No, the curious thing is that it is here precisely we differ
from the holiness brethren. I will send you a reply I’ve just written to Ted
Hegre, who kindly wrote, because it hits the very spot. If we humans have a
nature spoiled by sin, then sanctified by a second work of Grace, then how do
we sin again without becoming unsanctified? That is why they are accused of
“sinless perfection”. But we are saying that we in our humanity can respond,
because it was not a change in us which took place, but in the Indwelling one
in us (Rom.8.9 in place of 7.17). Then I grant you the way of saying “as us”
does raise questions such as you say, implying “obliteration”. But we might say
Jesus saying “Ye are the light of the world” is about the same, when we are in
reality only lamps manifesting the light. And such phrases as “ye bear fruit”,
when it is the Vines fruit manifested in us the branches etc. And our main
point is, as you know it well enough among our Weccers, and far more so among
millions of believers, they stumble along in maintaining an abiding
relationship as two related to each other, and it is only those in whom there
has been the revelation of a fixed inner union consciousness, who freely act as
spontaneous Christ-expressors – the “abiding” being merely a recognition of an
experienced fact. Paul again says it, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me”. He admittedly kind of contradicts himself when he adds “liveth in me” when
he had just said “yet not I”: but that is just the almost impossibility of
expressing a paradox; and we in “union life” move more strongly over to the
emphasis that we are He in our form, He as us; for then we are equally
spontaneous in us “having the mind of Christ”, and we willing and doing because
it is He willing and doing in us. I know it is a fine point, and open to
question; but we see the whole Bible full of men, and finally Jesus Himself
when The Dove entered Him, speaking and acting as speaking the words of God
(Matt.10.20), and doing the deeds of God (John 5:17,19). And as for saying “we
spontaneously operate Him”, again it may be a clumsy effort for saying that “we
have the faith of God” (mark 11:22); and what else is it if we say to a
mountain “Be thou removed” etc. We are operating as God, He at our disposal!
From Knight of Faith, Vol.I