NOTHING so comforts, elevates, and humbles the soul as the grace of God. It is the spring of peace, holiness, and praise. Its depth―meeting us “when we were dead in sins” its length and breadth― removing “our transgressions from us,” as far as the east is from the west: and its height—raising us up and making us “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” proclaim the “perfect love” of God, which passeth knowledge. Blessed, indeed it is, in any measure, to appreciate Immanuel’s love; unspeakably sweet to taste that rich mercy which brought Christ down to die for the ungodly; very consoling to enter into the divine mind concerning the full and free forgiveness of all our sins; but, it is the spiritual understanding of that grace which has “joined” us unto the Lord, and made us one spirit with Him who is at the right hand of God, that fills our souls with settled peace, and strengthens and stablishes our faith and hope in God.
How rich and plenteous the mercy of the Lord is! It is high even as the heaven is above the earth (Psalm 103:1111For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (Psalm 103:11)). It is sovereign, “therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy” (Rom. 9:1818Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (Romans 9:18)). It is eternal, “for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him,” &c. (Psalm 103:1717But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; (Psalm 103:17)). It is fixed “according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)). It is secure, for “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:33For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)). It is safe, because “God abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:1313If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)). It is both present and effectual, for, it is written, “there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)), “now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)), “ye are complete in Him” (Col. 2:1010And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)); and such as receive this grace are objects of the Lord’s affection and delight, for “He taketh pleasure In them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:1111The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. (Psalm 147:11)).
It is in this new and heavenly relationship and standing, into which the believer is brought, that the grace of God is so richly displayed; though the enjoyment of it is known only to faith: ― “we have access, by faith, into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom. 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)). By nature we were all “children of wrath even as others:” we “were all dead,” on account of union with the first Adam; we were children of the wicked one, born in sin, and had a carnal mind which was enmity against God. But the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, took us out of that old standing, and brought us into a new one―He “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)); we have passed from death unto life (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). We are not now dead in sins, but alive unto God, “joined unto the Lord” by His quickening Spirit, and “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)), so that He dwelleth in us, and we in Him (John 6:5656He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (John 6:56)). Thus God hath made Christ “unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:30, 3130But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:30‑31)).
It is because of this union with Christ, that the believer is spoken of in the Scriptures as having died and risen again―as having been crucified with Christ, and that Christ liveth in him; for He, who never could have died on His own account, “died for us,” the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God. By drinking all the cup of wrath which our sins deserved, by being made sin and a curse for us, by fulfilling every jot and tittle of the law; “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” and by giving us LIFE by His own quickening Spirit, we are united to Him who is raised from the dead; and “he that is joined unto the Lord is woe spirit.” Therefore, the Holy Ghost thus exhorts us, “Let not sin reign in your mortal body;” having in the preceding verse directed our souls into the true position of faith, saying, “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:1111Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)). Christ, having died unto sin once, dieth no more; and His people, having died in Him, now live unto God.
With Him we died upon the tree;
In Him we live above.
It is also on this account that the believer has new relationships, new responsibilities, and a new experience―he is a new creature in Christ Jesus. The risen Son a God is his Life, Righteousness, Strength, Hiding-place, Deliverer, Husband, Friend, Master, Way to God, Joy, Hope, Glory, &c. &c. He lives by the faith of Jesus, and walks in Him, knowing that all His springs are in Him. He has no happiness apart from Jesus; and peace and consolation, at all times, in the light of His gracious countenance; and his spirit is sustained and his goings are established by the unchangeable love and faithfulness of God his Saviour. How sweet to think that ―
While all things change, He changes not,
He ne’er forgets, though oft forgot;
His love’s unchangeably the same,
And as enduring as His name!
The believer’s contemplation of the sufferings and death of Christ increases his hatred of sin, for in that cross he sees the just judgment of it in the light of divine holiness; and the apprehension that he himself has been crucified and slain with Him, not only teaches him the utterly corrupt character of the flesh, but gives him power practically over it, and casts him with confidence upon that fullness which is treasured up for us in our risen and glorified Head.
