Let's open our Bibles this evening
to Ephesians chapter 5. I want to speak to us tonight
on a truth in God's word that is a tremendous blessing to all
of God's children. And that truth is, it is the
doctrine that teaches us of the spiritual union which exists
between the Lord Jesus Christ and his believing people. As
we just sang that hymn, Christ liveth in me. What a blessing
it is to think about this truth, the spiritual union that exists
between the Savior and each one of his people, each one of you
tonight who know him. There's a union, a mystic union. Arthur Pink wrote that he had
no doubt in his mind that the subject of spiritual union is
the most important the most profound and the most blessed of any set
forth in the sacred scriptures. Now that's saying a lot, isn't
it? Let me read that again. He had
no doubt in his mind that the subject of spiritual union is
the most important, the most profound, and the most blessed
of any set forth in the sacred scripture. And I wonder if we
Think about this as much as we should. I want us to read beginning
with verse 25 down through the end of the chapter. 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. So ought men
to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his
wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his
own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord
the church. For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of his bones. 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. This is a great mystery. But I speak concerning Christ
and the church. Now, we should all understand
how the word mystery is used in the New Testament. Many of
you like to read mysteries, I'm sure. And as you're reading,
you have a clue given here and a clue given there. And finally,
at the end of the book, maybe in the last chapter, then all
the clues come together. The culprit is revealed, and
that's the way we usually understand the word mystery, like a mystery
novel. But that's not the way the word
is to be understood in the New Testament. I want you to turn
with me to Romans chapter 16. This is where we have a definition
of what the word mystery means in the writings of the apostles.
Romans chapter 16. and verses 25 and 26. Now to him that is of power to
establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept
secret since the world began but now is made manifest and
by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment
of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience
of faith. You see, when the scriptures
speak of a mystery, it's speaking of a truth that man, on his own,
without a revelation from God, could never have known. It's
a truth that only may be known by God revealing it. We know
the Apostle Paul spoke of a mystery several times that was given
to him, and it seems to be that in the Old Testament, it was
not revealed, as it is now, he says, that the Gentiles and the
Jews should both be members of one body. It was pretty much
thought that only the Jews would be the members of the body of
Christ, but it was revealed to the Apostle Paul, it was a mystery,
that the Gentiles would be included with the Jews in the body of
Christ. Now, the scriptures speak of
three unions, and all of them are mysterious. That's the reason
I use the word mystery. Paul said, this is a great mystery.
When he spoke about the oneness that exists between Christ and
his people, between your head and you as a member of his body. He said, this is a great mystery.
But I speak concerning Christ and the church. It's a mystery. But it's been revealed. But we
still refer to this union as a mystic union. But there are
three unions in the Word of God which are profound and a mystery. It's a mystery. The first union
in the Word of God is the Trinity. Look with me in 1 John chapter
5. The first union that is a great
mystery is the union between each person in the Godhead. Now you know, and the Word of
God declares this ever so clear, there's only one God. There cannot, excuse me, there
cannot be more than one God, because God is everywhere present. There's not room for another
God. And God is all-powerful. You can only have one who is
all-powerful. The Lord our God is one. We know
that. There's only one God. But yet
the scriptures reveal, and this is a word the scripture uses,
the Godhead, the essence of deity, is a triunity of persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the Father is not antecedent
to the Son. He's not before the Son. Each
person in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each one
is eternal. Each one is omnipotent. Each
one is omnipresent. I mean, the attributes are all
shared equally among the three persons in the Godhead. There's
a union. And here in 1 John chapter 5
and verse 7, The scripture John wrote, for there are three that
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,
and these three are one. So that's the first union that
we read about, that is revealed to us in the scriptures, and
it is a mystery, isn't it? It's a mystery how, and we don't
understand it fully, We believe it, I believe it. Do you? I believe
it. But why do I believe it? Not
because I understand how there can be three persons in one,
but because it's revealed in the word of God. And I believe
God's word. Yes, but it's a mystery. The
second union that is a mystery in the word of God is the person
of Christ. He has two natures, but he's
one person. And that verse in 1 Timothy 3
and verse 16, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest
in the flesh. A great mystery, isn't it? How
that he's fully God and fully man. But there's only, he's not
two persons. He's one person. But he has two
natures. You say, why do you believe that?
