Baptism and the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 10) are for the wilderness. One introduces into the wilderness, but it is Christ's death, not mine only. I thereon reckon myself dead as a consequence, planted in baptism in the likeness of His death. But we do not have in Romans resurrection with Him, and, even where we do have it, as in Colossians 2, we have no ascension, no Canaan.
As the one brings into the wilderness, the other sustains in it. So we show forth Christ's death till He comes. I am on the earth, but in the consciousness of being a member of the one body, which implies union with Christ. It is on earth, however, that I celebrate it, not in heaven. I look at the humiliation as over with Him, but remember Him in it. Our service in it is simply owning the preciousness of His death, till He comes. Our state is in resurrection, but we are occupied with and celebrate His having been once down here and we show forth His death. The question is, Where are we when we celebrate it? In the wilderness.