(Col. 3:1.)

(Continued from p. 299.)

If as having died with Christ our connection with one sphere of things is viewed as ended, now as raised with Christ a new and different sphere is opened to us and we are viewed as identified with it.

This expression, "raised with Christ," conveys the truth of that new order of life and place which belong to the believer. It does not simply mean that we stand on resurrection ground beyond death and judgment, but that we are identified with Christ where He is. Our sphere of things is there, that is, in heaven, not in the world, but where Christ is sitting, for we are viewed as raised with Him.

The truth of our identification with Christ where He is, in the glory of God, is the basis of all that follows in this epistle. Therefore let us study carefully the first section of this chapter (vers. 1-4).

The "if" does not suggest a doubt, but simply introduces the basic condition of the two commands, "Seek," and "Have your mind on." Ch. 2:12 positively declares the condition to be true; hence what follows is imperatively expressed.

Three points claim our attention:

"Seek"-that is to be our occupation, what we are to do and continue doing, in all earnestness to find and acquire for ourselves.

"The things above"-in these we are to have our interest.

"Where the Christ is sitting at the right hand of God" -this at once defines what the "above" means, and the association in which the things referred to are found. They relate to Him, and the place He fills, far above all principality and power. This indicates that the Christian portion consists of the very highest Knowledge, relationship, and blessing. All is of heavenly order. This the word "above" emphasizes when we consider its use in such passages as John 8:23; Acts 2:19; Gal. 4:26, and Phil. 3:14. In the last it is rendered high, and this passage we might well link with our subject. It expresses the spirit of seeking to which the apostle here exhorts.

He had Christ in glory before his soul. At his conversion Christ there was revealed to him, and he came to know that the believer's place as being in God's favor was now expressed by Christ's place in glory; furthermore the power shown in placing Him there was now toward those who believe (Eph. 1:19,20).

The excellency of this knowledge of Christ constrained him "to count all things loss," and on account of Christ he had "suffered the loss of all," and counted them to be filth that he might have Christ as his gain. This is in antithesis to all those things he had formerly considered his gains.* *"The word in the Greek is plural, suggesting that the apostle was thinking of each part of the privileges and station he had so highly esteemed. For him it became true that to live was Christ, and to die gain, since he would then be with Christ. In ver. 7 the same word is singular; for him all was now concentrated in the one Person-Christ.* To him Christ was his present object and eternal goal, the prize he had ever before his soul. To him Christ was everything and all.

Furthermore, the loss he suffered was as nothing when sustained that he might have that blessed and perfect standing before God bestowed and received on the principle of faith, affording both present peace and joy of justification with the certainty of future glorification (Rom. 8:30). Therefore, no place, however high and influential as men count, could be compared with that of being "found in Him, not having my own righteousness which would be on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith." And then to know Him (for this results from what precedes), so that realizing growth in grace and acquaintance with Him in the fellowship of divine life-the life of Christ in which he participated-he would also know the power of His resurrection, as connected with the place in which Christ is now known. It is a present sufficiency for, and encouragement in, the path of the disciple, in which loss of life is experienced, as the Lord speaks in Luke 9:23,24; John 12:25,26. Thus fellowship with His sufferings would also be known, and the apostle was ready to enter even to death like that of Christ's, if only, whatever the way, he arrived at the resurrection from among the dead. Then he would perfectly realize all that is meant to have Christ as gain, to be found in Him, and have the recompense of present suffering and loss, even as Christ, already raised up and given glory.

Paul knew Christ in the glory, knew also the path which led Him there, and His perfection in it. As converted the apostle participated in His life, and earnestly desired to follow Him so as to be in the glory with Him according to that resurrection which he knew was certain, and which gave strength and comfort as he contemplated the possibility of death.

Indeed, as facing death, this out-resurrection is the proper hope of the believer, being connected with the coming of the Lord. But the certainty of such a resurrection, which will conform perfectly to that of Christ, the power of it being then actually applied to us (Rom. 6:5), is to exert present power over the believer and give character to his walk. This means to know experimentally the power of Christ's resurrection, not simply as giving hope of what comes after death, nor as the historical experience of Christ which gives us ground for both faith and hope, but as a continually active power operating upon us. Accounting it true that we have died with Christ, we also act as being now viewed as raised with Christ, and walk in newness of life. Compare Rom. 6:4.

Resurrection from among the dead means that we shall come out from all that into which sin has plunged man. Being thus brought forth by the power of God, we shall be conformed to the image of Him who has passed through all the consequences of sin's presence in God's universe, both as resisting the contradiction of sinners and enduring the cross, and then sat down at God's right hand-this, of course, being the result due to Him personally. There we are not to sit, but we shall be made like Him who does sit there. Blessed, marvelous grace! As remarked, this prospect, of which Christ's resurrection and the power shown in it is a prophecy to us, is to exert a present power and give character to our walk. This is to be known by us (who once lived in sins), being now dead to sin and living in newness of life and spirit as led by and filled with the Spirit-the Spirit of Christ who is in us. To thus walk means to know Him and the power of His resurrection-the truth of it so operating in us that we are led, as was the apostle, to count as loss on account of Christ all the things in which flesh boasts, and to continue doing so though it means to suffer the loss of all, even counting all to be filth since Christ is our gain. This can only mean our continual seeking of the things above where Christ is, seated at God's right hand.

Further, the apostle had not reached a state of complacency as though he had already obtained all of which he had spoken, or could think of himself as already perfected. Rather, he pressed on, permitting no past experience or any measure of self-satisfaction to retard his pursuit, satisfied to suffer anything if only he got increasing possession of Christ now; not indeed as though he was uncertain as to the end, for he knew he would possess Him then, seeing that he had been taken possession of by Christ for this glorious result. What then is the rule of this man who stands foremost in the Christian ranks as an example to all? It is this:"Brethren, 7 do not count to have got possession myself; but one thing-for-getting the things behind [that is, not merely those he had counted loss, but also the advances he had made as far as having them as an object before his mind, for to dwell upon them would only induce self-complacency and spiritual pride], and stretching out to the things before [the fulness of Christ as his gain for eternity], I pursue, looking toward the goal, for the prize of the calling on high (above) of God in Christ Jesus." This is the rule to guide us in seeking the things which are above, the portion and the place to which we are called of God as established by Him in Christ according to the riches of His grace.

What are "the things?" Are they concerning angels, principalities, powers, about the celestial realm, even the third heaven, the paradise of God? Such, we may say, is the place in which these things are found in their fulness and to which they belong. But are not '"the things which are above" the elements which make up that life belonging to that realm above-the life of God? For us they must be found in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, in fellowship with these divine Persons in the bond of life and nature in the power of the Holy Spirit. To enjoy this fellowship is to enjoy the divine affections, purposes, and activities of love and power, all now subsisting above. What proper Christian blessing in any wise links us with the world, with things on the earth? But the things brought to us by the divine Spirit, and by Him spread out in the divine Word, carry us above where Christ is sitting. We know we shall be there and in full possession, but now while still in the world, though not of it, having died with Christ to its elements, and risen with Christ to live in the elements of new creation, we are to seek these things continually. John Bloore