I found something to share from a book by T. Austin-Sparks, The Spiritual Senses. He opens chapter 16 with a list of several passages in the apostolic letters of the New Testament. Immediately afterward he writes:
This selection of passages is quite sufficient to show that the dominating objective of the Lord for His people is full growth, the full measure of Christ. Every apostolic letter has that object in view, and every one of these apostolic letters deals with some factor related to full growth. If that is true, then surely it is incumbent upon us as the Lord’s people to have His goal before us, and to be found in the same spirit as was the apostle who said, “…that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended of Christ Jesus”. The force of that statement may not have come to our hearts. The apostle has there said in very clear and precise language that when the Lord Jesus laid hold of him, it was for something more than that he should just become a saved man. It was in relation to a goal with which there was bound up a prize, and unto that there was to be an attaining. He said that everything for him was regarded as of value only in so far as it would help him to reach that goal, and nothing was of value at all which in no way contributed to that end. So should the Lord’s people be, at all times, on full stretch for the purpose for which they have been apprehended. Everywhere in the Word of God His thought for His people is set forth as being that they should come to a full measure, to full growth, to the measure of Christ.
“Full growth,” “full measure,” and “the measure of Christ” are all ways of saying transformation. If our transformation is a goal that dominates the thoughts of our Lord, should it not also dominate our thoughts? I have to remind myself of this repeatedly. The apostle Paul wrote about this transformation—and he lived it! “He said that everything for him was regarded as of value only in so far as it would help him to reach that goal, and nothing was of value at all which in no way contributed to that end.” Such willingness to live free from every distraction is amazing! Those who are being transformed lead astonishing lives.
This chapter in the book by Austin-Sparks continues with a look at the letter to the Romans. Here are a few brief excerpts:
We know what the theme of the letter to the Romans is, the object for which the apostle wrote it. We know that its great outstanding truth is that of righteousness by faith, or, as it is sometimes called, justification by faith…. Christ in resurrection provides the ground of our justification and our righteousness. In death He has dealt with all unrighteousness, and therefore with all that alienated and separated from God and meant condemnation, judgment and death…. Sin has been met and dealt with and all its consequences, right to the end, and in resurrection God’s way is open, and there is righteousness where there was unrighteousness, communion where there was alienation, fellowship where there was distance…. the relationship with God is established in Christ risen, and is established unshakably.
The striking thing is that our unshakable foundation in no way depends on us: our efforts, abilities or resources. As Austin-Sparks puts it,
There is a ground that is settled and fixed, unshakable in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. That ground is the expression of the love of God in Christ Jesus for me; not my love for Him, not anything that I have done or can do, not anything that is in me or that I can produce, but it is all what He is, what He has done, what He has given, and what He has established in His own Person at the right hand of God.
We have complete security and certainty in the Father and the Son. This is the basis on which our transformation rests. Our long journey of transformation will have many features that are unique to each one of us, but Christ is our common starting point.
I’m looking back to the parable of the two sons and I see that both had a sure place in the father’s house. Every day, in love, the father had his eye on the road that would lead his younger son back home—that road is a picture of Christ, Who is the Way. He gave his prodigal son the best robe—a picture of the righteousness of Christ that envelopes us, so that when the Father looks upon us He sees Jesus. The ring is a sign of unity and communion that extends from the Son of God to include us, His sisters and brothers. The shoes that the father placed on the prodigal son’s feet symbolize a new lifestyle. It is the life of the new creation in Christ that walks in fellowship with God. To reiterate, “in resurrection God’s way is open, and there is righteousness where there was unrighteousness, communion where there was alienation, fellowship where there was distance.”
Afterward the father, in love, stepped away from the celebration of the younger son’s return to beg his older son to join them. He even told that son, “All that is mine is yours!” Neither son had lost his inheritance, because the riches of Christ are immeasurable (Ephesians 2:7) and unfathomable (Ephesians 3:8). The father never lost his love for either of them. Our Heavenly Father never loses his love for us, either, because our relationship with him is not based on anything we have done or failed to do. It is established forever, unshakably, in the risen Christ.
Just a comment on T. Austin-Sparks: This brother in Christ lived from 1888-1971. I haven’t been acquainted with his writings for long, but everything I have had a chance to examine thoroughly has been a real encouragement and revelation of Christ. He spoke and wrote prolifically. He requested that, if his works were to be distributed after his passing, they should be made freely available. This has become a reality! A large collection is available online, free of charge, at the following address:
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