--The apostle was wont to associate the commonest duties with the highest motives. In dissuading from the sin of impurity, he might have adduced considerations drawn from physical laws and social conditions; instead of this he appeals to the loftiest principles of Christianity. Note
I. The bond which unites believers to their Lord is a bond of--
1. Faith, “Whom having not seen,” &c. Christians receive with cordiality the gospel concerning Christ; they receive Christ Himself to dwell in their hearts by faith.
2. Love. They are joined to Him as the bride to the bridegroom, in a spiritual affection, in love “stronger than death.”
3. Affinity. Drawn to Jesus as sinners to the Saviour, they remain with Him as friends, congenial in character, disposition and aims.
II. The consequent unity between Christians and their Lord.
1. They are in a spirit of subjection to the Father, whose will and law are authoritative and supreme.
2. They are one in the love of all that is holy and morally admirable. The sympathy that exists regards the principles that animate andthe aims that dignify the moral life.
3. They are one in the bonds of an immortal fellowship. “That they may be with Me where I am.”
III. The practical proofs of this unity.
1. Repugnance to all which is repugnant to Christ; as, e.g.,those vices to which allusion is made in the context.
2. Cultivation of the spirit of brotherly love. The “one spirit” must needs be a spirit of true love, linking together the members of the mystical body of Christ, and disposing them to a sympathetic and harmonious action. (Prof. J. R. Thomson.)
The saint one with his Saviour
Note--
I. A mysterious deep.
1. There is a joining to the Lord--
(1) In election. We were chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
(2) In covenant, when Jesus became of old the Head of His Church.
(3) In the incarnation. All this makes up a glorious joining unto the Lord, but the union taught here is vital and spiritual which is wrought in us when we areborn again.
2. But what does that word “one spirit” mean? The union between Christ and His people is described by--
(1) The marriage union. It is said, “These twain shall be one flesh”; but to take off the carnal edge of the metaphor “one spirit” is here substituted.
(a) Christ and His people have one spirit. The Holy Spirit who quickens us anointed Him. The foot is baptized into the same spirit as the head.
(b) We are of one spirit with Him, i.e.,we come to think and feel as Jesusdoes.
(c) Yet the text saith not that we are of one spirit, but we are one spirit. This is a matter to be understood only by the spiritual mind, and not to be expounded in words. “I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one.” We have known on earth friends who have become one spirit; intimacy and mutual admiration have ripened friendship into unity, till the one seemed to be the complement of the other; one soul in two bodies.
(2) The branch and the stem, which are one vine, and are nothing separated from each other, their life one and their design one.
(3) The member and the body. If there be life in this finger, it is identically the same life that is in the head; and so in the whole Church the life and Spirit of Christ are the life and spirit of His people.
II. A manifest grace.
1. To be one spirit with Christ much more is needed than--
(1) To bear the Christian name. Call a poppy a rose and you will not thereby give it perfume.
(2) Mere outward profession. Ye may be baptized in water, but unless ye are baptized into the Holy Ghost, ye know not what union with Christ is, for Simon Magus though baptized had no part nor lot in the matter.
(3) The performance of some apparently good actions and the use of religious words in conversation. The superficial, the nominal, and the outward will not suffice. Deep down in the very vitals of our being must this union with Jesus Christ most eminently reside.
2. As an illustration of what unity of spirit is take that rare conjugal union of those who realise the highest ideal of the married life founded in pure love and cemented in mutual esteem. Their wishes blend, their hearts are indivisible. By degrees they come very much to think the same thoughts. Intimate association creates conformity. So the true Christian grows to think as Christ thinks till the teachings of Jesus are plain to him. Blessed consummation when their hearts at last are all wrapped up in Jesus, even as the bush at Horeb was all on fire with God!
3. Where such union exists, what does it produce? They who are thus one spirit with Christ live--
(1) For the same end--God’s glory.
(2) For the same reason--the love of the Father.
(3) By the same means. By the conversion of souls: not by being made a king, not by being called rabbi.
(4) By the use of the same modes-teaching, preaching, living, suffering, and dying. Some nowadays seem tired of Christ’s plans, and hunt up more rapid methods. Jesus never strained after effect by animal excitement.
