Living Union

[NetChaplain]

When I realize that I am in living union with the Lord Jesus Christ I am so identified with His interests that they become paramount to me. Few know it. Every distinct truth has its own characteristics. Christians in general are characterized by the knowledge of Jesus as their Savior; they praise God for the blessings of salvation. But the leading characteristic of union is, that your individuality is combined with the Lord Jesus; you belong entirely to another. The bride is merged with the Bridegroom.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Pet 3:18). The man (old man, e.g. sinful nature—NC) under judgement has been removed* in the condemnation of the Cross, and you are brought to God as a new creation*. All that stood against you has been cleared away to God’s infinite satisfaction, and like the prodigal son, you are at home in the Father’s house. The Son of God has fully accomplished this infinite work, and here you must begin.

There is a grievous leaven in the church today, a great defect in the preaching of the Gospel. The Savior’s death is presented to the soul after the manner of the Law, where the pious Jew found relief for his immediate sins, but he still retained himself, the man which is at enmity to God. The illustration of a man pressed for the army, and finding a substitute to stand in his stead is not the Gospel.

The Gospel is that you are under the judgment of death, and that the Lord Jesus Christ has borne the judgment, not that you should keep the man who was under judgement, but that you should be completely severed from him (it—NC) in your death with Christ. “Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” The being who sinned* must go in judgement - not forgiven, but crucified (Rom 6:6—NC). It is not renouncing your bad works; every Christian would be ready for that; but are you ready to see all that is nice and amiable in you under the judgement of God?

The man who was under the judgement of God has been judicially terminated in the Cross, and the Man Christ Jesus so glorified the Father in the most distant spot, that He was “raised from the dead by the glory of the Father.” He is glorified, and now the Father is free to go out to the most distant spot, to a Saul of Tarsus, and receive him to Himself. He who measured my distance is the One who is the measure of my nearness!

The present issue is, “Is the man who was under the judgement of God, and who is removed from God’s eye in the Cross of His Son, gone from your side*? It is not only that you believe that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, but that you are now on the field of battle as clear as He is. “As He is, so are we in this world” (1 Jhn 4:17).

How are you free from the dominion of sin? You have died (the old man is only crucified but not dead—NC) with Christ unto sin (Col 3:3). You have changed your man; you have passed in death from Adam to Christ. You have died with Him who died unto sin* and you are one with Him in His resurrection and ascension* (presently positioned with Him in both, they being inevitable to occur—NC). Hence you are told to believe—“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11). The Spirit progressively makes your reckoning a reality. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Rom 8:2; Gal 5:1) – (also, God—through “the Spirit Himself”—will always confirm to us that we are His children – Rom 8:16—NC).

- J B Stoney




Poster’s Opinion:

* “removed”: restrained but not eradicated.

* “new creation”: new nature added.

* “the being who sinned”: you in your old nature – Rom 7:17, 20.

* “all that is nice and amiable in you”: everything we might ignorantly consider to be good but actually isn’t.

* “gone from your side”: e.g. no longer dominating you, of which all reborn will eventually learn.

* “have died with Him who died unto sin”: only the Lord Jesus can “die unto sin.” This makes the believer “dead unto sin,” and how could one die unto that which he is already dead?

Will one born again ever have the desire to sin?—impossibly no! (Phil 2:13). This means those who profess faith and live (whether now are eventually) “after the sinful nature” have yet to undergo God’s “work” in them. This would be the result of never having been born again because He “conforms” all who are redeemed (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).




Excerpt from MJS devotional for Oct. 13:

“Our Father is ‘a very present help in trouble.’ We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. He was even in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is past; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible.”
None But The Hungry Heart

 

[B-A-C]

When I realize that I am in living union with the Lord Jesus Christ I am so identified with His interests that they become paramount to me.

Living in "Union" isn't something you "realize". It's something you strive for. You will never be 100% like Jesus on this side of heaven.
Also it isn't a one-time thing, but something we have to choose to do daily.

But the leading characteristic of union is, that your individuality is combined with the Lord Jesus; you belong entirely to another.

You belong to Him, yes... some people confused this with being saved. You were bought with a price, you were chosen.
(Judas was chosen also)

There is a grievous leaven in the church today, a great defect in the preaching of the Gospel. The Savior’s death is presented to the soul after the manner of the Law,

Hmmm... I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this statement, but Jesus's death was to fulfill the law. Not replace it.
He was the sacrifice for our sins, just as animal sacrifices in the old covenant "paid" for their sins.

