Union And Communion:

by J. DORRICOTT | Category: Union And Communion: | Sept 1952

We have before us two blessed subjects, and may the Holy Spirit guide the one who writes, and open the hearts of those who read, so that, like the two disciples whom the Lord joined on their way to Emmaus, we may be able to say, "Was not our heart burning within us while He spake to us in the way, while He opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24.32).

We desire first to show our eternal union with Christ ; joined, inseparably joined, to our risen, glorified Head, who ever liveth before the face of God for us. This uniting bond, which never can be broken, is that. which is all of grace, all of His love and mercy, something done for us through the sovereign mercy and kindness of God and in which we had no part at all save to believe.

We cannot speak of our union with Christ without referring first to the fact that He became like unto us, sin excepted (i.e., apart from sin). His deep humiliation in becoming man can only be measured by the height from which He came, and the glory which He had with the Father ere the world began. "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1.14). "Since then the children are sharers in flesh. and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same" (Hebrews 2. 14).

We stand and adore, as we behold Him who is the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, stooping in wondrous grace and becoming man; taking that sinless body with a view to the death of the cross, in order that we might be one with Him now and for all eternity. Well indeed may our hearts rejoice and sing !

"We bless and praise Thee, gracious God,

For giving Thine own

Who did partake of flesh and blood

In all our sorrows one.

Well may we wonder at the thought

That Christ came down so low,

That He so near to us was brought

To understand our woe !"

That blessed, spotless life, fragrant as it was to God, and full of mercy and blessing to men, did not avail for us, as to meeting our need as sinners or bringing us nigh unto God. Though that life was to God as a perfect meal offering, it was in His atoning death, it was in the out-pouring of His life upon the cross, it was when He became the burnt offering, and the sin and trespass offering; yea, it was when He was made sin for us (Him who knew no sin) that we see atonement made, reconciliation effected, God's righteous demands satisfied, and through the death of the cross, and through that alone, we who believe are constituted the righteousness of God in Him. It all comes to us by way of the cross: Blessed be His name! We are united to Him through His death and glorious resurrection, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us use an illustration. The first Adam, when made by God, was alone. Though he was lord of all on earth and gave to every animal a name, yet amongst all these created things there was found no help meet for him. God caused a deep sleep +0 fall upon him, and out from his side He took a rib and He builded a woman, and when Adam awoke out of that which was figurative by a sleep of death, he beheld the woman whom God had made for him. And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2.23). "From him, for him made." Turn your eyes now to the last Adam, the second Man, the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15.). He was Lord of all, He was "the Son", the brightness of the Father's glory, Heir of all things, all things made by Him and for Him. Though He was Lord of all by divine right, yet apart from the death of the cross, that sleep of death, He would, like Adam, have been alone, with no Church, no Bride to share the glory and the inheritance with Him. But now through that riven side, opened for us; through that atoning death, the Church is being built by Him, a Bride is being prepared-He shall "present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, ... This mystery is great, but I speak in regard of Christ and of the Church" (Ephesians 5.27, 32).

J. DORRICOTT | Sept 1952
Union And Communion: