THE REALISATION OF UNION
[p. 136] THE REALISATION OF UNION
Our subject still is, “the Holy Spirit”, and we now come to the point of how we arrive at the conscious knowledge of the truth of union with Christ, and the effects of this favour. Every believer is united to Christ as having the Spirit, but everyone is not in the realisation of union. These Ephesian believers had gone on to a good degree; and now, in this chapter, the apostle prays for them to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that they might know these three things: (1) the hope of God’s calling; (2) the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; (3) the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward, etc. If we turn to the type in Genesis 24 it will help us to see how the knowledge of these things is arrived at. There are seven points in Rebekah’s case that illustrate for us the road we must travel to reach the true Isaac - Christ. Isaac is a type of the heavenly Man - Christ. He was not to leave the land of Canaan - figure of heavenly places. But Abraham’s servant is sworn to bring a bride of his own kindred from the distant land - Mesopotamia - for his master’s son; and one who would be in every way suitable to him and for him. There must be no incongruity between them. That is the first point. In type it is the Father’s thought to have a bride for His Son, and the Holy Spirit is the Servant to lead and conduct the bride to Christ. All this corresponds beautifully with Ephesians 1. The second point (verses 13 - 19, etc.) is that not only is Rebekah the right person, but her grace commanded her; she not only gives the servant a drink as requested, but proffers drink for the camels also. She goes in grace beyond [p. 137] the mere terms of the request. That is excess. The third point is decision. When her relatives are consulted they go as far as they can in order to retain her - ten days (man’s measure). She is called; she says, “I will go”. Often the greatest hindrances to a person are found in the circle of family influences. Nothing brings out opposition in such a way as when you give up your family connections, and cast in your lot with the people of God. The fourth point is continuance. She has a desert to cross, and only the company of the servant on the road to cheer her with thoughts of Isaac, and to compensate her for the loss of friends, relatives, and country. She has to pass through the wilderness (compare Psalm 45). The fifth point we may call preparation. She has got a sight of Isaac; she alights off the camel and covers herself with a veil; her individual interests are merged in his. The sixth is that she takes the place of Sarah (Israel) on earth (the tent); the seventh - she is a comfort to Isaac (Christ) during the period when He has lost Israel on earth.
Now read the prayer in Ephesians 3. Here we see the favour (it is not state), that is the portion of those who have consciously reached union. As Rebekah, when united to Isaac, would have an entirely new circle and character of interests, so now Christ Himself, His glory, His love, are the things that fill the heart. Christ dwelling in your hearts by faith in this chapter is not the same idea as Christ formed in you in Galatians. That is state; this is favour. Isaac, so to speak, might have been formed in Rebekah’s heart when the servant came to her - as Christ is formed in the believer by the Spirit, but it was not until she came to Isaac that she knew the wonderful character of the favour that was hers as the bride of Isaac.
You now (in chapter 3) not only have God’s purposes - the mystery of His will (as in chapter 1) made known to you, but you can survey all the vast domain of Christ’s [p. 138] glory, even now. You have in you surpassing power; you comprehend surpassing glory; you know surpassing love; and are filled unto all the fulness of God. It is the power that works in us that accomplishes this, as in chapter 1 it is the power that works towards us; and now (as these things are true in you) you can come forth divinely in every circle; until eventually power works from you in maintaining your ground against the complete power of Satan (in type, the seven nations of Canaan). In this conflict you must be invulnerable in order to be invincible; Ephesians 6: 10 - 18.