We are told to take up our cross "daily". We don't die (to self) only once. It is a decision we have to make everyday.

This means those who profess faith and live (whether now are eventually) “after the sinful nature” have yet to undergo God’s “work” in them. This would be the result of never having been born again because He “conforms” all who are redeemed

Yes, we are "being" transformed if we yield to God and let Him change us.

The man who was under the judgement of God has been judicially terminated in the Cross,

Where does the Bible say God crucifies us? It is us that has to do this. It is our obedience that has to do this.

We are certainly capable of going back to the sinful life. God doesn't stop you if that's what you choose to do.

 

[NetChaplain]

Living in "Union" isn't something you "realize". It's something you strive for.

Hi BAC! Always good to communicate with you (though we often have different beliefs) because I know you're sincere concerning the Word and us living by it according to where our present understanding rests, and that we can know that our debates aren't self-centered but rather for getting at the truth of Scripture, right? As usual I believe you are replying with interesting comments. Concerning one's union with God it is here where we most significantly disagree because I also believe this is the most important doctrine concerning spiritual growth truths of the Scriptures--the permanency of faith and salvation. I remember it took me about 15 years of my now 40 years of Christian study and walk to realize this and still don't know why it tool me that long.

Anyway, to address the issue of unity with God, I've learned that this is permanently established upon receiving faith from Him. According to Phil 2:13 no one born again could ever desire to return to the self-life of sin, because this is precisely what God "works" against in those reborn. Therefore if anyone (now or eventually) truly manifests evidence of living in the old life again (as it will inevitably manifest of which we are) it evinces the absence of God of ever having been in one's life, because He "works" in every single one redeemed.

I see passages like "departing from the faith," or "fallen from grace" etc., as one departing from or falling away from, not received faith or received grace but from a false pursuit of them. You can leave the teaching of Christ's gospel, but not the belief and acceptance of it.

You will never be 100% like Jesus on this side of heaven.
Also it isn't a one-time thing, but something we have to choose to do daily.

We weren't meant to be like like Him in every way in this life, or God would have done it all differently, because He knew what would occur. What transpires is what He knows ahead of its occurrence and has already planned its use "for good," according to His own purpose.

Also, as we know, that we do not need to be exactly like Jesus (sinless), hence His Cross-work for us. I've found it more restful to realize everything that has to do with effecting salvation can only come by Christ. All we can do is receive it and be used by Him to manifest it. I agree that our choosing to put God first is mandatory, but this He always "works" in us to "desire and do" (according to the above passage).

You belong to Him, yes... some people confuse this with being saved. You were bought with a price, you were chosen (Judas was chosen also).

I think the phrase "belong to Him" needs commentated on, which I understand to mean if anyone belongs to Jesus he will be "drawn," and He knows who will resist and refuse and those who will believe and accept, which are those who belong to Him, because those who disbelieve do not belong to Him.

"Ye are bought with a price" (i.e. 1Co 6:20) is reference only to those whose "body is the temple of the Holy Ghost" (v 19). Concerning Judas, the "chosen" place he had was in the Apostleship only, not in faith and salvation (Jhn 6:70, 71). He was never born again like the other 11, because Jesus knew he would be used of the devil; which He knew "from the beginning" (Jhn 6:64). There are other evidences of those being used of God that weren't born again (i.e. Mat 7:22, 23).

Hmmm... I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this statement, but Jesus's death was to fulfill the law. Not replace it.

To me "fulfill" meant "finish" (Jhn 19:30), complete or end its prophecy. I do not see it as a replacement but a totally New Covenant. The prior Covenant was limited to the nation of Israel until Jesus came, so there was intended a new one for all. Also, only in the New Covenant could sin be "taken away," not just forgiven, which is all the Law could do because it could not "take away sins" (Heb 10:11).

Yes, we are "being" transformed if we yield to God and let Him change us.

I still see that He "works" this continuous desire in us to transform and conform.

"Where does the Bible say God crucifies us? It is us that has to do this. It is our obedience that has to do this. We are certainly capable of going back to the sinful life. God doesn't stop you if that's what you choose to do.

Same answers as above (Phil 2:13). Once born again we will never choose to leave. If God is in us He will "work" in us, thus how could one choose otherwise? Wouldn't seem sensible.

Where does the Bible say God crucifies us? It is us that has to do this. It is our obedience that has to do this.

When we receive faith and salvation, we are "crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20) in our "old nature" (Rom 6:6).

God's blessings to my Brother!