Pastor Andrew’s Reflections on the Introduction & Chapter One
One of the more common phrases that is thrown around in the Church is made up of two simple words, “In Christ.” Taken separately, these words are simply a preposition and a proper noun. But taken together, they are the most powerful and delightful reality given to the believer. In the Preface of our summer study, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is quote, “If you have got hold of this idea [union with Christ] you will have discovered the most glorious truth you will ever know in your life.”
How can such an absolute statement with such broad implications be made? Especially by one so familiar with so many glorious truths? Because it is IN CHRIST that we have been given everything!
How is it that we are chosen to partake of the covenant of grace? In Christ!
How is it that our hearts are turned from stone to flesh? In Christ!
How is it that we are justified before the Father? In Christ!
How is it that we are adopted as heirs of salvation? In Christ!
How is it that we have redemption? In Christ!
How is it that we are made holy? In Christ!
How is it that we have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places? In Christ!
How is it that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit? In Christ!
How is it that we can know without any doubt that we will spend eternity in glory? IN CHRIST!
The list could go on and on. And for this reason it is vitally important for all of us to have a firm grasp of what union with Christ really is. This is the goal of Yuille’s short book as he summarizes Flavel’s writings on this glorious doctrine.
There were two things that stood out to me in this week’s reading, one item from the introduction and one from the first chapter.
On page 4, Flavel is quoted at length and many of the words he uses to describe the joys of union with Christ are words most often associated with holy matrimony, “Bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh.” We might be slightly reticent to take on such a lofty ownership. We might at times even wish such an intimate reality were not ours to “live up to.” But no matter how you feel about this reality, if you believe in Jesus Christ, it is yours. You are his and he is yours. There is no separating one from the other. Christ and the Church are one. This is a gift that is ours to keep.
What greater joy could there be than to know the Lover of our souls has joined us to himself and loves us with an everlasting love? What greater comfort could be offered than to know the King of Kings and Creator of all things has made us his own? What higher privilege could be given than to have full and complete access to the one who commands all destiny? What greater assurance could be held than to know that the one who placed the stars in the heavens and named each one has called us by name and said, “This one is mine and I am his”?
This truly is the “highest dignity of which our nature is capable…”
Then in chapter one as the paradigm of Covenant Theology is broached, on page 12, I was captured by the very last line of the chapter where Flavel is quoted, “Before this world was made, then were his delights in us, while as yet we had no existence, but only in the infinite mind and purpose of God, who had decreed this for us in Christ Jesus.”
What a blessed truth! Let’s break it down a little more.
“Before this world was made” – This is all but impossible for us to conceptualize. We are bound to time and space. On the best of days we can think and process moderately abstractly. We have a view, most of us, that is less than 90 years. Or by reason of study we can peak through the keyhole of the experiences of those who have gone before us. We are entirely finite. Our God is not. As such, he saw the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. Before this world was made, God was already at work in preparing his covenant of redemption for his people.
“then were his delights in us” – In other words, before this world was made God already delighted in us. The Psalmist writes, “He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:19). Zephaniah declares, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zeph. 3:17). Isaiah prophesies, “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.” It is this delight that God had in his people even before time began.
“while as yet we had no existence, but only in the infinite mind and purpose of God” – As with the first phrase, the eternality of God is highlighted. And with the emphasis on the majesty of God in eternity past, there is the joy of the reality that each and every one of us existed in God’s mind and was set apart for his glorious purpose. We are no accidents. There is no “chance.” The cosmic roll of the dice is a fallacy of deepest falsehood. God’s purposes and plans are intentional and they are detailed eternally and perfectly.
“who had decreed this for us in Christ Jesus” – We had better get used to the fact that all decrees made by the one sovereign God will always come to pass. There is no getting around this truth. There is no fine print that can be used to escape this fact. There are no procedural gymnastics to be employed. So it is that we say, “Hallelujah, praise Jehovah that I am in Christ Jesus!” all of the aforementioned joys, glories, delights, privileges, rights, and gifts are ours through the word and work of one man and one man alone, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He truly is the way, the truth, and the life, and all of those who are in Christ are able to rest upon God’s eternal purpose for his elect.
Take a moment to read through Ephesians 1 sometime this week as we continue reading The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety, rejoicing all the way in Christ.
With gratitude, love, and deep care for all of you,
Pastor Andrew