| The Christian Life | April 1940 |
Our Unity in Christ
“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.”—Ephesians 5:32
THE oneness of Christ and the church, in co-operation with the Father’s outworking of the Divine Plan, is one of the most precious truths of the Bible. So important did Jesus consider this oneness to be, that in His prayer, recorded in John 17, we find that much of the burden of His petition to the Heavenly Father pertains to this blessed relationship. He prayed that the church might be one with Him in the same sense that He was one with the Father. This oneness has ever been a mystery to all those not initiated into this blessed relationship with Jesus and with the Father. It is a oneness that extends into every phase of the Christian life; yes, and will continue in the life of glory to follow.
Many scriptural illustrations are given in order that we may be helped to understand all that is implied in this glorious oneness of Christ and the church. There is the illustration of the human body, in which Jesus is represented as the Head and the church as the various members of the body. Then there is the vine illustration, in which, as Jesus explained, He is the vine and the various members of His church are the branches.
Another illustration of this mystic oneness of the Christ company is that of the wheat loaf. Here the church are represented as grains of wheat which have lost their identity in becoming a part of the one great loaf. Another illustration used by Jesus in association with His use of the wheat picture is that of the fruit of the vine. Here a similar thought is pictured, in that the individual grapes have also lost their identity in being crushed to produce the wine.
In the epistle from which our text is taken, the apostle uses the illustration of the bride and the bridegroom. Christ is the great Bridegroom, His followers together constitute His Bride. Then there is the illustration of the captain and his soldiers. Jesus is the “Captain of our salvation,” and His followers are the privates, as it were, in the Lord’s army. Still another illustration is that of the shepherd and his sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, His followers are the sheep.
One of the most meaningful of the scriptural illustrations of this oneness is introduced typically in the Old Testament. It is that of the priesthood, in which Jesus is the Great High Priest, and the Church constitutes the under-priests. In some of the priesthood pictures the church is represented as associated in the High Priest Himself as members of His body.
In considering these various illustrations of the oneness of Christ and the church, we should not endeavor to understand how a soldier could at the same time be a sheep; nor yet how a hand or a foot in a body could be a grain of wheat crushed and helping to make up one great loaf. The thought is, rather, that each of these illustrations contains a certain lesson, and it is a knowledge of all these various pictures that will give us the best understanding and the most inspiring view of what Jesus had in mind when He prayed for the oneness of the Christ company.
JESUS, THE HEAD, THE CHURCH HIS BODY
The head and body illustration of our unity in Christ is presented to us in considerable detail by the Apostle Paul in the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians. A number of important lessons here are brought to our attention by the apostle by means of the inspired use of this illustration. He explains, for example, that we are all baptized by one spirit into this body. The force and beauty of this thought is readily seen when we consider the relationship of the head to the body. The head controls the body. It is the head that does the thinking and planning. Members of the body act only as they receive instructions from the head. Thus we are reminded that as members of the body of Christ, we are ‘to receive our directions from the Head of that body which is Jesus Christ. No longer are we supposed to think and plan for ourselves. The things that we think and say and do are supposed to be only those which are directed by and have the approval of the Head.
This is a very searching lesson indeed, and as we ponder it, we should have impressed upon us the necessity of fully yielding our wills to the will of God as it is expressed through Christ Jesus, our Head. The full implication of that particular lesson is brought to our attention in Revelation 20:4, where the entire Christ company are represented as being “beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God”—that is to say, as members of the body of Christ, we have accepted Him as our Head, which means that we have no other Head but Christ Jesus, not even our own head.
Another point in this lesson of the head and the body which Paul takes occasion to emphasize, is the fact that in the ordinary body each member has some particular part to play, and that all the members are necessary. This serves well to illustrate the variety of opportunities and responsibilities which devolve upon Christians and that none should think that because he is not serving as someone else is serving that he has no part in the body arrangement. This shows too, that one member cannot minimize the importance of another member. This, in turn, should help to keep all the members humble and in the proper spirit of submission to the will of the Head. The head and body illustration particularly emphasizes the necessity of the Christian having no will of his own. It is the picture of full submission, full surrender, to the doing of the divine will.
