The Christian is one who is not only sheltered from judgment by the blood of the Lamb, not only delivered from the power of all his enemies by the death of Christ, but is also associated with Him where He now is—at the right hand of God. He is with Christ, passed out of death in resurrection and is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ—"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). He is thus a heavenly man, and, as such, is called to walk in this world in all the varied relationships and responsibilities in which the good hand of God has placed him. He is not a monk, nor an ascetic, nor a man living in the clouds, fit neither for earth nor heaven. He is not one who lives in a dreamy, misty, unpractical region. On the contrary, he is one whose happy privilege it is, from day to day, to reflect, amid the scenes and circumstances of earth, the graces and virtues of Christ, with whom, through infinite grace, and on the ground of accomplished redemption he is linked in the power of the Holy Ghost—"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1,2).

Such is the Christian according to the teaching of the New Testament. Let the reader see that he understands it. It is very real, very definite, very positive, very practical. A child may know it, and realize it, and exhibit it. A Christian is one whose sins are forgiven—"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7), who possesses eternal life—"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11), and in whom the Holy Ghost dwells —"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). He is accepted in and associated with a risen and glorified Christ—"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). He has broken with the world, is dead to sin and the law, and finds his objects and his delight and spiritual sustenance in the Christ who loved him and gave Himself for him, and for whose coming he waits every day of his life—"Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3,4).

This, we repeat, is the New Testament description of a Christian. How immensely it differs from the ordinary type of Christian profession around us on every hand. But let the reader measure himself by the divine standard, and see where he comes short. Of this he may rest assured, that there is no reason whatsoever, so far as the love of God, or the work of Christ, or the testimony of the Holy Ghost is concerned, why he should not be in the full enjoyment of all the rich and rare spiritual blessings which appertain to the true Christian position. Dark unbelief fed by legality, bad teaching, and spurious religiousness, rob many of God's dear children of their proper place and portion. And not only so, but, from want of a thorough break with the world, many are sadly hindered from the clear perception and full realization of their position and privileges as heavenly men—"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

—C.H. Mackintosh