ROMANS, COLOSSIANS AND EPHESIANS

J. Edmondson

Romans is largely individual, and the believer is privileged to reckon himself to be as Christ is. To have died to sin and to be alive to God in Him, though still on the wilderness side of Jordan. When we come to Colossians and Ephesians and the thought is collective, the saints are taken account of as Christ is (not their reckoning themselves so), and this involves the unfailing purpose of God, as they will actually be this when His purpose is fulfilled. Otherwise no two of us are alike all in different states of growth.

Colossians is condition and Ephesians is position. Ascension has added nothing to Christ. What is true of Him now was true of Him before, but it is now true of Him in His exalted position at God's right hand. Risen with Christ is our present condition according to God's thought of us as His people, and this must be apprehended before we take possession of the land, which expresses the triumphant position of those who have learned the truth of Joshua 21: 43-45.

Dublin

From Mutual Comfort 1912