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Lord Jesus we thank you for the privilege of being redeemed and the privilege to gather with Your people with the Saints on the Lord's Day to encourage one another to love and good works. And we thank you Lord for the benefits.
We have by your grace alone in union with Christ. We pray that you would bring those who are traveling safely here. And we pray that you'd bless the other ministries the other Sunday school sessions Nursery and all the other ministers.
I pray that you'd be with them and you would be pleased with our work that you would be glorified in Christ's holy name I pray Amen, if you work for a corporation if you're in if you're employed even if you're self-employed.
You have some benefits. Some of my favorite benefits even with the two companies I've worked for across my career is tuition reimbursement and Hotel discounts, which we I will admit me and my wife. We take full advantage of what are some of your favorite employee benefits?
Anything that really comes health care. Yes health care is great right? That's important Tony. Personal days sick days, right? That's that's another big one. Well anymore Andrew that's great. That's awesome.
Ski vacation. That's great. So benefits are exclusively to Our four employees. They're not for people who are outside the company. Some companies give even better Benefits if you notice a lot of the new startups give you unlimited vacation.
They give you unlimited sick days. So Tony You might benefit from that. Like this this there's a lot of very very good benefits. Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics? only 14 of employees Know their benefits and only 20 of them Actually take advantage of having benefits.
Among those among the benefits that are that people are most negligent about. Guess what John? Health and preventive care is one of them. People don't know what all the benefits are that they have in that area and One and one more that's very commonly, but one that people are negligent about is tuition reimbursement.
So people are believe it or not Ignorant they love these benefits. They actually look at it a lot before they start a company, but then they don't take advantage and use it. The Christian has certain benefits a lot of benefits they're exclusive only to the believer.
But when you think about employee benefits and and Christian benefits. What is the one major difference that stands out? What is the one major difference? Excellent, you don't earn your Christian benefits.
Employee benefits are part of your package. You earned it your education your experience. You have absolutely earned it you deserve it. It's part of compensation. It's part of sometimes even part of your wages.
It's very much what you've earned. Christian privileges. Benefits that we have as Christians is not earned by us. It's granted to us by grace alone. We don't deserve it but Christ's meritorious work has made many privileges available to us.
Many privileges. The one common thread with these benefits are between employee benefits for instance and Christian benefits is that a lot of Christians don't know about these privileges these benefits they're negligent to about it and They don't know about the privileges and they don't know about the many blessings they have in Christ.
Let's look at a definition. I went to John MacArthur for this one. A privilege is a right or benefit enjoyed by a person beyond the advantage of most. So the privileged belong to a class that enjoys special favor.
This week I'm going to talk about union with Christ, which is a wonderful Basic, but very important privilege we have as Christians. Over the next two weeks. I'll talk about another one the armor of God.
How do you use it? What is it is it only available to Christians? Yes a hint. But let this week. Let's look at union with Christ for that. Let's do some introductory work. Open your Bibles if you may to.
Colossians chapter 2 were 6 to 15 and. Could somebody read? 6 to 10 and another person read 10 to 15. Colossians chapter 2 were 6 to 15. Thank you. Let's pay attention to these verses. Look at the identity of the believer in Christ Jesus.
Look at the terms look for these terms is Forgiveness, there's new life. There's victory and there's resurrection all available to the believer. Because of his union with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a good text to study when you're looking at privileges.
We can look at Colossians 2 1st Peter 2 and Ephesians 1. My focus today will be Ephesians 1. But I'll touch a little bit upon these two verses and these two chapters Colossians 2 and 1st Peter 2. So If you don't understand these privileges and wish we ought to know about them because it encourages us it Fuels our growth fuels our evangelism.
It fuels our joy. Colossians 2 is a good place to start. I was talking to a friend of mine who's from South Korea and he was he's Confucius he was Confucius now a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and we.
I was talking to him at work a few months ago. And he was very excited. Because he was able to study about what union with Christ meant. Mind you know what the religion and MacArthur talks about this, too.
He says that Christianity is the only religion that's John MacArthur says that Christianity is the only religion in which its object becomes the life of the believer. A Buddhist is not is not said to be in Buddha.
Confucian is not in Confucius or a Muslim in Muhammad. No Buddhist Confucian or Muslim ever taught that they possess the eternal life of their founder yet Christians have the life of Christ. We are partakers of the divine nature talking to my friend about this who's from Confucius who's from that religion from Confucius and Needless to say he was confused.
And he he had no idea that this was a privilege that is being united with God Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ how that was a privilege in Of being a Christian so he started studying it more we started talking about it a lot more and I can tell you That I didn't know that when you look at the scriptures and wherever it says in him in him in him.
