It is not correct to say that Christ had union with us in the days of His flesh. He was God manifested in the flesh. He came to save us—to bring us to God. He loved us, and died for us; but He was alone. Perfect in every respect, and holy He was at all times, and knew no sin—was without sin. We, on the contrary, were dead in sins. How could there be union therefore between the infinitely holy and the thoroughly unclean? Impossible. He had the deepest, richest mercy and compassion for us most surely, but that is not union. His obedient to His Father’s will and love for us led Him on to the death of the cross. Before that He was a solitary stranger in a world of sinners. The Lord plainly taught this, and showed that union with Himself must be consequent upon His death upon the cross. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24).) This test is enough to show that union with Him could only be after death, and that it could not be before it. Elsewhere we are taught that the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven consequent on the glorification of Christ, forms this union: “By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13).) While, then, the union of the believer with Christ is righteously based upon the redemption work of Christ, the reality of this union is effected by the Holy Ghost linking believers on with the Head of the body in heaven.
We see Him as Emmanuel—God with us—in every step of His path of sorrow from the manger to the cross, but He thus manifested the grace and holiness of God. In the cross, too, we see the righteous claims of God judicially met in His suffering for sins, the Just for the unjust, but that was to bring us to God. It is, then, in reference to the exalted Christ at the right hand of God that we are taught that “We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” (Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30).) It was always the divine counsel and purpose, even before the world was, that we should be “in Christ,” but that could not be established and realized until the transgression and iniquity with which we were associated—the sin under which we were—had been righteously dealt with, and God’s holiness perfectly vindicated. When eternal redemption had thus been accomplished, the eternal counsels and purposes of divine love could then unhinderedly flow forth.
It is a fact, then, whether apprehended and enjoyed or not, that everyone who now has the Lord Jesus risen and exalted as the object of faith is united to Christ in the heavenlies by the Holy Ghost. It is a truth full of comfort and blessing to those who receive it as a divine reality, but it is not contingent on our experience or intelligence, because it is entirely the work of the Holy Ghost. If souls were simply influenced by the Scriptures, and depended on the teaching of the Holy Ghost, they would doubtless be instructed in this blessed truth; for when Jesus was going away, and He spoke of the coming and operations of the Holy Ghost, He said, “In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:2121He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21).)
If this truth were believed, what joy and power in walk and testimony there would be! One with Christ—how high the dignity, how elevated the position! What riches in glory does this standing secure to us! If we enjoyed the truth that we are one with Christ, how could we carry a divided heart, or how could the flow of affection to Himself be checked? What interest could occupy us but His interests? what place could we crave where He is not? or what honor could we seek but that which cometh from God only?