This morning, as I was thinking about and preparing
for a message here, I always try to look at things that really are
not real clear in my mind, and I begin studying on them, try
to get it a little bit more clear. This morning, our message is
on that eternal union that the elect have with God, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And as I think about that, I
think about, as far as here on Earth, about the closest thing
that we can come to is, apart from God and the elect, is that
marriage union that a husband and wife enters into. But this morning, this union
that we're talking about is the union of the elect unto God,
their adoption by Him, their justification before Him, and
their acceptance with Him. And all of this being eternal,
internal, and imminent acts of God alone, which means that they
just take place in His mind and purpose alone. in eternity, and
they must be considered next to the decrees of God, along
with the decree of election, since election flows from the
love of God, and it is in Christ from everlasting. And because
of this, there must be a union between God and His elect, and
since predestination to the adoption of children and acceptance in
the beloved are parts of it. Therefore, this union must take
place together with those decrees of God. Look at Ephesians 1,
beginning in verse 4. According as He, according as
He, God, has chosen us in Him, in Christ, before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love. having predestinated us into
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, in
Christ, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins according to the riches of his grace. I begin this morning
with the union of God's elect in Christ. This morning, however,
I won't spend a lot of time talking about those time acts, those
acts of God that takes place in time, once this world was created and
along with mankind. For example, our nature to the
Son of God by Christ incarnation. It's a time act. When he became
our brother, our near kinsman, flesh of our flesh, and the elect
in Christ were one. That is a one nature. This union
is a time act, which took place in time when the Son of God came
to this earth and performed all those things necessary for our
redemption and salvation. Hebrews 2, and our brother Mark
read these verses here, but in verse 11 it says, For both he
that sanctifieth, that set us apart, and they who are sanctified
are one. For which cause he is not ashamed
to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto
my brethren in the midst of the church, will I sing praise unto
thee. And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold, I and the
children which God hath given me. This is Christ speaking. I and the children that God hath
given me. Speaking of God's elect. For
as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part in the same, that through
death he might destroy him, that had the power of death, that
is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not
on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of
Abraham. I'm also not going to talk about
the time act and our union with Christ and our regeneration. when we are quickened by the
power and grace of God, and Christ is formed in our hearts, and
we become new creatures in Him, and are in Him as living fruitful
branches, the living vine, which is how the elect are manifested
to be in Christ, even though the elect have been secretly
in Him from everlasting by electing grace. I'll also not speak on
the time act of the elect's open and manifest union of the saints
to God, who being once in Christ are always found in him, they
die in union to him, rise from the dead by virtue of that union,
and who will then in soul and body be one in God, Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. As the fathers in the Son, and
the Son in the Father, whose union to one another is the pattern
of the elect's union. There is an open manifestation
of which Christ prays in John 17, where it says, that they
all may be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me. All of this is the open manifested
union between God and his elect. But this morning, this morning,
I'm going to speak on the union of God's elect as it is in its
origin, in its beginning, and as an eternal, imminent act of
God. and in God, which takes place
only in the mind and in the purpose of God alone, and of his heart
in love to him, and thereby uniting them to himself in love from
everlasting. John 17, beginning at verse 23,
I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one,
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hath loved
them as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also
whom thou hast given me in electing grace be with me where I am,
that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for
thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. Now this love which
brings about this union between God and his elect is of a cementing
and a uniting nature, and is the bond of union between God
and His chosen people, and by which He has taken them into
union in Himself. This same love is manifested
by God's command to believers to love one another. Love is
the bond of union among men, of friendship one to another.
It is the bond of the saints' union to each other. Their hearts
are knit together in love, which joins and keeps them together.