It is it is talking about union with Christ, but often I don't know if you have you've made the same mistake. But the mistake I make is just read the sentence and move over go to the next one. This is a great drop doctrine a great truth and I strongly encourage you to study it more.
Let's look at the next book first Peter 2 4 to 10 first Peter chapter 2 verses 4 to 10 the theme of this section is spiritual privileges. Peter wants us to understand that when we come to Christ a permanent relationship is established and a permanent relationship of intimate personal communion communion.
He doesn't want us to just understand this on the surface level. So he focuses on a lot of spiritual privileges beginning with union with Christ. So if someone can read first Peter 2 verses 4 to 10. What is this section talking about?
There's a there's a lot of privileges a lot of benefits that Peter is clearly Enunciating here to describe the position that a believer has in Christ and We know the section very well. Chosen race royal priesthood Holy Nation people of his own possession.
We have it written on our in our homes. We have it written in our wanna we have it in a number of places but what is this section primarily talking about how does it reach there if you notice it's. That section begins with the term but so which means there's something coming before that.
So what what is that section? What is this focused on? Okay. Let me let me make it a little easier. We he's talking about Jesus Christ, but how does he begin? Explaining who Christ is what is the term that he uses here to just to speak about Jesus Christ?
Living stone cornerstone. Thank you Foundation very good. Those are the terms that he's using to explain before he starts to say what are. What is union with Christ mean? What are some of the privileges we have in the Lord?
He's explaining about Jesus Christ. He's the living stone the most precious stone the only chosen stone. Peter is explaining here how we become pictures of Christ. We're not God. This is one of the scriptures that certain cults used to Discredit Christ's authority and to say that all of us are gods, but that is not what Peter is saying here.
We have by grace and by union with Christ. We are able to be built up as Living stones. Peter states that we become partakers of Christ partakers of Christ's Divine nature. We're not Christ. We're not God but look at the benefits we have in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1 4 to 13 the next passage. Last time I taught Sunday school. I got two feedback. One is use more scripture check and Use use a use a clock. So check I have I'm using both Ephesians 1 4 to 13.
We have to read 4 to 13 because in the Greek it's one. It's one sentence. So let's look at the context. Let's look at what this talks about having union with Christ and let's build deeper. Let's build on top of that.
Anybody wants to read Ephesians 1? Ephesians 1 4 to 13. When you think about union with Christ and when my South Korean friend came up to me. This is the section of scripture. We were parked in for many weeks as we're trying to study this as we're trying to understand this as we're trying to see the Joy, we have from have knowing this and how it affects how it affects your humility how it affects your evangelism.
How it affects your daily Effort to be Christlike. This is a this is a very important scripture to be parked in. Let's look at what it's talking about first and foremost. Union with Christ is not based on self-righteousness.
We spoke about it before how Many and all of the benefits we have as slaves of Christ is are not things that we have earned there are things given to us as a result of Christ's meritorious work based on grace alone and Faith alone.
The first thing we get is union with Christ is not based on self-righteousness. So what is it based on? According to Ephesians 1 what is it based on? What are some of the big doctrines we get out of Ephesians 1?
Sorry. Election that's that stands out in Ephesians 1. Sovereign election. Unconditional election. Undeserved grace. Stick out to us. Paul is trying to explain something. So he uses a very very very very large Greek sentence we often don't write this big but he can't stop.
And look at the power with which he exudes this. Anybody has read the book saved by grace by Anthony Huckama. You know, you were in the pastor Mike taught it a few years ago. Anybody else has read that book.
I strongly strongly recommend it in his in this book in my opinion a seminal book Written by Anthony Huckama called saved by grace he comments on this passage and says God the Father chose us to be saved not because of any merit he foresaw in us but only on the basis of our predetermined oneness with Christ.
Predetermined oneness with Christ. So if there's no pre that if there's no union with Christ. If there's no election, there's no predestination. There's no predestination. There's no there's no union with Christ.
So when we were chosen, there are two things We need to remember one is we look at we're gonna look at first Peter 1 right now. But we see that Christ was chosen to redeem certain people. Well, we also see that When We are predestined that predestination is Impossible to be thought about apart from being in Christ apart from union with Christ.
So next time you think about election. Where would we think about it often? Think about how it means to have union with Christ. You cannot separate those two. No predestination no union with Christ. So when so just to encourage you to think about that.
Now I said something like Christ was chosen. Was was Christ really chosen? Why did Christ have to be chosen? If you don't read Scripture properly some there are some groups of people who think it's wrong to think that Christ was chosen for anything what.