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” Here we have, not the thought of a surrendered will as is shown in the head and body illustration, but the great lesson of the church’s dependence upon Christ for life. Furthermore, in this illustration of the vital life connection between Christ and His church, He reveals the fact that our association with the Master is not merely a selfish one in the sense that our own life and salvation is the only consideration. True, we do receive life through Him; but, the vine illustration brings home to us the fact that the purpose of this vital life connection is not merely that the branches should live, but also that they should bear fruit.
In the vine and branches illustration, we might properly think of the sap that flows from the vine into the branches as representing the Holy Spirit. It is the flowing of the Holy Spirit from Christ to the church which is not only the life-giving force in the branches, but it is that invigorating influence in the Christian life which causes him to bring forth fruit. The fruit of the Spirit, the apostle says, is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, brotherly kindness, patience, etc. These manifestations of the spirit not only become apparent in the Christian himself, but as fruit, these various qualities become a blessing to others. Indeed, a very important consideration in fruit-bearing is that the fruit is developed not for the benefit of the vine and branches but for the benefit of those who pluck and eat it. From this, therefore, we see that the Christian who is united with Christ, and is receiving of the Christ Spirit and manifesting that spirit in his daily life, is bound to radiate blessings of joy and peace and happiness to those with whom he comes in contact.
“WE BEING MANY ARE ONE LOAF”
One of the Scriptural references to the wheat and bread illustration of Christian unity is that of 1st Corinthians 10:16,17. The apostle’s statement, “We being many are one loaf,” is self-explanatory. In order for grains of wheat to become part of a loaf of bread, it is quite necessary that they lose their own individuality. Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” (Matt. 16:24) One manner in which every Christian denies himself is by losing his identity in becoming a part of this one loaf. This does not mean that the Christian can safely shirk his own individual responsibilities of obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. The thought, rather, is that his value in the divine scheme is not because of any merit of his own, but because he is a part of this mystery arrangement of oneness in Christ.
Bread is used for food. So this illustration reminds us again of the divine purpose in Christ for the blessing of others. The church feeds upon Christ, the Bread of Life. The church, in association with Jesus in the one greater loaf, will be the life-sustaining food for the world in the next age. Just as the vine does not bear fruit for itself, even so bread is not produced to be food for itself, but for others.
Each memorial season we are reminded of the bread illustration in that, when partaking of the memorial elements, we have brought home to us the fact that we are not only memorializing the death of Jesus and of the life-value His sacrifice means to us, but also, by the same token are reaffirming our determination to be broken with Him.
Closely associated with the wheat and the bread illustration is that of the grape and wine. Here again is the thought of the blending of many individualities into one common unity. Here, also, is represented not only the work of Christ on behalf of the church but the partnership arrangement of Christ and His church in the one great sacrifice of this Gospel age.
Jesus explains that the fruit of the vine represented His blood, shed for the remission of sin. In asking the disciples to drink this cup, He not only suggested to them the necessity of partaking of His life, but also indicated that they were to die with Him. This point, thus so clearly illustrated in the wine picture, is otherwise clearly taught in the Scriptures. For example, we are admonished to lay down our lives for the brethren. In 1st Corinthians 15, the apostle indicates that this sacrificial work of the Christ body is a baptism of death on behalf of the world. Thus it is that we share with Jesus in the great sacrificial work, laying down our lives, not only for the brethren, but for the world of mankind. Perhaps none of the other Scriptural illustrations of the oneness of Christ and the church so beautifully represent this unity in sacrifice as does the picture of the wine.
THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM
In the bride and bridegroom picture we have still other important phases of the Messianic oneness brought to our attention. The apostle, in using this illustration, mentions the important lesson taught thereby. He explains, for example, that as the husband is head of the wife, so Christ is Head of the church. But in this connection he also emphasizes the mutual arrangement of sympathy and love that exists in an ideal marriage association.
As the proper husband loves and cherishes his wife, so Christ loves and cherishes His bride. How meaningful this illustration should be to all those who have, through full consecration, entered into fellowship with the Master. How sweet that fellowship and communion should be. Surely there is no lack of love on the Master’s part, and as we come to know and appreciate more and more of His tenderness and sympathy and loving watch-care over us it will call for a greater spirit of devotion on our part; not only toward Him, but toward those who are in similar blessed association with Him.