(5) With the same emotions. Oh that we felt as He did the weight of souls, the guilt of sin, the terror of the wrath to come, and the tenderness of Divine mercy!
4. Let me add that if we are fully joined to our Lord, and of one spirit with Him, we shall have--
(1) The same tastes. What He loves will charm us, what He hates we shall loathe.
(2) The same will.
(3) Oneness of aim in our service of God. We have a dozen aims now, but if we were of one spirit with Jesus we should have but one object in life.
(4) Great force and fervour. Our prayers would be very different from what they are, and our public service of God would never be so sleepy as it now is.
(5) Abiding pertinacity. Defeated in one place we should try in another.
(6) Wonderful serenity of spirit. We should not be disturbed with little, petty remarks of men, nor should we even be moved by great calamities.
Conclusion:
1. A word of rebuke. We have been joined to Christ, but have we been manifestly one spirit with Him? Angry--was that Christ’s spirit? Worldly--was that Christ’s spirit?
2. A word of hope. We want to have the same spirit as Christ. Well, our hope is that we shall have it, for we are joined to the Lord, and he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The true believer’s union with Christ
I. The explication of this truth.
1. Who are “true believers”?
(1) Not such as are united unto Christ by a mere external profession, sacramental admission, or presumptuous persuasion (Joh_2:23-24). These are dead branches (Joh_15:2). sapless stakes in the Church’s hedge, wooden legs of Christ’s body (2Ti_3:5; Rev_3:1).
(2) But such as are united unto Christ by internal implantation. Living, fruit-bearing branches (Joh_15:5); so that now Christ is in them, and they in Christ (Joh_17:21; Joh_17:23).
2. What kind of union is this?
(1) Negatively.
(a) Not a ,corporeal union. Christ is in heaven (Act_1:11; Act_3:21), we on earth.
(b) Not a hypostatical, personal union; such as that of the Divine and human natures in the person of Christ. Believers make not one person with Christ, but “one body” (1Co_12:13); and that not one body natural, but mystical.
(c) Not an essential, substantial union; not such an union as makes believers in any wise partakers of the substance of Christ’s Godhead.
(d) Not such an union as mounts up believers to an equality with Christ in any respect. “In all things He hath,” and must have, “the pre-eminence” (Col_1:18).
(2) Positively.
(a) A spiritual union.
(b) A mystical, profound union (Eph_5:32; Joh_17:20).
(c) And yet a true, real union. Not a fancy only (Eph_5:30). As the head communicates real influences to the body, so Christ communicates to us His Spirit and graces (Joh_1:16).
(d) An intimate union. Like that of the food with the body which it nourisheth (Joh_6:54).
(e) A perpetual, indissoluble union (Rom_8:35).
3. What are the efficient causes of this union? They are--
(1) Principal. This great work ascribed--
(a) To the whole Godhead (chap. 1:9: 1Pe_5:10; Joh_6:44-45; Eph_2:6-7).
(b) But more especially to the Spirit of God. He it is that knits this marriage-knot (1Co_12:13; Tit_3:5).
(2) Less principal, or the means or instruments of union.
(a) Outward. Generally all the ordinances of God (Zec_4:12). More especially--First, the word read, preached, meditated on, believed, improved. Second, the sacraments. Those spiritual seals and labels which God hath fixed to His covenant of grace.
(b) Inward faith. Not a bare historical, dead faith; but a living, working, justifying, saving faith (Eph_3:17; Joh_1:12; 1Co_6:56; Gal_2:20).
II. Confirmation. That there is such a union appears--
1. From those many equivalent expressions whereby the Scriptures hold forth this union.
(1) Christ is said to “be in” believers (Col_1:27; Rom_8:10), to “dwell in” them (Eph_3:17), to “walk in” them (2Co_6:16).
(2) Believers are said to “abide in” Christ (Joh_15:7), to “dwell in” Christ (Joh_6:56; 1Jn_4:16), to “put on” Christ (Gal_3:27).
2. From those several similitudes by which the Scriptures shadow out this union. Believers are said to be--
(1) “Lively stones” (1Pe_2:4-6), Christ, the living “foundation, the chief corner-stone,” on which they are built (Eph_2:20-21).
