5) The time periods are illuminated (15:24 with 15:54).

These amplifications by the apostle of his own words are worth more than libraries of other men's thoughts, and

give us inspired explanations which to see is to come under an obligation to accept and hold against all theories. Let

us briefly notice these Divine amplifications in the order in which they occur.

In the first passage only one order of the redeemed is indicated, viz., `Those that are Christ's at His coming'. The

amplifying verses 37-44 keep within these bounds, and do not add other orders, but rather show the variety of ranks