The bridegroom and bride illustration also carries over into the future association with the Master in glory. As the bride usually shares the honor and wealth of the bridegroom, so the church, as the bride of Christ, will share His future glory with Him. She will share His home. She will share with Him, as joint-heir, in the Kingdom work. It is for this reason that the Revelator represents the bride in her future state of glory as saying to the world of mankind in general, “Come, … and take of the water of life freely.”—Rev. 22:17
CAPTAIN AND SOLDIERS
The captain and soldiers illustration carries with it a lesson all its own. Paul writes to Timothy saying, “Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (II Tim. 2:3) Thus we are reminded that the Christian life of association with the Master is one of hardship and struggle. It is a life that will call for endurance and obedience. When we think of the church in the role of espoused virgin to Christ, we are reminded of the tender compassion and the loving watch-care the Master has over His own. But there is much more to the Christian life than merely that of being tenderly cared for and cherished by the prospective bridegroom.
There are battles to be fought, and in order to fight these battles successfully it is necessary to obey implicitly the Captain of our salvation. Hence we must learn to take orders and to humbly and obediently obey those orders. We are to realize that as soldiers in the Lord’s army we are continually confronted with enemies, and that in order to make good our calling, we must be overcomers. This calls for strength, for stamina, for endurance of hardship, for gallantry in battle, and finally in death. The Christian soldier, however, unlike other soldiers, is victorious even in death.
An illustration of the Messianic oneness quite in contrast with that of the captain and the soldiers is the one in which Jesus is shown to be the Shepherd of His sheep, and we, His followers, are represented as being the sheep. Here is a lesson of humility as well as of dependency. The safety and life of a sheep depends upon its willingness to listen for and to follow the voice of the shepherd.
Here then, from a different standpoint, we have again brought to our attention the lesson of obedience. It is not obedience in battle which leads to the death of the flesh but an obedience upon which depends the life and security of the new creature. For the sheep to fail to give heed to the voice of the Shepherd and follow Him, means that it will stray away from the divine pastures and thus fall prey to the many enemies that are ever on the alert to devour and destroy.
Not only does the shepherd and sheep illustration represent the importance of the Christian humbly following the Good Shepherd, but it also reminds us of the tender watch-care of the Master over His sheep. And with what tenderness He does care for His own! He leads them beside the still waters and in green pastures, He prepares a table for them in the presence of their enemies; protecting them as they partake of the food to which He leads them. If they are somewhat disobedient, He uses His rod and staff to bring them back into the fold, and, perchance, to chastise them in order that they may learn the absolute necessity of giving better attention to His voice, as He leads them on day by day through the valley of the shadow of death into the Kingdom.
THE PRIESTHOOD
The priesthood picture of unity with Christ is introduced typically in the Old Testament. In the book of Hebrews the apostle teaches us that the services conducted by the priests in the typical tabernacle of Israel represented good things to come. In Hebrews 3:1 we read, “Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” That He is the High Priest of our profession means that we are the under priests in this arrangement. The Apostle Peter teaches us the same important lesson when he says in his first epistle, second chapter, verse 9, “Ye are … a royal priesthood.”
The priesthood illustration teaches two fundamental facts pertaining to the relationship of Christ and the church. First, it shows our oneness with the Master in the privilege of sacrifice. One of the duties of a priest is to offer sacrifice. The typical priests offered animals in sacrifice, first laying their hands upon the heads of the animals thus indicating that in sacrifice the animal was being offered in their place. In the antitype, however, the priests offer themselves in sacrifice. Thus the apostle says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”—Rom. 12:1
The offering of sacrifice is not the only duty of a priest. In addition to being a sacrificer, the typical priests were also blessers. In a lesson which is brought to our attention in the 9th chapter of Leviticus, we find that after the work of sacrifice was complete the high priest came forth and blessed the people. Thus we find that the antitypical priesthood, Christ and His church, are also to be blessers of the people. This entire Gospel age has been set aside as a period for sacrifice. But when the sacrificial work of the priesthood is over, the priests will come forth to bless the people. On this point we read in Revelation 5:10 that they—i.e., the church, in association with Jesus her Head in this great mystery—shall be kings and priests unto God and shall reign on the earth.
Quite apart from types and illustrations, the Scriptural testimony is definite to the effect that the church is to share with Jesus in the work of blessing the people in the next age. For example, the promise God made to Abraham was that through his seed all the families of the earth were to be blessed. In Galatians 3:8,16 and 29, the apostle recalls the promise that was made to Abraham, identifies Jesus as primarily being the seed of promise, and then points out that as many as have been baptized into Jesus, thus becoming members of His body, are also considered by Gods as a part of this seed of promise. These, the Apostle explains, are heirs of this promise to bless all the families of the earth.