Especially in light of what we're talking about and that is union with Christ. What scripture comes to your mind when you think about Christ being chosen? It's often something that people with your hands up and say what Christ chosen God chosen.
Oh what comes to your mind? Let's turn to first Peter 120. First Peter 120 to 21. Can somebody read it and perhaps somebody else comment on it? Provided you comment biblically First Peter 120 to 21. Thank you.
Who's the he? Jesus Christ, this is the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay. Is there anything here that talks about chosen or Anything here Pastor Harry, amen. Perfect. See that was a biblical response. So points to that that.
Hey, we need more elders having Q &A. Yes, I'm Yes. This is a great text to see exactly if you're confused about how can Christ be chosen first. Peter is a place to start. Here Peter is saying very clearly that Jesus Christ was chosen by the Father to redeem home His people to redeem home elect people.
Let's get a little deeper. When does union with Christ begin. When does union with Christ begin? Okay, it's already passed. Does it begin then though, sorry, so conversion. Do you have a worse anybody has a worse?
Conversion is is closer. Oh, sorry, which one Romans 6 that's that Romans 6 is very good. So union with Christ begins at a regeneration. Ephesians 2 4 to 5. Let's turn there. Ephesians 2 4 to 5 by the way as I've been studying this.
And I've been reading up on Paul and all of his epistles well not all of them in one shot but over the course the last few years. Would you agree with me that this is on his mind a lot. Union with Christ being in Christ it's on his mind a lot.
I mean all the three passages when we look at 2nd Corinthians 517. We look at Colossians 1 and 1 all of Colossians we look at Ephesians. His mind is so filled with this truth. It drives his ministry drives his love for the Lord.
It drives his love for the brethren. So that's what we see even in Ephesians 2 4 to 5. Let's look at what it says. Region. Union with Christ begins at regeneration. I'll read this one. But God being rich in mercy because of the great love which he loved us.
With which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses. Made us alive together with Christ. He goes on to talk about by grace. You have been saved. It's at the point of regeneration that This Union with Christ as Becomes a reality.
Who does that. One of the questions that was asked the elder Q &A is what is the role of the Trinity? In salvation. Does anybody remember the response in one brief sentence? What is the role of the Trinity?
What is the father God the Father do Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit? What what what are their roles? It's important to understand especially the role of the Holy Spirit as we look at this passage and as we look at union with Christ.
Mark. Yes, excellent. I think that was the word I was looking for the Holy Spirit seals. We see that we saw that in Ephesians 1 The Holy Spirit is the agent who seals who applies Christ's redemptive work onto the believer and That it's at that point when we see that that union with Christ begins.
Yes, you've been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. But the actual beginning of this in a more Active way is that regeneration? What else is there next point about union with Christ?
Justification is through union with Christ. I taught two huge Sunday school sessions on that where I went over time. So I'm not going to go. I'm not going to talk about that more and go over time again.
So We remember one thing we remember from justification is that it's a forensic declaration and we heard that very clearly stated again. Very important question asked here in the elder Q &A, right? Why is that important?
What is justification? So it's based on Christ paying the penalty for our sin and based on what Christ perfectly obeying. Andrew Smith had said this when he was here while it's important to understand justification the doctrine of justification one point I would argue is that in order to Think about it a little bit more personally if I may ever use that word Is to think about what justification means as a result of union with Christ?
Who comma says that you can understand justification in a personal way only through? Living and continually living union with him. Does that does that make sense? Questions around that I want to make sure I'm not being too vague.
Just a little week. Is that clear? Good. Sanctification is through union with Christ. I Love John 15. I can't wait for pastor Steve to get there. It's No, no, I mean no hurry, but I it's it's such a beautiful book.
So can someone turn with me to John 15 fortify? We're going to see specifically how does being or having union with Christ a Privilege that that is given to the believer. How does that help us in our sanctification?
John 15 fortified Mark. Thank you. This is talking about a living continual abiding in the Word of God where the Word of God Controls you where the Word of God is what is on your mind and you're meditating on it and purposely looking to obey it.
Okay, I was in the paper store. Yes the paper store. On Wednesday, my wife wanted to go. I do things like that. And just as you get in There's a section which says What is it called coloring books for adults.
And I'm looking there my that's not right. Something's wrong. We'll come back to this. So the whole time there I have that I'm a coloring book for it up. I gotta go and check this out. What is this? So apparently it's this new thing.
I love new things. Don't you it's like a phone. That where you need to empty your mind. I went and did some research on it because I was curious. Where you actually sit down as an adult and color things so that you can feel more calm and peaceful.
