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just as surely we can never make ourselves fit for glory. The apostle continually points
back to a finished work, and on to a glorious consummation. "Ye are complete in Him."
"Ye are circumcised . . . . . by the circumcision of Christ." "Ye are buried with Him."
"Ye are risen with Him." "Ye are dead to your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh." "He hath quickened you together with Him." "He has forgiven all your
trespasses." Why do we not believe God and reckon as He has reckoned? "Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6: 11). God does not say, "Wait until you feel this in your
experience before you so reckon"; for the feeling may never come in this life. There
should, by all means, be a genuine concern for a spiritual walk, and growth in grace;
there should be a continual recognition of the awfulness of the flesh and its terrible snare.
This, however, is very different from attempting to set ourselves free and to accomplish a
sanctification in our own strength, ignoring all the implications of grace. Not only have
we been forgiven, but all that was contrary to us has been removed and cancelled, giving
added confirmation to our sense of acceptance in the Beloved. This, however, must be
considered in our next paper. Let it suffice us here, that we are the recipients of such
grace. We have received a forgiveness that is unconditional, and which can never be
revoked. We are not called upon to forgive our brethren so that we ourselves may be
forgiven--we are called upon to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us:--
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if any man have a quarrel against any; EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU,
SO ALSO DO YE" (Col. 3: 12, 13).
#27. BEWARE.
Blotted out, Nailed, Spoiled: The body is of Christ (2: 14-17).
pp. 164 - 170
Our last study left us with that unspeakable blessing, the forgiveness of sins--"Having
forgiven you all trespasses." The passage stand, as it were, half-way in the explanatory
matter that reveals its foundation in the person and work of Christ. Looking back over
the path we have come, we realize that the emphasis has been upon the person of the
Saviour. He is the test of all philosophy and tradition. In Him dwells all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily. In Him, moreover, the believer is complete. He is discovered to be
the Head not only of the church, but of all principality and power. In Him also, the body
of sin has been put off as in a spiritual circumcision. The union effected by our one
baptism has buried us together with Him in His tomb. And with Him, through the same
mighty power that raised Him from the dead, we too are raised, having died to our sins,
and having been quickened together with Him. Looking forward, the believer has his
attention directed to that wondrous work which the Lord accomplished on the cross, there
to see the complete canceling of all legalism, the removal of all authority but the