(2) “Branches” of Christ, “the true vine,” into whom they are engrafted, and in whom they bring forth fruit (Joh_15:1; Joh_15:5).
(3) The loyal, affectionate “spouse” of Christ (Eph_5:31-32; Son_2:16; Son_5:1).
(4) Christ’s “body” (Eph_1:23; Eph_5:30), Christ being the believers’ “Head” (1Co_1:22). In a word, the Head and mystical body are called “Christ” (1Co_12:12).
3. From that communion which there is betwixt Christ and true believers.
(1) Believers communicate with Christ--
(a) In “His fulness” (Joh_1:16).
(b) In His merits (2Co_5:21).
(c) In His life and graces (1Co_1:2).
(d) In His privileges and dignities. Is He a King, a Priest? So are believers (Rev_1:6; 1Pe_2:9). Is He a Son, an Heir, by nature? Saints are so by adoption (Rom_8:17).
(e) In His victories (Rom_8:37).
(f) In His triumphs and glory; they share with Him in His throne. All that believers are, is from the grace of Christ (1Co_15:10; Php_4:13), so that they do not so properly live, as Christ in them (Gal_2:20).
(2) Christ communicates in the believers’ graces. All that they are is from Christ; and therefore all that they have is to Christ; what they receive in mercy they return in duty.
III. Application. Information. Are believers thus closely united unto Christ? Hence see--
(1) The crimson dye of their sin, who oppose and persecute them. In touching them, they “touch the apple of His eye” (Zec_2:8).
(2) The quality of Christ’s love to them beyond and above all others (Eph_3:18-19).
(3) The high honour which Christ casts upon them--an honour not vouchsafed to heaven’s courtiers, the angels. They are Christ’s servants, subjects; not His members.
(4) Their stability and perseverance in their estate of grace.
(5) A cogent and conclusive argument for their resurrection (chap. 15:12-23). If the Head be got above, surely the body shall not always lie under, water.
2. Examination. To ascertain whether there be such a union betwixt our souls and Christ, let us ask--
(1) Hath Christ given unto you His Holy Spirit (Rom_8:9; 1Jn_3:24). Now this Spirit is--
(a) A praying Spirit (Zec_12:10).
(b) A mourning Spirit.
(c) A sanctifying Spirit (1Co_6:11; 1Pe_1:2).
(2) Doth “Christ dwell in thy heart by faith”? (Eph_3:17.) Namely, by such a faith as purifies the heart, works by love and overcomes the world.
(3) Dost thou “crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts”? They that are united unto Christ do so (Gal_5:24; Rom_8:13).
(4) Art thou “a new creature”? He that is in Christ is so (2Co_5:17). Hast thou a new head, heart, lip, life?
(5) Dost thou bring forth fruit? Every branch in Christ is a fruit-bearing branch (Joh_15:5; Php_1:11).
3. Consolation.
(1) With relation to Christ, to whom believers are united. On their union with Him, there redounds to them a peculiar interest--
(a) In Christ’s person. Christ Himself is theirs (Jer_32:38; Isa_9:6).
(b) In Christ’s properties. Has Christ an arm of power? It is for your protection. Has He an eye of knowledge? It is for your direction. Has He a stock, a treasury, of perfect righteousness? It is for your justification, &c.
(c) In Christ’s promises (2Pe_1:4). Which are the believers’ Magna Charta, to the confirmation whereof God has been pleased to add both His oath and blood for seals (Heb_6:17-18).
(d) in all Christ’s providences (Rom_8:28).
(e) In all (1Co_3:22-23).
(2) With respect to believers themselves. In a threefold regard; namely, of their persons, graces, duties.
4. Exhortation.
(1) To sinners, that are as yet “without Christ, God, hope in this world” (Eph_2:12). Be persuaded to give your eyes no sleep till you are united to Christ! Consider--
(a) The dreadful, dismal danger of thy present estate. A soul not united unto Christ lies open to all danger imaginable.
(b) Christ’s condescending willingness to be united to thee.
(2) To saints that are united to Christ.
(a) Be very fearful of that which may in any sort weaken your union with Christ.