I'm not saying it's wrong. Please. I'm not saying it's sinful. That's not my point here, but Seems a little too close to Hinduism for me where you empty yourself and you put your Self in a lock and meditate on yourself or I'm just free up the world's mess.
I don't see anything about Christ or anything Christian about it, but If you haven't learned anything today, you've learned that this coloring before for adults. But that's not what this is talking about.
This is talking about a continual abiding in the Word of God without which you cannot grow in Christ likeness so union with Christ is essential for our sanctification. Faith is still essential to apply and live out union with Christ faith.
How do you define faith? How do you how do you how do you how does how is faith properly defined? In in other religions, it's believing or in something that's illogical or believing in something that's completely blind that has no basis and you're just believing in it because It's there and you should not ask any questions.
Just believe it. That's what it means to believe by faith. Is that what Christianity is about is that is that what faith means? As a believer. Common right. Excellent. Very very very well said now since you brought up Hebrews 11 if we look at Hebrews 11 What is the pattern we see among all the examples of faith?
Was it Hebrews 10 that has the examples? I think it's Hebrews 10. Oh, sorry 11. Yes Hebrews. Thank you. Hebrews 11 has the example About a list of Old Testament Saints and it also says it doesn't go to all the loop all the all the Saints are all the Old Testament people but What is the one thread that sticks out and from which we can get a very good definition of faith?
We mean we look at Hebrews 11. What are all of these people? Consistently doing in every single situation. Future hope oh good. Future hope is the future hope. So what are they doing about the future?
Hope that would be more concrete question. Okay, so they were looking to it. So so they're looking forward to something that has not happened. So there's there's they're trusting in God, right? They're trusting in God.
No doubt. No doubt about that. Okay, that's good Andrew excellent. They're doing something about it. They're going ahead and obeying What's his name. Warren beers B has a very good definition he says it's a confident obedience of the Word of God in spite of circumstances and Consequences.
Would you say that's a good definition especially from what we see? So whenever you think about faith, it's confident obedience In the Word of God despite what your situation despite what your circumstances are, especially when it pertains to the things of God.
So faith is essential that is obedience is essential to apply and live out the Union with Christ. So that ties in with sanctification, so we don't just throw faith by the side and and not apply not use it Galatians 2 20.
This is the worst that is a good support for What I'm saying, like I said, thank you for the feedback about not giving enough references. I've been Working very hard to put as many references as I can Galatians 2 20.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and He'll hear hear hear what he has to say and the life I now live in the flesh. I live by Faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
The believer no longer lives as one who is what slave to sin? He now lives as a person in whom Christ dwells in whom Christ dwells but the only way that we can fully become aware of This union with Christ of this indwelling of Christ is if we are aware of and draw power through faith.
That's not some weird mystical power. Not something that requires us to do magical things, but requires us to live the life that God has called us to live in holiness and purity in sanctification. Hukama says Faith means living daily in the joyful awareness that Christ lives in us.
Perseverance in the faith is through union with Christ alone. I Don't know if you guys were here for John 10 when pastor C was preaching John 10. One of the things that he taught us about the Good Shepherd and the sheep is is that if we are truly in Christ We shall always be in him.
So if you want something where you're you want something that Christ Specifically said although all of the New Testament and all of the Old Testament is God speaking I've been asked this question. Where did Jesus specifically talk about perseverance?
John 10 is a good book to study it. Let's read Romans 8 38 to 39. This is an often memorized and quoted verse. Very often quoted very often memorized and As most of Scripture very often confused the Romans 8 38 to 39.
Thank you. This is a wonderful portion of Scripture and this is where. At least from what I've studied tulip the P primarily comes from this section of Scripture. If we are in Christ and this is John McArthur commenting on this little section if we are in Christ We shall persevere to the end since no created power and no possible future happening neither present or the future.
That's what he's referring to will in any way be able to separate us from Christ and from the love of God, which is in Christ. Perseverance is guaranteed as a union with Christ. Isn't that wonderful. Might be wondering how we're going to go to different things that our country or our family or etc. Etc may go through.
If we are in Christ, he is powerful and sovereign enough To keep us to help us and to cause us to persevere. So the next time You quote this verse or you use this verse with your family or with your friends, please keep in your mind union with Christ.
We also see in Romans 14 8 how believers are said to die in Christ. That is to say Union with Christ guarantees that we will be in Christ even after death and Who come on uses Romans 14 8 which says if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord so whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.
He's stressing here that we continue to be the Lord's even after we die true false concerns and what that says. No, and finally believers are raised in Christ. Can somebody read 1st Corinthians 15 22 and 23?