Look at Colossians 3, verse 14. And above all things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness. It was love which so closely
bonded the hearts of the first Christians to one another, insomuch
that the multitude of them were of one heart and one soul. Acts 4, verse 32. and the multitude
of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any of them that
all of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all
things in common. Well, this love that bond believers
together is the gospel that all believers have in common, that
bonds us together. Now, Through the gospel that
we believe, the gospel of salvation by grace alone, by Christ alone,
we see how that God first loved us in sending his son, the Lord
Jesus Christ, to live and die in our place as our substitute
and our surety. And this draws out our love toward
God and toward fellow believers. So now after seeing how love
bonds believers together, How much infinitely more must this
love operate in the heart of God, attracting and uniting the
objects of this love to himself, giving them such nearness and
union to him, which cannot be dissolved. Nothing can separate
them from the love of God. Neither does their actual sins
and transgressions separate them from the love of God. Romans
8.38 tells us this. Paul says, for I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This
bond of union cannot be dissolved, and because of this, the people
of God become a part of God himself, a near, dear part, even as the
apple of his eye. Children have a place in his
heart, these children, the elect. They are engraved on the palm
of his hands and ever on his thoughts. The desires and affections
of his soul are always toward his elect. Now, Psalm 31, 19
says, oh, how great is thy goodness, which thou has laid up for them
that feared thee, which thou has wrought for them that trust
in thee before the sons of men. The love of Christ to the elect
is as early as that of his father's love to Christ and to his elect,
in which it seems was a love of satisfaction and delight. For before the world was, his
delights were with the sons of men. John 15, beginning at verse
9. As the Father hath loved me,
Christ says, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. Proverbs 8, beginning at verse
30. Then I was by him, as one brought
up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always
before him. rejoicing in the habitable part
of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. All
of this, all of this is of a cementing and uniting nature as his father's. It is this which calls Christ
to stick closer than a brother to his people, and nothing can
separate them from his love. any more than from the love of
the Father. Christ having loved His own,
He loved them to the end. John 13 says, Now before the
feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come,
that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having
loved His own, having loved his own, which were in the world,
he loved them to the end, speaking of his elect. This bond of union
remains firm and sure. Now, as Christ loved his elect,
the same may be said of the love of the Spirit toward the elect.
For it is the everlasting love of God, Father, Son, and Spirit,
which is the bond of the union of God's elect to the sacred
three. They have all three loved the
elect with an everlasting love, and thereby have firmly and everlastingly
united the elect to themselves. And because of the Spirit's love
of them, of the elect, and union to them, the Holy Spirit in time
becomes a spirit of life and grace in them. And that according
to Romans 15, 30, where it says, I beseech you, brethren, for
the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the love of the spirit
that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for
me. Now, as relating to this love union, there are several
points of which are so many examples. and all are from eternity. This
morning I have four points concerning this union. Now the first is
an election union in Christ. Then there's a marriage union
between Christ and his elect. And a federal union or a covenant
union between Christ and his elect. And fourthly, a legal
union between Christ and his elect. Now first of all, an election
union in Christ. This union flows from the love
of God. Election presupposes love. Second Thessalonians 2.13 says,
but we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren,
beloved of the Lord. Because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit
and belief of the truth. Election simply means that particular
persons are said to be chosen in Christ, as the Apostle says
of himself and others, that God had chosen them in Christ before
the foundation of the world, according to Ephesians 1 verse
4. It says, according as He had
chosen us in Him, in Christ, before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love. Election gives a being in Christ
a kind of subsistence or existence in him. Even though the elect,
they haven't been born as of yet, Christ is their representative
being, even though they haven't been born. The elect have such
a being and existence that they are capable of having grants
of grace made to them in Christ. And of being blessed with all
spiritual blessings in Christ. And that before the world began.
Look at Ephesians 1 beginning at verse 4. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, blessed
the elect, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love. Now, how someone can say that the elect can have
a being in Christ and yet have no union to him is not according
to God's word. Besides an election, there is
a near relation that begins between Christ and the elect. Christ
is given to be the head to the elect, and they are given as
members to him. And as such, they're chosen together. Christ first, in order of nature,
as the head, and then they as members in him. Sound doctrine
expresses this union, in this manner, when speaking of the
union, the election of Christ and his people in him, one old
writer says this, as in the womb, head and members are not conceived
separately, but together as having relation to each other. So were
the elect in Christ as making up one mystical body to God,
formed together in that eternal womb of election. Isaiah 42.1
says, Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom
my soul delighted. He's speaking of Christ here.
