A Part in Christ

    What is it to have a part in Christ, or with Christ? It is to be spiritually washed by Christ. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

    It is to be cut off from the stock of the first Adam, and ingrafted by faith into Christ, the second Adam. We are all of us born in the old Adam, and in him we continue until we are "born again:" until grace makes the change; cuts us off from the old Adam, and ingrafts us into Christ.

    It is to have union and communion with him in all his covenant relations. Real union. Such as the head hath with the body. The weakest true saint is a member of, and hath a part in, the head: is a branch in the vine, and hath nourishment from the root. There is relative union, such as is between the husband and the wife; the father and the children; brother and brother. And he is not ashamed to own them, and call them his "brethren." Nay, "thy Maker is thine husband."

    It is to have an interest in all the spiritual benefits and blessing of his undertaking as Mediator. These are especially four:—Favour and reconciliation with God. This we have only by Christ. He is well pleased in Christ: with all that come to him by him.—Freedom of access to the "throne of grace:" a "new and living way" laid open to the Father.—The aids and assistances of his Spirit; as we have need of them at all times, and on all occasions.—Admission into his heavenly kingdom; whither he is gone as our "forerunner."