IT is a wonderful mystery that we should now be one with Christ in the heavenlies. But so it is. We have passed from death unto life. We are in Him, and He is in us. Our life is hid with Him. He dwelleth in us by the Spirit. He made our sins His own, and was made a curse for us upon the tree; consequently our old man was crucified with Him―we died unto sin in Him our Substitute. But now He is alive again. He is risen from the dead. The One who was made sin for us, and bore the sentence of death in our stead, has been raised again from the dead by the glory of the Father. Our Head is raised far above all principality and power. “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.” I believe we should always think of Christ seated in heavenly places, as our Head―as One who now appears in the presence of God for us.
We have no lower standing than union with Christ. It is not a work of attainment on our part; no, it is what Christ has done. He has redeemed us to Himself―to be His bride. It is unbelief to take any lower ground, and should be confessed as sin to God. This great truth received into the heart by faith takes us in spirit clean out of the world. The reason why so many, whom we hope after all are Christians, are so cold and carnal, is because they do not believe this exceeding rich grace of God: they do not reckon themselves to have died unto sin in Christ crucified, and to be alive unto God as one with Christ risen. (Rom. 6) They are not abiding in Christ. When Adam said to Eve, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh,” they were distinct persons as to identity, yet the husband could speak of the wife as one with him; and though Christ personally is in the heavenlies, and we are not, He speaks of us as “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” Faith receives this truth, because God declares it. The apostle Paul, speaking of husband and wife being “one flesh,” says, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:30, 3230For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32).) This is what grace has done. Nothing can alter it. It is forever. “Because I live, ye shall live also,” said Jesus. This is our present rest. A little while, and the Head and members will be together in eternal bliss; for “when Christ who is our life shall appear, we also shall appear with Him in glory.” Come, Lord Jesus. O come quickly!