Union With God
The sermon explains how union with God is made possible through the sacrifice of Christ and is effectuated through the Holy Ghost.
G.W. North emphasizes the significance of union with God, tracing the concept of reconciliation from the Trinity's eternal counsel to its manifestation in Christ Jesus. He explains that the Old Testament sacrificial system symbolized God's covering of sin until the ultimate sacrifice was made by Jesus, who bore humanity's sin and established righteousness. This union is not only a theological concept but is made real through the work of the Holy Spirit and is expressed in the act of Communion. North highlights that this divine union is rooted in the oneness of the Trinity and is essential for believers to experience true reconciliation with God.
Text
After leaving Egypt, except during the Passover, no man but he who belonged to the family of Aaron was a priest in Israel. During that era the heavily-veiled presence of God testified to the nation that everything was covered, Even the substitutionary lambs and blood, and all offerings for atonement, gracious as they showed God to be, declared God's policy of covering sin until He who was the unique and original Lamb should come and shed His reconciling blood. At that time being made man's sin, He completely bore it away and making man God's righteousness, brought him into union with God.
The thought of reconciliation started in the counsels of the Trinity in the heart of God; just when we cannot tell.
Conceived originally in the mind and will of God, it had for its foundation the oneness of the Trinity. Brought to earth in the incarnation, it was displayed to perfection in the union of God and man in the Man-God, Christ Jesus. Later it was effected for man by God in Christ at Calvary and is now made effectual to man in the Holy Ghost. This effect is finally displayed by man and God in Communion.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Old Testament Type of Union with God
- A. Covered by the Veil of God's Presence
- B. Covered by the Substitutionary Lambs and Blood
- C. Covered by Offerings for Atonement
- II. The Fulfillment of Union with God in Christ
- A. Christ Becomes Man's Sin
- B. Christ Bears Away Man's Sin
- C. Christ Makes Man God's Righteousness
- III. The Effectual Display of Union with God
- A. In the Holy Ghost
- B. In Communion
Key Quotes
“At that time being made man's sin, He completely bore it away and making man God's righteousness, brought him into union with God.” — G.W. North
“This effect is finally displayed by man and God in Communion.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We can experience union with God through the sacrifice of Christ.
- The Holy Ghost makes union with God effectual to man.
- Communion is a display of the effectual union between man and God.