Because the scriptures reveal it. Not necessarily because I
understand it. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. And the third union that
is revealed in the scripture is this spiritual union which
exists between the Lord Jesus Christ and his church, his body. He's the head, and every saved
person is baptized into his body, baptized by the Spirit of God
into his body. Now, I said that I wanted to
speak on this truth, the spiritual union which exists between Christ
and his believing people. But as I studied, and prayed
for the message, I became aware of another truth. Another truth
that is essential. That is essential that we hear
before we look at the union which exists between Christ and his
members. What is this other truth? Well,
it too is very mysterious. But this other truth that is
revealed in the word of God is that the Lord Jesus Christ, the
God-man mediator, had a subsistence from all eternity. As my friend used to say, put
on your thinking cap now, that the Lord Jesus Christ, he
didn't have a body, he didn't have a reasonable soul from all
eternity, that didn't take place until the incarnation, understand
that. But in the purpose of God, and
I believe that is what that scripture means in Colossians, which tells
us that he who is the image of God, the firstborn of every creature. Now, John Gill made this comment
on that text, being the firstborn of every creature. That is, he
was begotten of the Father in a manner inconceivable and inexpressible. Now what am I saying? That before
his incarnation, before he took that body that was prepared him
of the Virgin Mary into union with his Godhead, his deity,
that he had a subsistence in the purpose of God. He had a subsistence. And that's
a difficult word to really define. I don't know how to define it.
But I know that in the purpose of God, he was set up first,
before anything else. Before there was any creatures,
or there was anything other than God himself, in the purpose of
God, the God-man was set up, the Lord Jesus Christ. And that
has to be so, and we'll see that as we go on. He was a lamb. How could he be the lamb slain
from the foundation of the world if he did not have a subsistence
before the world began? But he did, in the purpose. Now get that, in the purpose
of God. It's always God's purpose. The
first purpose of God was the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the scriptures speak about
Adam being created in the image of God, many people believe that
he was created in the image of Christ, who had a subsistence
from old eternity. Now, look with me, if you will,
in Psalm chapter 18. This is an example of what I'm
saying. David, he lived, what, about
600 years before Christ, before Christ came into the world, before
his incarnation. But here, this man Aesop, in
the Psalms, Psalm 80 and verse 17, he said this, let thy hand,
he's speaking to God, let thy hand be upon the man of thy right
hand. Now, who is the man of God's
right hand? You know, it's Christ. He's exalted
to the right hand of God. But when this man Asaph, when
he wrote this and when he pleaded that with God, this was, as I
said, some 600 or 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem.
But he did have in the purpose of God, in the purpose of God,
let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand. And he's already
a man. In the purpose of God, he's already
A man, a God-man, yes. Upon the Son of Man, whom thou
madest strong for thyself. That is the Lord Jesus Christ.
He was made strong for God. That is to do the will of the
Father. And he did the will of the Father.
In the volume of the book, it is written of me. And that may
refer to the head of the book, Genesis chapter 3, or it may
even go back farther than that, into eternity. In the volume
of the book, it was written of me. I delight to do thy will,
O God. And he came in the fullness of
time. Now, I want to say this again
because I don't want anyone to misunderstand me. I'm not saying he already had
a body and a soul. That didn't happen until a little
over 2,000 years ago. But in the purpose of God, in
the mind of God, he was set up from old eternity. I want you
to look at, and there's no way, I want you to look at Proverbs,
in Proverbs chapter eight with me just a moment. There's no
way you can read this passage of scripture And sometimes there's
a verse of scripture that looks like, well, he's speaking of
the son of God. And he is. But then there's something
said about this person who is called wisdom here that is true
of him as man. Couldn't be true of him as pure
God, as only God. And I encourage you later in
the week to take this passage here in Proverbs chapter 8 and
meditate upon it, think upon it, read it. We'll begin in verse
13. The fear of the Lord is to hate
evil, pride and arrogancy and the evil way, and the forward
mouth do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength. You see, we're reading about
a person. I have. I have. A person. I have sound wisdom. I have understanding. I have strength. By me, kings
reign, and princes decree justice. By me, princes rule. and nobles,
even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me, and
those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honor are
with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is
better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice
silver. I lead in the way of righteousness
in the midst of the paths of judgment. that I may cause those
that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
Now notice this, the Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,
before his works of old. The Lord possessed me. I cannot
be speaking of the eternal son. He is the Lord, but the Lord
possessed me. Speaking of a person, And it
is the Lord Jesus Christ, this God-man who in the purpose of
God was set up, had a subsistence before the world began. The Lord
possessed me in the beginning of His way before His works of
old. I was set up. Now you can't say
that about the eternal Son of God. I was set up. You can't say that about Him
because He is God. He is God. You can't say He was
set up no more than you could say the Father was set up or
the Holy Spirit was set up. But this person that's being
described here, yes, who is both God and man, we may see that
is true of Him. I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no
depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains
abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth. While as yet he had not
made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust
of the world. When he prepared the heavens,
I was there. when he set a compass upon the
face of the depth, when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened
the fountains of the deep, when he gave to the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed
the foundations of the earth. Then I was by him, as one brought
up with him, and I was daily his delight. rejoicing always
before him. The Lord God always found delight
in Christ. Remember at his baptism, this
is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. And even here,
before time began, we read, I was daily his delight, rejoicing
always before him. Rejoicing in the habitable part
of the earth, And this is so precious here, this next statement.
