The Inseparable Communion of a Believer with God, Sermons · Sermon 1
ROM. 8.38, 39.
For I am perſwaded that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come.
Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
IN the 33. and 34. verſes, we have Paul with Chriſt on the Mount of Transfiguration; he ſets one foot on Mount Calvary where Chriſt died, the other on Mount Olivet where Chriſt aſcended, and by faith takes in a full view of the infinite dimenſions of the Grace of Juſtification, and triumphs over the Law and Satan the grand Accuſer of the Brethren.
In 35, 36, 37 verſes, he triumphs over the world, and the worſt the world can do by power or malice, by faith in the love of Chriſt.
In the Text is a higher Rapture of faith, it takes a view of all things in Heaven, Earth and Hell, and triumphs over all Enemies real or imaginary, that can be ſuppoſed to endeavor to ſeparate believers from the love of God in Chriſt, ver. 38, 39.
1. Here we have one thing implied, a Myſtery that lies hid in the boſom of the Text, viz. Communion with God.
Secondly, the Bond of that Communion, the Love of God.
Thirdly, the foreign, or firſt ſubject of that love, Chriſt Jeſus.
Fourthly, the Propriety Believers have to Chriſt for this end, viz. Communion with God in his love, Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
Fifthly, the triumph of faith in this love of God in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, over all things in Heaven, Earth or Hell; that can be ſuppoſed to ſeparate from the love of God.—
1. All Believers have a moſt intimate, ſpiritual Communion with God, though in a myſtical and wonderful way.
This truth is couched in the Text, and lies hid like a ſpring in a Watch, which yet moves all the Wheels in the Work: it is implied in the word Separate, — for ſeparation is the disjoy…ting or diſuniting of things conjoyned together in common union; and therefore ſomthing, and in the firſt place, is to be ſpoken to it.
In which we muſt conſider three things, Union, Communion, Communication between God and Believers.
1. We muſt conſider the Union that is between God and Believers, which is the foundation of all Communion. There are ſeveral ſorts of Union.
Firſt, A natural union; an union of perſons in the ſame common nature: ſuch an union there is between Chriſt and believers, Heb. 2.11. and through Chriſt, between them and God: for hereby God became Emanuel, God with us, one with us, and we one with him.
Secondly, there is an union by Covenant; thus all the ſons of men were one with the firſt Adam, the Apoſtle ſpeaks of this one man, as including all men, Rom. 5.18. Such an union there is between Chriſt and believers, Eph. 1.10. and through Chriſt with God, Zach. 13.9. I will ſay it is my people, and they, &c.
Thirdly, there is an union of Amity or Affection, as between Jonathan and David, 1 Sam. 18.11. and 20.17. as between thoſe Acts 4.32. ſuch an union is between believers and Chriſt, Eph. 5.25. Chriſt loved his Church, and gave himſelf.— Such alſo between God and believers, now reconciled by Chriſt, Eph. 2.14.
Fourthly, there is a Conjugal union of perſons by Marriage, Eph. 5.28, 31. ſuch an union there is between Chriſt and believers, 2 Cor. 11.2. and ſuch between God and believers, Iſa. 54.5. Iſa. 62.5. Hoſ. 2.16, 19.20.
Fifthly, there is a ſpiritual union between all believers, 1 Cor. 12.13. ſuch an union hath believers with Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6.17. and through Chriſt with God, 1 Cor. 2.13. with Eph. 2. ult.
But there is an union of believers with God, beyond all theſe, moſt ſpiritual, moſt myſtical, and as yet incomprehenſible: ſuch an union as is made to reſemble the union between the Father and his Son, John 14.20. and John 17.21, 22.
This union of believers is not the ſame for quality or equality with that of the Father and Son; nor is this union made to refemble the natural union of the Father and Son in the Godhead. But that myſtical union between the Father and the Son, in our fleſh, carrying on with joynt hand and heart the great work of Redemption; ſo 'tis expreſs'd, John 10.28, 29, 30.
Secondly, From this union flows our Communion with God which is the ſecond. Believers have a ſpecial ſpiritual Communion with God: Communion is between perſons ſome way or other united, participating of each others good things for their comfort and delight: Believers by union with God, have Communion with God.
i. They have Communion with God in nature, 2 Pet 1.4. not by way of Partition, as if God divided his nature between him and us; nor by way of transfuſion, as if God emptied of his nature into ours, but by way of Communion.
As the humane nature of Chriſt, was aſſumed into unity with the Divine in the Perſon of his Son, and by that union had Communion with the divine nature, whence followed an Unction, whereby the humane nature received Perfections and Excellencies above its own natural capacity; ſo by Communion with the divine nature, we receive an unction from the Holy One, the Spirit, and its ſupernatural Excellencies and Perfections.
Secondly, they have Communion with God in all the divine Relations in the Godhead, Father, Son, and holy Spirit: Father, 1 John 1.31. Son, 1 Cor. 19. Holy Spirit, John 14.17.—Hedwelleth in you.
Thirdly, they have Communion with all three Perſons in their peculiar and diſtinct Excellencies.
The peculiar Excellency of the Father is Love, 1 Iohn 4.16. of the Son is Grace, Rom. 16.24. Of the Spirit is comfort, Iohn 14.16. Believers have Communion with the Father in love, with the Son in grace, with the Spirit in comfort, 2 Cor. 13.14. Paul often wi…heth Mercy, Grace and Peace to Saints, Mercy is the Fathers, Grace the Sons, Peace the holy Spirit. They have Communion with all three in their peculiar and diſtinct Priviledges.
