26 Perfect Union

Perfect Union The heart of Jesus is so set upon his people, that only the highest honors and the greatest blessings will satisfy him for them. No one but Jesus could have asked for what he did. No one but his Father could or would bestow such blessings on them. Oh, the dignity desired, the glory sought for them! He acknowledges that he had given them his acquired glory, the glory which the Father had given him; and now he reveals his design in so doing — that their union may be perfect: "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:23) The Nature of this Union. The Father is in Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Christ is in his Church, yes, in each believer, as Paul prayed, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Christ is in his people — as the Father is in him. The Father was in Jesus as the source of life; as he says, "As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father; so he who eats me, even he shall live by me." If, therefore, we receive Christ, if we feed on him as the living bread, he becomes a source of life within us, and we live by him. Oh, marvelous mystery! Yet the apostle realized it, as he said, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I — but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The Father was in Jesus sustaining him; as he spoke by the prophet, "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him." So we being in Christ are sustained and preserved by him; as Jude states, commencing his brief epistle, "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called."

Noah was not more preserved in the ark,
nor Lot in Zoar,
nor the manslayer in the city of refuge,
nor the branch in the vine —
than believers are preserved and sustained in Christ. The Father was in Christ working; as he said to Philip, "the Father that dwells in me, he does the works." So it is our union to Christ, and receiving from Christ, that enables us to do good works; as he said, "I am the vine, you are the branches: he who abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." This was the source of Paul’s great strength, and the ground of all his wondrous achievements; as he testified, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." Oh, glorious union! the Father in Christ, and Christ in us as the source of life, strength, and operation! The End of this Union: As to themselves — that they may be . . .
perfectly one with God, in the highest and most glorious sense;
perfectly one with Christ, dwelling in him, and he dwelling in them;
perfectly one with each other, the whole forming one perfect, compact, and complete body. As it is written, "He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." This is the destiny of the Church of Christ — to be one complete, perfect, and glorious body. On this the Savior set his heart, for this he prays, and with this only will he be satisfied. As to the world — that it may be thoroughly convinced of the divinity of the Savior’s mission. Before, he prayed "that the world may believe that you have sent me" — now, that "the world may know that you have sent me." Not only so — but that the world may know the great privilege of the saints. Christ is the first object of God’s love; as he said, speaking of God going forth in the great work of creation, "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him." So also the Father testified at his baptism, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He is, therefore, called "his dear Son," or "the Son of his love." The God who loves the Head — loves the members. The Father who loves the Son — loves the saints. He loves them — because he loves Christ. He loves them as he loves Christ — with the same paternal love. Is Christ his Son? they are his children. Is Christ his image? they put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. His love to Christ was eternal; and so was his love to them. His love to Christ was tender; and so was his love to them. His love to Christ was unchangeable; and so was his love to them. His love to Christ was passing knowledge; and so was his love to them.

He manifested his love to Christ by opening his mind to him: "The Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does." Just so Jesus dealt with his disciples: "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father — I have made known unto you." Thus "the secret of the Lord is with those who fear him, and he will show them his covenant." Here is one proof of his love — his heart is with us, he opens his mind, and tells his secrets to us.

Another proof of his love is, he bestows gifts. "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand" — "All things are delivered unto me by my Father." Just so with us: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world — but the Spirit who is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Does the Father reveal his secrets to his Son? So he does to us. Does he bestow the choicest, richest gifts on his Son? So he does on us. Did he assist his Son? He works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Did he accept his Son and award him the most honorable place in Heaven? So he has made us accepted in the Beloved. Did he reward his Son, giving him the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession? So will he reward us; as Jesus says, "If any man serves me — him will my Father honor."

Oh, how blessed to be loved of God! — to be loved as Jesus is — to be blessed as Jesus is — to be one with Jesus, and one with God for evermore!

Observe, Christ is ever between the Father and us. Let us always bear this in mind.

If we do anything, let us do it in Christ’s name;
if we present anything to God, let us present it in Christ’s name;
if we expect anything from God, let us expect it in Christ’s name.

Nothing less than perfect union will satisfy Jesus. Let us, therefore, make it our aim — let us in every possible way strive for it, and let us look forward and joyfully anticipate it. Happiness flows from union — from union with God — from union with Christ — from union with the Lord’s people. No union — no happiness. Imperfect union — imperfect happiness.

If God loves us as he loves his Son — then we should be patient in affliction, for no affliction will befall us but what is in accordance with his love. The knowledge of this fact should impart joy in sorrow; for however trying our circumstances may be, the thought of this wondrous love should raise us above them.

It also demands our confidence, and our confidence in God at all times; for if God loves us, and loves us as he does Jesus, will he, can he, withhold any good thing from us? Will he not fulfill his Word? Will he not secure our best interests? Will he not sympathize with us — let what will happen to us. Will he not raise us up, and place us before his throne forever? And if God so loves us — we ought to love him in return, and to manifest our love by seeking . . .
to live near to him,
to walk with him, and
to enjoy close and constant fellowship with him.

So, also, we should love one another. Love brings the Lord’s people together, and keeps them together. As we are all one in Christ, we should seek to be united to all who are in union with him. As Jesus desires that we should all through him be one with the Father, we also should desire the same.

Instead of being satisfied with a low state of spirituality — we should seek to rise high in the enjoyment of divine things. We cannot long for holiness too ardently. We cannot desire or seek to realize oneness with God in Christ too earnestly. Our fault is, we are satisfied with too little. O to be enabled to rise higher and higher — to seek more and more, until we are "filled with all the fullness of God"! This is our privilege, and this ought to be our pursuit. On this our hearts should be set, and for this we should daily believe, strive, and pray. God’s wondrous love gives us every encouragement to do so.

Father of mercies and God of all grace — I bless you, I praise you, I adore and magnify your holy name, for loving me at all! but oh, how shall I suitably and sufficiently praise you for loving me — as you have loved your only-begotten Son?

Holy Spirit, write — write this great, this glorious truth upon my soul; and in all seasons of sorrow, in all times of tribulation, and in the article of death, whisper these words of Jesus to my spirit, "You have loved them — as you have loved ME." Oh for faith to believe, to realize, to enjoy this astounding truth — that God loves me, a worm, an atom, a nothing — as he loves his own glorious Son!