I have put my spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles. Jesus Christ, the Father's first
elect, was a head of election. and of the elect of God. And
so in order of nature, Christ was elected first. Though in
order of sequence, we were elected together in that womb of election. Christ the head came out first
and then we, the elect members. Ephesians 4.14, 15 rather. But speaking the truth in love
may grow up into him in all things. which is the head, even Christ.
Now, what relation can well be thought of nearer or more expressive
of a close union than this of head and members? Christ is the
chosen head of the church, which is the chosen body of Christ.
Ephesians 1 beginning verse 22 says, and hath put all things
under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to
the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all. And because of this union with
Christ, there's safety and there's security of the saints being
in Christ through electing grace and uniting to Him and therefore
said to be preserved in Him, herein and hereby put into His
hands made the sheep of his hand, out of whose hand none can pluck
them, nor can they ever fall. According to Jude 1, Jude, the
servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified,
set apart by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ
and called. Now, the second point of this
eternal union that we'll talk about is that marriage union
between Christ and his elect, which also, like election, flows
from the love of God and began in eternity. By the institution
of marriage, natural marriage, the person between whom it's
contracted become one flesh, as did Adam and Eve. And even
the institution of the marriage union, of which is a picture
of Christ and his church, and of which is a marriage that is
a shadow and representation between Christ and his church, whom Christ
having married before time, he nourishes and cherishes as his
own flesh. And they become one and have
one and the same name, Christ and his church. Ephesians 5,
29, for no man ever hated ever yet hated his own body,
but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the Church. For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, of his bone. For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they too shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but
I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Also, back in 1 Corinthians,
12, for as the body is one and hath
many members, and all the members of that body, of that one body,
being many are one body, so also is Christ. Now, though the open
marriage relation between Christ and His elect takes place at
conversion, it's open. It's open to everyone to see. is manifested. And the more universal
notification of it will be when all the elect are gathered into
one fold, and shall in one body be as a bride adorned for a husband. And the marriage of the Lamb
shall be declared in the most open manner in the end. Revelation
21, 2. And I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as
a bride adorned for her husband. Yet the secret act of this marriage
was in eternity, having been secretly betrothed in the everlasting
covenant before time when Christ, being in love with the chosen
ones, the elect, asked them of his father to be his spouse and
bride. and being given to Him in old
eternity. He engaged Himself to them in
loving kindness. And from that moment forward,
the Son of God looked on them as standing in Him. This standing
in Christ is the foundation of all other acts of grace toward
God's elect. Once again, there's a big difference
between the elect standing before God and their state in this world. And because of Christ's marriage
relation to his church, which are God's elect, Christ became
her surety and gave himself for her, shed his precious blood
to sanctify and cleanse her from all the impurities of the fall
and other transgression, that he might present her to himself,
a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. This was just such
a church and in such glory that the Son of God had viewed her
when he first engaged himself to her, to the church. Ephesians
5, 25. Husbands, love your wives even
as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church. not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish before
him in love. There's also, the third point,
a federal union or covenant union between Christ and the elect.
And they have a covenant existence in him as their head and their
representative. This covenant flows from and
is the effect of the love, grace, and mercy of God. Now, I'm going
to look at quite a few scriptures here. Bear with me. Psalms 89,
beginning of verse 2, For I have said, Mercy shall be built up
forever. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish
in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my
Chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant. Psalms 89, 33. Nevertheless,
my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer
my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break,
nor alter the thing that's gone out of my lips. Also Isaiah 54,
10. For the mountains shall depart
and the hills be removed. but my kindness shall not depart
from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
save the Lord that hath mercy on thee. This covenant is called
the covenant of grace, and this was made from everlasting. Christ
was set up as the mediator of it, and was in it from everlasting. This covenant is called the covenant
of grace. And this was made from everlasting.