Fourthly, they have Communion with God in all communicable Properties and Attributes; his Wiſdom, Righteonſneſs, …olineſs Meekneſs, Patience, Goodneſs. Theſe which are Attributes in God, are alſo many graces in believers; theſe make up the Image of God in Saints, and in theſe they are ſaid to reſemble God; in theſe is their likeneſs to God, their conformity to God.
Fifthly, they have Communion with God in his greateſt Priviledges, they are holineſs and happineſs.
i. Holineſs is one of Gods chiefeſt Prerogatives, Exod. 15.11. that believers have Communion with God in his holineſs, appears Iſa. 63.8. they are called the people of his holineſs by this Argument, viz. their communion with Go…. The Apoſtle exhorts believers to a further progreſs in holineſs, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.
Secondly, Happineſs or Glory, Bleſſedneſs of Felicity is Gods Prerogative, 1 Tim. 6.15. Rom. 9.5. ſo is glory, which is the manifeſtation of that bleſſedneſs: God is called the God of glory, Acts 7 2. the Father, the Father of glory, Eph. 1.17. the Son of God, Je…us Chriſt the Lord of glory, Iames 2.1. the Spirit, the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4.14. That believers have Communion with God, Father, Son and Spirit in glory; ſee 2 Cor. 3.18. Iohn 1….22. and from hence follows the third, which is Communication.
Thirdly, there is a ſweet Communication between God and believers, naturally flowing from this Communion; like that which is expreſs'd of thoſe believers in holy Communion, Act. 4.32. This Communication is mutual between God and believers; God communicates himſelf to us to be our God: we communicate to him by owning him for our God; As they, Ier 3.22. Behold—and by giving up our ſelves to his ſervice, 2 Cor. 8.5.
The Father communicates to us in all his ſpiritual bleſſings, — Eph. 1.3. We communicate to him, by improving all we receive from him, thank fully, faithfully, to the praiſe of his grace.
The Son communicates to us his Merits, Mercies, Purchaſes, Treaſures of his VViſdom, Knowledge, Righteouſneſs, Holineſs:— And we communicate to him by receiving him and all his benefits by faith, and bring forth the fruits of righteouſneſs by him to the glory of the Father.
The Spirit communicates to us light, truth, liberty, joy, ſtrength, peace, comfort; and we communicate to him, by acknowledging all our receits from him, and giving up our ſelves to be led, counſelled, guided, and governed by him.
The Father communicates with us in his love, an… we communicate with him by returning love to him.
The Son communicates with us in grace, by fetching all ſupplies out of his fulneſs, and by doing all our works, more by the ſtrength of his grace then our own.
The Spirit communicates to us in his comforts, and we communicate with him in raiſing up our hearts by his comforts, to joy in God above all other rejoycings, Rom. 5.11.
1. Uſe. Let Believers raiſe up their admiration to the utmoſt in the Contemplation of this Priviledge, the free grace of God, and the blood of reconciliation hath brought them to, viz. Communion with God, Fellowſhip with all three Perſons in bleſſed Trinity.
Firſt, in this conſiſts your chiefeſt dignity: It was great honour to the Son of God in his ſtate of Humiliation, that God called him, the Man his Fellow, Zach, 13 7. What honour is it, that God ſhould ſay of poor ſinners, poor weak believers; Behold the man, the woman, my fellow, whom I have taken into fellowſhip and communion with my ſelf.
Secondly, in this conſiſts your chiefeſt joy, amidſt all the ſcorns, reproaches troubles, ſufferings from the world 1 John 1.3, 4.
Thirdly, in this conſiſts your ſtability in grace; the Father and Son with whom ye have Communion, (John 14.23.) will make their abode with you, ſo will the Spirit with whom ye have Communion, John 14.16. This Communion ye have with God here, will not leave you till it be perfected, in the full enjoyment of God in glory.
2. Uſe. Endeavor to be acquainted more and more with this Priviledge: though this Communion of believers with God be a Myſtery, the full knowledge whereof, and the moſt bleſſed fruits and effects of it be reſerved for another ſtate; yet let us endeavour to know the reality of it, that we may believe it, and for that end wait for the Promiſe and Office of the Spirit, as Comforter in that day, ye ſhall know the truth of it, though not yet the manner of it, Iohn 14.20.
Firſt, from this Communion with God, Father, Son, Spirit, flow all ſupplies of Mercy, Grace and Peace.
Secondly, this communion is the true character of your Chriſtianity; a man is beſt known by his Company.
Uſe 3. Endeavor daily to encreaſe and grow up in this Communion; it is yet imperfect, incompleat.
Firſt, for this end beſtow more coſt on faith; by faith Enoch walked with God, (which notes Communion) and then was tranſlated, Heb. ….5.
Secondly, be much in the Communion of the Spirit, by whom our Communion with the Father and Son is chiefly managed and tranſacted, 1 Iohn 16.14, 15. and by whom it is manifeſted, 1 Iohn 4.13.
Thirdly, be much in thoſe duties, frequent thoſe Ordinances where God manifeſteth, and moſt communicateth himſelf to his own.
4. Uſe. Let Believers be exhorted to live, walk, act and work all their works in the ſtrength of that grace that flows from this Communion.
Firſt, hence our victory over all dangers, enemies, difficulties, 1 Iohn 4.4.
Secondly, hence your fruitfulneſs in Chriſt, John 15.4, 5.