Tonight (Tuesday) we heard the second of Sinclair Ferguson's addresses on union with Christ. He began by saying that we are not united to a mystical Christ but to the incarnate Christ. This is the only place we will find blessing.
He went on to speak of how the union is worked out in communion with Christ. We are united to him not only in his exaltation but also in his humiliation - especially in his death as well as his resurrection.
1. Outward
There is a twofold mortification and vivification. The death and resurrection of Christ is to be seen inwardly in the believer. As well as this internal mortification and vivification there is an outward partaking too. Our growth an usefulness is not only connected to the internal mortification and vivification but also to the outward. Perhaps the pattern of building churches with the ground plan in the shape of a cross reflects the suffering that the people of God must expect.
Paul writes to the Colossians as those who are suffering outwardly and so he speaks (Colossians 2) of his own filing up of the suffering of Christ - not in order to atone but as part of his own sanctification and the fruitfulness of the glory of the name of Christ. He often sees his imprisonments and other sufferings as part of his fruit bearing in Christ. It is important to understand this. These troubles are not just to be got through but they are the ongoing pattern for believers. Cf 2 Corinthians 1 and 13. He is not saying here that we are weak but Christ is strong but that we are weak in him. Real apostleship is death in us that life may be seen in others. We are, as it were, miniature servants of the Lord. His pattern will be ours.
When we preach the people are to learn not only from what we say but from our lives. That is why Paul is not only willing to suffer but glories in it. This is the normal mode into which ministers are to be squeezed.
By way of parentheses Dr Ferguson suggested that Stephen and Saul were in the same synagogue and that why Paul struggled with coveting was because in Stephen he had met his match. That is why Stephen had to die. Our lives often make their impact in just five minutes - Anna is an example.
2. Internal
In Colossians 3 he comes to the internal mortification and vivification. No doubt we could preach on the detail. Let's concentrate on the how to. It would be easy to say read John Owen. However, that is to forget the Apostle Paul.
Negatively
How important to recognise the spheres in which sin operates
A dentist spoke of treating each tooth as an individual. We must do something similar with sin. Paul divides up between sins that are private and hidden, that are public and those that even destroy the church.
We need to see sin for what it is. We need to say it and slay it. It can make a difference.
We need to see sin as God sees it. These are things against which God's wrath is coming - what caused the cross.
We need to see who we are.
We need to remember that Christ is in us.
We need to at decisively.
We must not separate the putting off of sin and the putting on of Christ. They go together.
There is a story of Augustine going to hear Ambrose. What impressed Augustine was his kindness not his rhetoric. The importance of love must not be underestimated.
"All Englishmen look the same" a man once said. We see what unites quicker than we see what divides.
Positively
The positive side involves
1 Letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly
2 Giving ourselves to worshipping Christ so idolatry is destroyed
3 Let thankfulness dominate
4 Delight in Christ in everything
He went on to speak of how the union is worked out in communion with Christ. We are united to him not only in his exaltation but also in his humiliation - especially in his death as well as his resurrection.
1. Outward
There is a twofold mortification and vivification. The death and resurrection of Christ is to be seen inwardly in the believer. As well as this internal mortification and vivification there is an outward partaking too. Our growth an usefulness is not only connected to the internal mortification and vivification but also to the outward. Perhaps the pattern of building churches with the ground plan in the shape of a cross reflects the suffering that the people of God must expect.
Paul writes to the Colossians as those who are suffering outwardly and so he speaks (Colossians 2) of his own filing up of the suffering of Christ - not in order to atone but as part of his own sanctification and the fruitfulness of the glory of the name of Christ. He often sees his imprisonments and other sufferings as part of his fruit bearing in Christ. It is important to understand this. These troubles are not just to be got through but they are the ongoing pattern for believers. Cf 2 Corinthians 1 and 13. He is not saying here that we are weak but Christ is strong but that we are weak in him. Real apostleship is death in us that life may be seen in others. We are, as it were, miniature servants of the Lord. His pattern will be ours.
When we preach the people are to learn not only from what we say but from our lives. That is why Paul is not only willing to suffer but glories in it. This is the normal mode into which ministers are to be squeezed.
By way of parentheses Dr Ferguson suggested that Stephen and Saul were in the same synagogue and that why Paul struggled with coveting was because in Stephen he had met his match. That is why Stephen had to die. Our lives often make their impact in just five minutes - Anna is an example.
2. Internal
In Colossians 3 he comes to the internal mortification and vivification. No doubt we could preach on the detail. Let's concentrate on the how to. It would be easy to say read John Owen. However, that is to forget the Apostle Paul.
Negatively
How important to recognise the spheres in which sin operates
A dentist spoke of treating each tooth as an individual. We must do something similar with sin. Paul divides up between sins that are private and hidden, that are public and those that even destroy the church.
We need to see sin for what it is. We need to say it and slay it. It can make a difference.
We need to see sin as God sees it. These are things against which God's wrath is coming - what caused the cross.
We need to see who we are.
We need to remember that Christ is in us.
We need to at decisively.
We must not separate the putting off of sin and the putting on of Christ. They go together.
There is a story of Augustine going to hear Ambrose. What impressed Augustine was his kindness not his rhetoric. The importance of love must not be underestimated.
"All Englishmen look the same" a man once said. We see what unites quicker than we see what divides.
Positively
The positive side involves
1 Letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly
2 Giving ourselves to worshipping Christ so idolatry is destroyed
3 Let thankfulness dominate
4 Delight in Christ in everything
1 comment:
Gary,
Thank you so much for this live blogging. Next best thing to being there!
Nigel Graham
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