As already noted, in the picture of sacrifice given us in the 9th chapter of Leviticus and that, also, of the 16th chapter, the high priest came forth clothed in garments of glory and beauty, and gave his blessing upon Israel. The antitypical high priest, Jesus, according to the New Testament, is also to appear in glory. When that takes place, the apostle explains, those who have faithfully suffered and died with Him are to appear with Him in glory. Thus they are pictured as being associated in His glory as a part of the great anti-typical High Priest who appears for the very purpose of dispensing to the world of mankind the blessings that were provided by reason of the work of sacrifice.
We have considered only a few of the many Scriptures and illustrations bearing upon this great subject of Christian unity. It is, a mystery, the apostle explains, that has been hidden from ages and generations, and, in fact, is still hidden from the vast majority. Happy are we that the Lord has taken us into His confidence and permitted us to see and appreciate something of the many blessed implications of this mystery, and our share therein. No wonder the Scriptures declare, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” (Matt. 13:16) The apostle speaks of a class who are not able to discern the Body of Christ. This evidently means that they are not able to appreciate the full significance of what is implied in the matter of being associated with the Master as partners with Him in the outworking of the divine plan of human redemption and salvation.
The knowing of these things on our part brings responsibility. We should be doers of the Word and not merely hearers. It is important to know that Christ is the Head and the Church is His body, but it is vastly more important, knowing this, that we yield our wills fully to Him and permit our Head to think and plan for us, having no mind of our own except as we are directed by the Head.
It is important, also, that we know of the vine and branches, but much more important that as branches in the vine we partake freely of the sap, or Holy Spirit, that emanates from the vine, and, as a result of permitting it to flow freely through our lives, bring forth fruit to the glory of God and to the blessing of those with whom we come in contact.
The practical heart application of these truths is the important consideration. True, we must know them in order to apply them in our lives, but the mere understanding of any of the precious truths of God’s Word, is of little avail except as we yield ourselves in obedience thereto. Having learned that Jesus is the Bread of Life, let us feed upon Him. Having learned of the privilege of being broken with Him, in order to be a part of a greater loaf, let us humbly deny ourselves, willingly surrendering our individuality in order that we may become a part of this glorious mystery arrangement through which the life-giving Bread will be made available for the world in the next age.
Let us gladly take the cup of salvation and pay our vows of consecration unto the Lord, daily. Let us not only rejoice in the knowledge of salvation available for us through the blood of Christ, but may we respond enthusiastically to the invitation to die with Jesus, thus drinking the cup with Him.
Let us cultivate such an intimate acquaintance with the Master, who is our Heavenly Bridegroom, that the Biblical truths concerning the relationship of the bride to Him, will be more than a mere theory in our minds. May the blessedness of this precious association inspire us with an ever increasing diligence to serve and please Him in thought, word and deed. And may the hope of joint-heirship in the glories of His Kingdom and in the sharing of His home, and in the dispensing of the blessings promised to all the families of the earth, cause us to redouble our efforts to put aside every other consideration in our lives, determined that from henceforth we shall be all for Jesus, all for Jesus.
And what a wonderful privilege it is to be soldiers in the Lord’s army. May the significance of this illustration of our oneness with the Master impress upon our minds the importance of obedience to His orders. Let us not be tempted to question the wisdom of the Captain’s strategy in this great fight of faith in which He is leading His army on to victory. While fighting valiantly in His army may we at the same time, like humble dependent sheep, listen for the Shepherd’s voice and depend on His overruling providences in our lives so that we may have the assurance that under His tender care all things indeed shall work together for our good.—Rom. 8:28
It is grand to understand some of the typical significance of the tabernacle and its services, and to know that the priests of Israel represented the greater priesthood of this and the next age. But let us endeavor faithfully day by day to make the practical application of these facts in our lives by yielding up ourselves in sacrifice to God. Let us rejoice indeed that an altar has been provided for us and that through the blood of Christ our sacrifice thereon is acceptable to the Lord.
Eventually, and we believe soon, the sacrificial work of this age will be ended. Then the mystery of God will be complete, and the promised blessings will, through Christ and His partners in this mystery arrangement, flow out to all mankind.