June 8th, 2014. ORGANIC UNION For if we have grown together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. Romans 6:5 To help us understand the word organic, let us read Frederick Godets commentary on Romans 6:5. He is describing the Greek word sumphutos, translated as grown together. Godet says, This adjective, therefore, denotes the organic union in virtue of which one being shares the life, growth, and phases of existence belonging to another. Organic union means that one being shares the life of another. This is the nature of the organic union in our spirit. In our spirit we are sharing the life of Another (Rom. 8:10). Our entire being is made up of spirit and soul and body (1 Thess. 5:23). Our spirit is the deepest part of our being, referred to in Ephesians 3:16 as the inner man. It is in our spirit that the organic union is effected in us. It is Christ Himself, His very resurrected Person, the real Jesus, alive, the One who died, rose, and ascended, who is now transmitted directly into our spirit. Our human spirit is joined to His risen life (Rom. 7:4, 6). In this spirit- union I am joined to a Person. He is the Person in my person. First Corinthians 15:45 describes the nature of Christs Person:The last Adam became a life- giving Spirit. The last Adam means that He is the proper and genuine Man of all men, the proper Person of all persons. In the Gospels the Lord called Himself the Son of Man more than any other title. He is the representative man. He is the real man. He is the real personality. He is the real human being. He is the proper human life. He is the Son of Man. This Person wants to be our person, so His Personhood became a life- giving Spirit who is now joined to our spirit. Thus, what we are joined to is the life of the last Adam, the perfect Person, who is Gods wisdom to us, including righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). Now our person is Christ living in our spirit. When we speak of the organic union, it means we share the life, the growth, and the phases of existence belonging to Him. In our spirit we are partaking of all that Christ is and has accomplished! For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection [Rom. 6:5]. In other words, if we are united by being grafted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also united by growth—grafted, vitally connected—in the likeness of His resurrection. We actually share the life of Christ somewhat as a limb grafted into a tree shares the life of the tree. The life of Christ is our life now. FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN INGRAFTED, ETC. He strengthens in plainer words the argument he has already stated; for the similitude which he mentions leaves now nothing doubtful, inasmuch as grafting designates not only a conformity of example, but a secret union, by which we are joined to him; so that he, reviving us by his Spirit, transfers his own virtue to us. Hence as the graft has the same life or death in common with the tree into which it is ingrafted, so it is reasonable that we should be partakers of the life no less than of the death of Christ; for if we are ingrafted according to the likeness of Christs death, which was not without a resurrection, then our death shall not be without a resurrection. But the words admit of a twofold explanation, — either that we are ingrafted in Christ into the likeness of his death, or, that we are simply ingrafted in its likeness. The first reading would require the Greek dative ὁμοιώματι, to be understood as pointing out the manner; nor do I deny but that it has a fuller meaning:but as the other harmonizes more with simplicity of expression, I have preferred it; though it signifies but little, as both come to the same meaning. Chrysostom thought that Paul used the expression, likeness of death, for death, as he says in another place, being made in the likeness of men. But it seems to me that there is something more significant in the expression; for it not only serves to intimate a resurrection, but it seems also to indicate this — that we die not like Christ a natural death, but that there is a similarity between our and his death; for as he by death died in the flesh, which he had assumed from us, so we also die in ourselves, that we may live in him. It is not then the same, but a similar death; for we are to notice the connection between the death of our present life and spiritual renovation. INGRAFTED, ETC. There is great force in this word, and it clearly shows, that the Apostle does not exhort, but rather teach us what benefit we derive from Christ; for he requires nothing from us, which is to be done by our attention and diligence, but speaks of the grafting made by the hand of God. But there is no reason why you should seek to apply the metaphor or comparison in every particular; for between the grafting of trees, and this which is spiritual, a disparity will soon meet us:in the former the graft draws its aliment from the root, but retains its own nature in the fruit; but in the latter not only we derive the vigor and nourishment of life from Christ, but we also pass from our own to his nature. The Apostle, however, meant to express nothing else but the efficacy of the death of Christ, which manifests itself in putting to death our flesh, and also the efficacy of his resurrection, in renewing within us a spiritual nature. June 8 MORNING THE LORD MADE ALL THAT HE DID TO PROSPER IN HIS HAND. Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.-- Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.-- Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper-- Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day;... and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth. [Is] not the LORD your God with you? and hath he [not] given you rest on every side? GEN 39:3. Ps 128:1, 2.-- Ps 37:3, 4.-- Jos 1:9. Mt 6:33. 2 Ch 26:5.-- De 8:11, 17. 1 Ch 22:18. June 8 EVENING WHY REASON YE THESE THINGS IN YOUR HEARTS? Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Saras womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?-- If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.-- Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?-- Behold the fowls of the air:... your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?-- Why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not... remember the five loaves of the five thousand? My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. MARK 2:8. Ro 4:19, 20. Mar 2:9.-- Mar 9:23. Mt 28:18.-- Mar 4:40.-- Mt 6:26.-- Mt 16:8, 9. Phil 4:19.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:42:48 +0000
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