My delights were with the sons of men. My delights were with
the sons of men. That is His chosen people, men
and women, you, from all eternity. His love was set upon you. My delights were with the sons
of men. Now therefore hearken unto me,
O you children, for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear
instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the
man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at
the post of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth
life." Eternal life is in Christ, isn't it? He said, because I
live. You live, you say, because of
the union. It's not so much that he gives
us life, that he is our life. Apostle Paul said, I'm crucified
with Christ. Well, Paul, how do you mean that
you were crucified with Christ? Yes. And you were too. If you're one of his children,
you were crucified with Christ because of the union, which exists
between you and Christ. You were crucified with Christ.
You were buried when Christ was buried. You arose when Christ
arose from the grave. And when he was seated at the
Father's right hand, you now are sitting in the heavenlies. That's what he says in Ephesians
chapter two. I want you to turn there. Let
me finish this verse. For whoso findeth me findeth
life and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul. All that hate me love death.
If a person desires eternal life, where's he going to find eternal
life? Only one place, in Christ. And if a person hates Christ,
he must love death because that's what he's going to experience,
eternal death. Now look in Ephesians 2. And
I looked at this verse, this passage, and I thought about
the word together. We see this word together several
times here, beginning with verse four of
Ephesians two. But God, who is rich in mercy,
For his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." You
see that word together? Quickened us together with Christ
by grace, or you say, and hath raised us up together. When he
came, when he was raised from the dead, we were raised from
the dead. He said, well, how can that be possible? Because
of the union that exists from old eternity between Christ and
every believer, every child of God. He was set up, that's the
reason we say he is God's first elect. When Isaiah 42, behold
my servant. in whom my soul delighteth, mine
elect. He is God's first elect, but
all of the elect were chosen in him. Well, if we were chosen
in him, and we were, Ephesians 1 and verse 4, isn't it? Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,
according as he has chosen us in him. before the foundation
of the world. If we were chosen in him before
the foundation of the world, he had to have a subsistence,
didn't he? And he did, in the purpose of
God. Raised us up together, and that's
amazing, but that's not the end. And made us set together. You say, I don't understand that.
I don't either. I don't either. I believe it.
Because I read it in God's word. But we're sitting together, together
tonight in Christ. He's the forerunner. He's the
head. I read this by message many years ago. And for some
reason, it's always stuck with me. But you know, you can drown
a person can drown. People think, well, that water
is so deep. It's 15 feet deep, a person could
drown in that a person could drown in six inches of water. It's not the depth of the water.
It's having your head under the water, right? If it's six inches, it'll cover
your head. That's all it's going to take
for you to drown. And little babies sometimes drown,
don't they, in a bathtub. Mothers bathing their child,
and they're distracted. And we've heard of that, sad
as it can be. But it has happened. It's not
the depth of the water. But listen. This is what impressed
me. As long as you can keep the head
above the water, you can have a, the rest of the body can drown,
right? From head, shoulders on down. But the person's not gonna drown. And Christ is our head. He's
our head and he's seated tonight at the Father's right hand. There's
no possibility of one of his members drowning, being lost,
being separated from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus,
our Lord. I want you to turn to one other
place, and that is in John 17, our Lord's Prayer, John 17. We're all familiar with this
prayer, but notice in verses 23 and 24, 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 hast loved them as thou hast loved me. I will that they also whom thou
hast given me 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. Notice in verse 23, the Lord,
speaking to his father, declared that the father, God, had loved
his people as He had loved his son. Well, there's a number of
things we could say about that love. God loves you. You're one of his children. He
loves you as he loves his darling son. There's a lot we could say
about that love, but one thing for sure, that love is eternal. That love is eternal. God didn't
start loving his son. And his love for you is eternal
as well. He declares that this love began
before the foundation of the world in verse 24. Now the Lord
willing, next time, I want us to look at four unions, four
unions which are between Christ and his church, his body, his
bride. He's a surety. He's a federal
head. We'll look at those four unions
next time the Lord willing. But they all flow out of his
eternal love, his eternal love for his people. I pray that the
Lord would bless this.