The Inseparable Communion of a Believer with God, Sermons · Sermon 6
ROM. 8.38, 39.
For I am Perſwaded,—
THE Apoſtle having attained a full aſſurance of the love of God in Chriſt, he builds his ſtrong holds, fortifies his ſaith in that love, and then takes a view of all his enemies to the utmoſt, which might be ſuppoſed to endanger him, as to a falling off, or falling away from this ſtate; and then by faith triumphs over all as weak, impotent things, as unable by their ſeveral or Conjunct power, or concurrent ſtrength, to break the Communion Saints have with God in love, through Chriſt leſus their Lord.
The word I am perſwaded [foreign] imports A Perſuaſion, that ariſeth from ſtrong conviction, fulneſs of evidence, undeniable Arguments, therefore notes a foreign, (which comes from the ſame word) which is A Perſuaſion, with full confidence of faith, Eph. 3.12.ſee Rom. 14.14. 2 Tim. 1.12. It is joyned with a certain knowledge of the thing, therefore the Perſuaſion muſt be certain, and this certain Perſuaſion cannot be leſs then a ſtrong confidence and full aſſurance of faith.
Doct. Such as have truly believed the Love of God in Chriſt Ieſus their Lord, may have a full Perſuaſion of faith they ſhall continue in the Communion of that love, againſt all enemies that ſhall attempt a ſeparation from it.
This I ſhall endeavor to demonſtrate,
I From the nature of that Communion, believers have with God in Chriſt Ieſus.
Firſt, it is a fellowſhip with the Father, and his Son Chriſt Ieſus, 1 John 1.2. In which obſerve, firſt the reality and certainty of this Communion: truly our Fellowſhip—
Secondly, this Communion is a Priviledge common to every believer, with the chiefeſt and higheſt Apoſtles, one of which was Iohn, called the beloved diſciple, he whom Ieſus loved and laid in his boſom; yet— that ye might have fellowſhip with us.
Thirdly, the effect that naturally flows from that Communion to believers, viz. fulneſs of joy, ver. 4. Could any thing, did any thing ſeparate the Apoſtles from their Communion with the Father, and his Son Ieſus Chriſt; every believers Communion with the Father, and— is the ſame: Is there a moſt unqueſtionable truth and reality in that Communion, whence ſlows fulneſs and compleatneſs of joy to believers, then certainly none can ſeparate them from it: for then the joy would be very imperſect, narrow and ſcanty; and by reaſon of the uncertainty of it, the joy of a believer in his Communion with God, would prove but like that ſpoken of, Iob 20.5.
Secondly, it is a Conjugal Fellowſhip and Communion be ween God and believers, Hoſ. 2.19, 20. It is for everlaſſing, never to be violated: it is performed with thoſe ſolemnities, ratified and confirmed by thoſe engagements, which make it ſure and inviolable.
God undertakes for his part, and pawns his Righteouſneſs, his Iudgment, his loving kindneſs, his mercies, and his faith fulneſs for Performance: and he undertakes for our part, they ſhall know the Lord, and they that know the Lord, will never depart from him.
He who faith of man and woman in Conjugal Communion he hates puting away. Mal. 2.16. will much leſs put away whom he hath betrothed to himſelf.
2. Dem. Is taken from God, in whom the love that flows from this Communion is in, as its upper fountain and original: The love of God, the love which is in God. There are four things in God.
Firſt, the Power of this God, engaged to keep his in cloſe Communion with himſelf, againſt all adverſe power that can attempt a ſeparation, John 10.29. If none can pluck them out of his hand, leſs can they pluck them out of his boſome. A man may have that wrung out of his hand by violence, which cannot be pluckt out of his heart.
Secondly, the unchangeableneſs of God; a Balaam could ſee this, Numb. 23.19. This fenced and fortified them there in Gods love, againſt all the ſorceries and inchantments of their enemies. This alſo fenced and fortified them in Gods love againſt the greateſt provocations by their own ſins, Hoſ. 11.8, 9. God loved Jacob in the Womb, and continued to love him through Old and New Teſtament, Mal. 1.2. Rom. 9.13.
Thirdly, the faithfulneſs of God confirmed by Oath, by which they are fenced and fortified in the love of God againſt all their own backſlidings, and the ſevereſt diſpenſations of Gods diſpleaſure, Pſal. 89.30.—33. Nevertheleſs, my loving kindneſs,— confirmed by Covenant and Oath, v. 34, 35.
Fourthly, the All-ſufficiency of God, He is God of all grace, and hath called them,—he will ſettle them — 1 Pet. 5.10. Thus they are fenced and fortified in Gods love againſt all their own wants, doubts, weakneſſes and imperfections.
3. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of the love of God to believers, as it is ſaid to be in Chriſt Jeſus.
Firſt, hence it will appear to be an everlaſting love, from eternity to eternity; the love of God was from everlaſting to everlaſting, Jer. 31 3. and the love of Chriſt is to everlaſting, John 13.1. Believers have full ſecurity for their continuance in Gods love, becauſe it is the love of God in Chriſt, who is to carry it on through all its paſſages, oppoſitions, ſeeming interruptions to Eternity.
Secondly, the Lord Ieſus his love is a victorious love, it brings off believers more then Conquerours, over all things that can attempt or endanger a ſeparation, Rom. 8.35, 37. More then Conquerors; becauſe whenever they fight with any enemies for the prize the love of Chriſt, they always come off Conquerors, not wounded, nor wearied, nor diſcouraged, nor with any loſs; but they come off ſounder, ſtronger, holier, fuller of all grace, and more confirmed in the love of Chriſt.