Christ was set up as the mediator of it, and that from everlasting. Isaiah, well let's look at Proverbs
8, 23. I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Also in Micah 5, 2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of
thee shall he come forth, and to me that is to be the ruler
of Israel, whose going forth have been from old, from everlasting. Eternal life for God's elect
was promised before the world began, and the blessings of grace
was provided. Titus 1-2. in hope of eternal
life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began. Also, 2 Timothy 1.9, who had
saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. All of this
proves the eternality of this covenant. Now this covenant was
made with Christ, but not as a single person, but as a common
head, not for himself or on his own account only, but for and
on the account of his people, his elect, those that the Father
give him in that everlasting covenant of grace. Christ represented
His people in this covenant. And they had a representative
union to Him in it. All that Christ promised and
engaged to do, He promised and engaged in their name and on
their account. And when He performed it, it
was the same with God as if it had been performed by the elect. And what Christ received, were
the promises and blessings of grace he received in their name. And they received all these promises
and blessings in Christ. They being one with Christ as
their common head and representative. Now, the last point here that
we're going to speak on is there is a legal union between Christ
and his elect, the bond of which is Christ's surety ship for the
elect, which also flows from that strong love and affection
that God has for them. In this respect, Christ and the
elect are one in the eyes of law and justice. As the bondsman
and debtor are one in a legal sense, y'all know what a bondsman
is, so that if one of them pays the debt owed, it's the same
as if the other paid it. Hebrews 7.22 says, By so much
was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Christ is the surety
of a better testament. He drew near to God the Father,
He gave His bond, laid Himself under obligation to pay the debts
of His people, and to satisfy the justice of God for their
sins, and as such was accepted by God the Father. Christ and
his elect were considered as one in this transaction. Christ
being made surety for his elect is the ground and the foundation
of his payment of those debts, those sin debts that the elect
owe, and of his making satisfaction for their sins by the imputation
of their sins to Him, the charging of their sins to Him, to Christ,
and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the elect. In
short, it is the saints' union in relation to Christ in eternity
which is the ground and the reason of all that Christ had done and
suffered for Him and not for others. This union, this eternal
union, is also the reason and is the cause of all the blessings
of grace that are or shall be bestowed upon the elect. This
union is also the reason why Christ became incarnate for them
and took upon Him human nature with regard to the elect and
them alone. And this union was because they
were children given to Him by God the Father. And was also
why Christ laid down His life for them because they were his
sheep. Christ gave himself for them
because they were his bride. He saved them from their sins
because they were his people, his delight. Hebrews 2 beginning
verse 13 says, and again, I will put my trust in him. And again,
behold, I and the children which God hath given me. This is Christ
speaking here. I and the children that God had
given me before the foundation of the world. For as much then
as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part in the same, that through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is the devil. In a word,
union to Christ is the first thing the first blessings of
grace flowing from love, that love of God, and affected by
it. And therefore is the application
of all other blessings. Of Him, of Him are you in Christ
Jesus, Scripture said. First love and unite to Christ,
and then it follows over in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 30. But of him are ye
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness
and sanctification and redemption. It is that union with Christ
which is the first fundamental thing of justification and sanctification. Christ first takes us in that
union and then sends his spirit. Our union to Christ takes place
first. It's not my being regenerate
that puts me into the right or standing of all these privileges. Regeneration is only that open
manifestation of this eternal union. But it is our eternal
union with Christ who takes his elect and then gives his elect
his spirit and faith and holiness and so forth. Well, thanks be
to God for such a magnificent plan that he's devised in order
to glorify himself in our salvation and at the same time save a wretched
sinner as we are by his grace. Well, I hope God pray that God
will use this message for his glory. Amen.