1st Corinthians 15 22 and 23. Thank you. The book of Thessalonians is a very book to go through. Not. Yes, not first. I mean even first Corinthians. But that's the ruins one and two is a very good book to go through if you're trying to understand about the rapture and how?
How believers will be? Resurrected and if there's confusion about that, that's a very good epistle to go through to understand it. Here Paul is in 1st Corinthians. Paul is not discussing resurrection of unbelievers.
Is he? No, he's talking about believers who what Belong to Christ his argument is this Christ is the head we are his body collectively as the church and Individually, we will be raised in the physical sense but his argument here is that we shall be resurrected in Christ because of Union with him because of union with him.
So you see this doctrine has a lot of. It's it's an amazing privilege. It's an amazing benefit. It's foundational to understand soteriology because it kind of it undergirds all of redemption and It's it really gives us joy and hope and enables us To be fruitful as we saw in John 15.
If you're an unbeliever here you have no union with Christ. His righteous judgment and his condemnation is upon you. I plead with you if you're an unbeliever I'm not asking you questions as to when you got baptized.
How long you've been coming to BBC if your family has been here if you just started coming last week I'm not asking any of those questions. I'm asking you today. If you haven't repented of your sin, I'm begging you to To repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Turn from your self-righteousness. Turn from your deeds. Turn from church going donations helping the lady old lady walk across the street. Stop, you can't fool a thrice. Holy God, and I'm pleading with you to repent and believe.
If you are a believer, I hope you are refreshed. Has it been to some of you? Huh, maybe the coloring book may have inspired you. I Hope you're filled with joy personally to me world hunger politicians.
Abortion these things don't plague me as much as my own sin. They don't trouble me as much as seeing how I fall short and seeing how every day I'm not doing what I ought to do. For me and I hope for you to studying union with Christ has not only brought my heart to rest it has fueled my joy and fueled my evangelism and It has helped me by his grace and by his word to grow in Christ likeness.
Ephesians 320 says that we possess spiritual power having every what? Spiritual resource for every need so if you're beaten up here and you're struggling with your own sin or or Struggling in other areas of your life.
I Hope you realize that in order to do the good works that God has established in you to do God has established in you to do it. You have union with Christ which fuels you which helps you. You're not alone.
Christ didn't just save you and leave you on your own. We're saved. We're redeemed and we've been united with our Lord and our Savior. Colossians 129 says for this I toil struggling with all his energy with all Christ's energy that he that Christ powerfully works within me so if you are a Christian you have union with Christ and That that union empowers all that you do all the good that you do.
So the life of Christ preserves controls conforms and supplies us and we can truly agree if we understand this doctrine. We can truly truly agree with Paul when he says Galatians 220. I Have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live. But Christ who lives in me questions comments concerns. You guys want to leave a little joyful today despite being? Rainy sorry, I'll do pretty okay. I wish I'd not said that I'm sorry.
Sorry, that's what that's what you said at the elder Q &A which made us laugh. So sorry. I was just channeling you. My main point in and that was yes justification is a forensic declaration where a sinner Separated from God is declared not guilty.
My main point in bringing up Justification as part of union with Christ was to was to state the role of the Holy Spirit in it and how it's. It's the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one who seals us who seals our salvation applying Christ's redemptive work on our behalf, so Even though I cannot perfectly Say it in my mind justification is Is The work of the Holy Spirit as well, even though it's a forensic declaration.
It all ties into justification so the union with Christ is only complete when the Holy Spirit seals us with With his redemptive workers or applies as Christ's redemptive work on our behalf. So in that way the union is Complete I can say or it's it's more established.
That was my main. That was my main point. At least it's clear in my mind, but I've been told that I'm not very clear often, right? Sorry. No, okay. No, I know that that's a great question. And I hope that was that was clear.
It's there's a lot of things that we can get easily confused about. But as we study it more the word is not ambiguous. We have everything we need for our encouragement and our joy and as you even celebrate Memorial Day with friends and family I hope you can think about these privileges and benefits we have in Christ.
Okay, let's pray my my clock is expired. Oh Lord Jesus. We continue to remember your substitutionary death and your substitutionary obedience and Lord we Marvel that you should not only declare certain men and women righteous But that you should also Indwell them.
And we're grateful for the forgiveness we have for the gift of eternal life That you justifies you sanctify us you help us persevere you cause us to persevere and That Lord you have filled us with this joy as we think about these texts and we think about this truth Help us to talk about you and and me this fuel our passion for your word passion for prayer Made fuel the need for more meditation on your word and even this long holiday weekend.
Maybe share the gospel with others joyfully In Christ's holy name, I pray. Amen.