11
"It must be remembered that dispensational privileges must be distinguished from personal standing. With
regard to the former - they may be lost, with regard to the latter - they are indefectible".
In Vol. 2/3, page 13, we have the following question and answer given under Answers to Correspondents:
2 Cor. 5:17.- What more do you want than being "in Christ" as in the text?
This was an objection to the teaching that Ephesians gave a higher dispensational calling. Our answer was :
"At first sight it would appear that this verse reaches the zenith, but it is not so. 2 Corinthians and Galatians are
to be read together, and the result is this:
Doctrinal position ............... 2 Corinthians ..... `In Christ'.
Dispensational position ....... Galatians............ `With Abraham'.
When we turn to Ephesians we shall find that the dispensational and doctrinal positions are the same, viz.:
Doctrinal position ............... Ephesians 1........ `In Christ'.
Dispensational position ....... Ephesians 2........ `With Christ'".
It will be seen that there is therefore an advance in the dispensational teaching of Ephesians over that of 2
Corinthians.
Quoting
once
more
from
an
earlier
Volume
(5, page 9) :
"A believer needs to be fairly well grounded in the doctrinal portions of Romans before approaching the
Mystery"`.
CHAPTER 3
SOME DOCTRINES THAT ARE UNCHANGED
WITH THE
CHANGE OF DISPENSATION
A.- Let me see whether I have grasped aright the distinction you have suggested between `doctrinal' and
`dispensational' truth. You believe, I understand, that the Church of the One Body, as made known in Ephesians, is
a new thing, subject to the dispensation of the Mystery, but not associated with the covenant made with Abraham,
and independent of Israel or Israel's hope. Nevertheless, while the dispensation changed at Acts 28, and a new
sphere of blessing was introduced, man's fundamental needs remain the same, whether he be called in this day of
grace and Israel's blindness, or during the Acts period while Israel were still `first'. Have I grasped your meaning?
B.- Yes, you have stated the case very clearly. Shall we go on now to a further consideration of the Epistle to the
Romans in relation to the `prison epistles' (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 2 Timothy)? While realizing that
there are essential things that differ here - which we must leave untouched for the time being - let us seek to
discover some of the things that are shared in common. What would you consider to be one of the foremost
doctrines that characterize the teaching of the Epistle to the Romans?
A.- I should say the doctrine of justification by faith without works.
B.- If you have ever endeavoured to express in a few words the teaching of Romans on this mighty theme, I
think you will appreciate the fulness of Paul's own synopsis in Philippians 3 :
`If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more ... Touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless ... And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith' (Phil. 3:4-9).
A.- Yes, there is no doubt that the glorious doctrine of Romans is fundamental to Philippians. The passage in
Philippians is practically the same as Romans 3:21-26 :