The Heavenly Man - The Inclusiveness and Exclusiveness of Jesus Christ
We have under consideration a phrase from the Letter to the Ephesians, "ALL THINGS IN CHRIST": "... unto a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ ..." (Ephesians 1:10). That is the great general vision that is occupying us, and we will now begin to break it up into its parts.
To begin with, it is supremely important that we should recognize that there is one basic and all-governing factor with God, which is a supreme matter for our knowledge, and that is the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Everything intended and required for the realization of Divine purpose and intention is "in" and "with" Christ, not only as a deposit, but all "is" Christ. That is the inclusiveness of Christ.
Then, on the other hand, nothing but what is of Christ is accepted or permitted by God in the final issue. That is the exclusiveness of Christ. However God may seem in His patience and long-suffering, in His grace and mercy, to be bearing with much, even in us His people, which is not of Christ; however much He seems for the time being to allow, it is of supreme importance that we settle it once for all that God is not really allowing it. He may extend to us His forbearance, His long-suffering, but He is not in any way accepting what is NOT of Christ. He has initially said that it is dead to Him, and He is progressively working death in that realm. So that in the final issue, not one fragment anywhere that is NOT of Christ will be allowed. Christ excludes everything that is not of Himself. That is God's ruling of the matter.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 34 - (The Church To Be What Christ Was and Is As the Heavenly Man)
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