“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
Ephesians 5:29-32
“The idea here is, that there is a close and intimate union between the Christian and the Savior – a union so intimate that they may be spoken of as “one.'” Barnes
1Corinthians 6:17 adds,” But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. “
Rankin Wilbourne defines union with Christ as follows: “. . . union with Christ means that you are in Christ and Christ is in you” .In four verses, Colossians 3:1-4, Paul hints at union with Christ four times:
- raised with Christ
- For you have died
- your life is hidden with Christ in God
- Christ who is your life
Vital to our Christian living, being “joined to Christ” explains, for our realization and correct thinking, the basis for our life. The Apostle Paul exclaimed, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”‘ A life without this vital union to Christ is a life alienated from God, which sort of thinking Paul warns believers against in Ephesians 4:17-19. Essentially a believer can still think and operate as an unsaved Gentle, and can be deceived into thinking that way.
Gentiles (the unsaved world) walk,
- in the vanity of their mind,
- Having the understanding darkened,
- being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,
- because of the blindness of their heart:
- Who being past feeling
- have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
They, “labor to no purpose. “prophesying vain things,” things which God will not bring to pass.” Perception is darkened, they revolt against their moral light given to every man, becoming agnostics, because of a callousness to their identity, and senseless, shameless, hopeless and intemperate — reckless readiness for it, and for every self-indulgence”.
When John spoke of our union with Christ in 1John 4:17, he wrote it this way, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. ”
This speaks of a positional truth which is our possession eternally.
“our oneness with Him, even now is, in His exalted position above” JFB
As Ephesians 2:4-6 teaches:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: “
And also because:
” …so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. “Romans 6:3-4
Friends, closeness to Christ and actual union with Him premise our entire understanding of our walk with God. I must walk circumspectly, in the light, in love; but all by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. See Galatians 2:20
Beloved,
“Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.” 1Thessalonians 5:24
Thanks be to God, this Person, Christ, will perform the thing concerning us, Job 23:14
As we draw nigh unto God, He will draw nigh unto us.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. “James 4:8-10
Walk in sync with the one who is your life. He will provide the life skills.. Fight for it , submit yourself unto God, resist the devil — he will flee. Love ya
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