Further, it is being “joined unto the Lord” that is the power of all fruit-bearing, by which we can do all things through Christ strengthening us, though without Him we can do nothing. Hence the need of practically living in communion with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and drawing new supplies by prayer and faith. Nothing can compensate for a lack of personal communion with God. The object of all ministry of the Word is to lead our souls into deeper and more abiding fellowship and walk with God. Our greatest danger is to imagine we can do without it, and thus be weak as others. There may be fleshly energy of a religions form, but it is not Christ-like—not spiritual. Our high and holy calling and standing in Christ Jesus, believingly known, inspires us with dictate for that which is carnal, and strengthens us to mortify our earthly and sensual propensities―to put off the old man, and to put on the new.
It is also as “risen with Christ,” that we are exhorted to exhibit this new life in every family relationship. The spiritual husband and wife are to represent Christ and the Church, both as regards love and subjection: parents are to train their children as Christ does: children to honor and obey their parents as “the holy child” did His Father: masters are to rule as knowing they have a Master in heaven, and servants to obey after the pattern of Him who did not His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him.
The same truth applies to our walk toward them that are without. We are exhorted to walk wisely, according to the example of Him “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” and who said of us, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)). It is because we are united to Him, whom the world crucified and the Father glorified, that we should be imitators of Him who died for the ungodly, but had no fellowship with them; and as we follow the steps of this Faithful Witness, our new life will freely flow forth to the glory of God. We are to walk in Him, who was “separate from sinners.”
It is also as the Church of the Living God that we are specially responsible for manifesting that we are “joined unto the Lord,” and “one spirit.” We are to remember our common salvation, our life, our union and standing in Christ Jesus; that there is one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, &c. (Eph. 4:4-64There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4‑6).) As members of His body we are to know no man after the flesh, for Christ is all and in all; and never to let slip the truth, that because there is one spirit and one body, there is not only the Lord’s unceasing sympathy with us, but that there is also such sympathy between all those that are Christ’s, that “if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it,” &c. (1 Cor. 12:2626And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)); so that the daily walk and conduct of each member necessarily affects the whole body. We are, therefore, to maintain our family character as holy and elect brethren; to love one another as Christ has loved us; to forgive as Christ forgave us; to be holy as He is holy; to suffer for His sake, walk together in His steps, assemble together in His name, and so to show forth that we are truly and really one in Christ, that the world may believe that the Father sent Jesus (John 17:2121That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)). It is quite true, as we have already seen, that we are spiritually one in Christ risen, but it is the will of God that this living unity should be so realized, cherished, and manifested by us, that we should condemn all contention, strife, and division, be of one heart and one soul, and aim at being “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:1010Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)). Let us beware of saying this cannot be, but rather let us trust in Him with whom all things are possible, and receive the Spirit’s admonition to be of “the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:22I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2)), that with one mind and one mouth we may glorify God (Rom. 15:66That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:6)). True it is, that in the day of Christ the unity of the Church will be manifested in perfect and eternal beauty, and the world will then know that the Father has loved us, even as He loved Jesus; but the opportunity for the world to believe unto salvation will then be past; and the thought is very solemn.
How little we exemplify that we are “joined unto the Lord” and “one spirit!” Yet, for any little measure of it, let us thank God, and “strengthen the things which remain.” We may rest assured that any scriptural efforts thus to glorify God are very precious to Him who says, “If in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Phil. 3:1515Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:15)). Let us, beloved, seek to cultivate it! Let us diligently promote, according to the Scriptures, fellowship in the spirit with all saints, and “whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Phil. 3:1616Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. (Philippians 3:16)).
Lastly, it is because we are bound in “the bundle of life,” that “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)). Every member of His body shall then be manifested without spot and blameless, whether they have slept in Jesus, or are alive and remain (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)). How perfect the scene will then be! Not a little one shall be absent or marred, for not a bone of Him was broken. How exceeding rich will be the testimony in that day, that “he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit!”
DISCIPLINE. ―Whilst the Church of God should have no place for sin, it should have a place for, and should set a value upon, every member of Christ’s body. We should remember it is God’s Church, carry all difficulties to God and to Christ, and manage them not ourselves.