Page 108 - Fundamentals Ebook

the Lord. We die in the Lord. We are asleep in Jesus. When He
returns we return with Him. All of that pictures union in Christ.

I have a problem. I want union with Christ. Where do I begin?
There is so much in the Bible that pictures union with Christ, like
eating and drinking. I think the greatest picture of union with Christ
is John 17:21, “…that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art
in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may
believe that Thou didst send Me.” The Trinity; God the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit pictures our union with Jesus. Let me tell
you my heart as I present union with Christ.

I want to tell you the two aspects of union which have most changed
my life. We’ll leave many things out but this has changed my life.
I want to show you how union with Jesus relates to His Lordship. I
always use a Bible illustration. To illustrate that I want to use Mary,
the mother of Jesus. Then the second illustration is the head related
to the body and that is the flow of His life. Then right at the end,
very quickly, I want to give the illustration of marriage.

We begin with the Virgin Mary. I believe she is the first picture of
the church in the New Testament. You can tell that by her
contribution to the world. What was her contribution? She gave
Christ to the world. That’s the contribution for the church; we are
to give Christ to the world. Colossians 1:28-29, “And we proclaim
Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all
wisdom, that we may present every man complete to Christ. And
for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which
mightily works within me.” We want to give Christ to the world.

How did she do that? Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered and said
to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy
offspring shall be called the Son of God.’” The Holy Spirit formed
Christ in Mary. How did she respond? Luke 1:38, “And Mary said,
‘Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; be it done to me according to
your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” She said, “May it