Thirdly, the love of God in Chriſt is indelible; the perſons are engraven on his heart; it is invincible; they are engraven as a Seal on is Arm, Cant. 8.6. you may as eaſily pluck out Chriſts heart, as pluck away believers from his love; ſhe is ſeal'd on his Arm, to ſhew that mighty Power Chriſt ſtill engageth, to keep them in his love, to ſupport her infirmities, and to ſubdue all the enemies that riſe up againſt her.
4. Dem. Is taken from this love of God, as it is ſcituated in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord.
Firſt, he is Son and Heir of all Gods love; and the Heir is Lord of all: Jeſus Chriſt is Lord of all his Fathers love, and the love of God the Father is primarily his portion and inheritance.
Now this Jeſus Chriſt is our Lord, ſo that what he poſſeſſeth of Gods love is ours, and upon what terms he poſſeſſeth it. It is for us, Iohn 17, 23, 26. Now who can diſpoſſeſs Chriſt Jeſus of Gods love, or ſeparate him from the love of God No more.
Secondly, the love of God in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, is Protection to itſelf, and all that are under it, againſt the violence of all its enemies, Cant. 2.4.— his Banner over me was love. Where the colours is, there is the Captain; where the Standard or Banner is, there is the King. The love of God in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, is as a banner diſplayed in the heart; and a believer may ſay of all the enemies reckoned in the Tex, as the Prophet, Iſa. 8.9, 10 — for Emanuel, God is with us, Chriſt Ieſus our Lord.
Thirdly, Chriſt Ieſus our Lord will make believers invincible in the love of God, what is the power of all theſe enemies in the Text to the power of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord; he will bring them under believers feet, and make them know he hath loved them, and they ſhall never ſeparate them from his love, Rev 3.9.
5. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of that love of God which is in the hearts of believers, which is produced by the love of God to us in Chriſt Jeſus.
Firſt, there is more ſweetneſs in the love of Chriſt, then bitterneſs in all the ſorrows, troubles, afflictions, that be fal them for the love of Chriſt.
Jacobs ſeven years ſervitude, ſeemed nothing to him for his love to Rachel, Gen. 29.20. The love of Chriſt is ſaid to be better then wine, Cant. 1.2, 4. Wine makes glad the heart, Zach. 9.7. it makes a man neither to feel nor remember his ſorrows: the love of Chriſt in the foul makes every bitter thing ſweet, nothing can kill the love of Chriſt in the heart.
Secondly, this love of Chriſt in believers hath a mighty potency in it, 2 Cor. 5.14. ſtronger to keep us to Chriſt, then all adverſe power to ſeparate us from him.
It conquers death, that conquers all other things; it ſwallows up the grave, that ſwallows up all things; conſumes coals of fire, which conſumes all things, and many waters,—Cant. 8.6, 7.
Thirdly, that love by which believers love God, as firſt loved of him, dwell in God, who then can ſeparate, — 1 John 4.6.
6. Dem. Is taken from the impotencie of all things that encounter a believer, fortified in Gods love, how mighty ſoever in themſelves and in other Caſes, yet in this attempt they are impotent They are not able, ſaith the Text, to ſep… rate.—
So that if we ſhall conſider the nature and quality of Saints Communion with God, and of that God in whom this love is, as in its original, and the nature of it, as in Chriſt Ieſus, as in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, and the nature and quality of it, as it is in believers, then we may conclude the Point in hand.
Obj. But ſome ſay, this Perſuaſion is not common to other believers, Paul had it by revelation.
Anſw. Firſt, nay, Paul had it by the lively exerciſe of faith, on the doctrine of Juſtification by free grace, (as the context ſhews).
Secondly, the Apoſtle in this Perſuaſion of faith, includes all believers with himſelf,— ſhall not be able to ſeparate us,— he is much perſwaded for others as himſelf.
Thirdly, though all believers have the ſame Communion with God and Chriſt Ieſus in love, (as hath been declared) all have not yet the ſame meaſure and degree of confidence, aſſurance, and full Perſuaſion of faith in this.
Fourthly, no believers ſecurity is founded on the Perſuaſion of his faith, but the Perſuaſion of his faith is founded on the love of God, which is in Chriſt Ieſus his Lord.
A believer ſins, this weakens his faith; he gri…vsus the Spirit, this weakens his Perſuaſion; he neglects the means, this weakens his confidence; it may be, God for his trial voluntarily withdraws, this weakens his aſſurance; yet this ſtands firm, nothing can ſeparate him from Communion with God in love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
1. Uſe. For Inſtruction. Let Chriſtians who deſign and aim at the comfort of Chriſtianity, caſt their thoughts, defires, endeavors, into this Mould, viz. how to compaſs an aſſurance of Gods love in Chriſt.
While ſome Chriſtians are endeavoring, deſiring, longing, O that I knew I had this grace, that grace, the other grace in truth.
Do thou endeavor to get thy ſtate cleared up to thee in the love of God in Chriſt Jeſus thy Lord.
Hath Chriſt prayed that the World may know, — John. 17 23. to their Conviction, Converſion, or Condemnation, that God hath loved his,— And ſhall not they endeavor to know,— for this end.
Firſt, live much in Communion with Chriſt; It is the love of God in Chriſt Jeſus. See John 17. ult.
Secondly, dearly entertain the ſweet Spirit of God, Rom. 5.5.
2. Uſe. To ſuch as have clear'd up to them their Communion with God in love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
Bring up your faith to this Perſuaſion, that nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate you from—
Put on the breaſt-Plate of faith and love; — Fear no enemy, for God hath not,—1 Theſ. 5.8, 9. I ſay to you, as Gideon to his men, Judg. 7.15. Ariſe, for God hath delivered the whole Hoſt of your enemies into your Hand: Nor Death, nor Life, nor—ſhall be able—