KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE

 

Scripture: Col 2:2

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:2 

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

 

Introduction:

There are many metaphors used in Scripture, especially in the writings of the apostle Paul to describe the union that exists between the believer in Christ and Christ himself. In our first we see the New Testament Church described by Paul as being knit together in love.

The New Testament shows Christ returning to earth to receive His bride, the true New Testament Church. Paul’s object of teaching was that the church might be “knit together in love. We will look at this some more in just a minute.

Paul said he was jealous for the Corinthian church for he had espoused, which is somewhat like we today call engagement, or a part of the marriage process: He had espoused them to Jesus Christ. This is said to show the union between the church and Jesus Christ.

In other scripture, and we shall look that them as we proceed – we see the union of a body and its unity of many members within that body.

Today I will apply these metaphors as Scripture does to the Church of Jesus Christ and to its many members. As well we will apply it today to the union of a man and a woman in marriage.

Let us then proceed to examine these metaphors and make a Biblical and spiritual application- We will do this under the following three headings-

 

1.      THE PURPOSE OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST:

2.      THE PRACTICE OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST:

3.      THE POWER OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST:

 

1.      THE PURPOSE OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST: Eph 1:10 

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

First we must realize that Jesus Christ is the center of all of God’s plan and purpose for mankind and for this world in which we live.

A.  The Plan:

      1.   The apostle Paul taught that God’s plan for man began in God’s eternal degree before the world began – Ephesians 1:4-12

            “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

            5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

            6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

            7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

            8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

            9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

            10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

            11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

            12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

      2.   The center of God’s plan is clearly seen as being in Jesus Christ- The center of the Bible and its message for man is the “cross of Calvary”

            Ephesians 2:16 

            “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

      3.   God’s plan is for certain ones whom He has chosen will be in union with Him through His Son. –

            Ephesians 1:12 

            “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

            1 Peter 2:9 

            “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

            “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

 

B. The Purpose:

      1.   God’s purpose is first seen in order to bring glory to Him!

            (We have already seen this in the foregoing scriptures)

      2.   God is glorified through the work of His Son- Jesus Christ!

            John 12:28 

“Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

      3.   God shares that glory with His Son and with those who are redeemed and united in the Church of Jesus Christ.

            John 17:5 

            “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

      4.   Jesus Christ receives glory in and through the church. –Ephesians 3:21

            “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

            How wonderful that the church can share the glory of Christ and the Father!

 

            C.  The Provision:

                  1.   God has provided salvation for certain ones through His Son-Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:21 

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The word “whosoever” here is conditional to the word call. Elsewhere it is used similarly as conditional to the word “believe”.

Only one who is born of God can believe – (John 1:13)

                  2.   Salvation is not in a set of rules or by good works- but in the Person of Jesus Christ – 1 John 5:11-13 and 20

                        “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

                        12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

                        13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

                        20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

                  3.   God’s elect are called “sheep” – and they are to be herded into a fold known as a church.

                        Isaiah 53:6

                        “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

                        John 10:26-27 

                        “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

                        My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

                        Acts 20:28

                        “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

                        The Bible clearly separated the sheep from the goats-

                        Matthew 25:32 

                        “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

 

2.      THE PRACTICE OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST: Galatians 6:15 

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

      2 Corinthians 5:17 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

A.  The Old Man:

                  1.   The “Old Man” is the natural man, it is the nature that every man inherits

                        from Adam.

                        Romans 6:6 

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

                  2.   The nature of our flesh or Adamic nature is to sin –

                        Romans 7:14-25

                        14 ¶  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

                  3.   The Adamic nature is unrepairable – it cannot be fixed –

                        This Paul made clear in Romans chapter 7

                        Romans 6:23

                        “The wages of sin is death”

 

B.  The New Man:

                  1.   The Bible states that the new man is made after the second Adam- Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:45 

                        “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

                        1Co 15:47-49

                        “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

                        As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

                        And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

                  2.   When one is regenerated (born again) God’s seed is implanted within him. This is the Spirit of Christ – the Holy Spirit.- Romans 8:9

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

2 Peter 1:4 

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

                        John 14:17 

                        “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

                        Romans 8:11 

                        “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

                  3.   The new nature is a “love nature” – it enables us to love the brethren –

                        1 Peter 1:22 

                        “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

                        John 13:34 

                        “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

                        John 13:35 

                        “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

                        John 15:17 

                        “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

 

3.      THE POWER OF OUR UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST: Matthew 28:18  “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

A.  The Source of our Power:

      1.   The source of our power is Jesus Christ- but note that it began in heaven and then on earth.

      2.   God is the source of all power. Proverbs 16:4 

            “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”

      3.   The source of our power is seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead – 1 Peter 1:3 

            “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

 

B.  The Strength of our Power:

      1.   There is no limit to the strength of our power- When Jesus empowered His church on the Day of Pentecost we see God’s power revealed –

      2.   The power or authority of the church is first corporate but it is also personal – Philippians 4:13 

            “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

      3.   God can do all things through the vehicle of His power – Ephesians 1:22  “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”

            Romans 15:19 

            “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

            Zechariah 4:6 

            “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

C.  The Sentence of our Power:

      1.   The power of God is placed within earthen vessels – in order to bring glory to God.

      2.   Sinful men cannot glory in themselves as to their accomplishment –

      3.   God’s power is found in the gospel – Romans 1:16-17

            “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

            For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

      4.   God’s power is seen in the cross of Calvary – 1 Corinthians 1:18 

            “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

 

D.  The Specific Result of our Power:

      1.   Through the gospel we find healing of our wounds-

            “There is a balm in Gilead, that heals the sin-sick soul”

      2.   There can only be unity in the purpose and plan of God.

      3.   Love is the result of God’s in-working in the lives of people. The results of that love are found in Paul’s love chapter- 1 Corinthians 13.

      4.   In the church or in any union between men and women there can be no blessing unless love is there and allowed to knit us together.  Love will bring unity to the church and to the family – union is not unity!

            You can tie a cat and a dog together by their tails and they will be united but they will not be in unity.

      5.   The foundation of the New Covenant is built upon love – this is the new commandment that Christ gave to his church.

 

Conclusion:

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 – the apostle Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain the function of the church. Union between men and women and within the church can only truly become unity as we learn to identify our head and to treat each member in honor and respect to each ministry. There is no place for dictatorship in the church or in the home but we are admonished by the apostle Paul - Romans 12:10 

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”

Ephesians 5:21 

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

If we do this we shall have unity in the church and in the home.

 

Prepared by Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

For use in Philippine Mission 2007.

September 20th 2007.

Preached at a double wedding ceremony in Harip, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines, November 2007.