844. GAL 3:28. CHRISTIANS ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS
Gal_3:28. Christians All One in Christ Jesus
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."’97Gal_3:28.
Under the law, the Jews were the special and favored people of the Lord. Their advantages were of the most distinguished kind. They had the oracles’97covenants’97tabernacle’97priesthood, and finally, as the grand blessing of heaven to that nation, the Messiah came; "who is God over all, blessed forever." But Christianity was designed to destroy that separating line between Jew and Greek’97between Israel and the other nations of the earth. So that the apostle remarks’97"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all, and in all."’97Col_3:11.
But, observe, the text is more comprehensive still. "There is neither male nor female." All inferiority of sex is repudiated by Christianity. Woman was much honored under the law’97still more under the gospel. Not like some false religions which made woman a mere soulless slave; Christianity knows no distinction; but elevates her in the scale of moral dignity, and places her not lower, nor yet higher, but side by side with man, and says’97"There is neither Greek nor Jew, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Our subject is the oneness of all believers.
Observe then,
I. In what the oneness of believers consists.
II. Where it is realized. And,
III. The influence it should exert
1. In what the oneness of believers consists.
Now we remark, that it is evident that this is not oneness of creed, or oneness of forms, or in denominational distinctions. Nor oneness of religious experience, either as to exact likeness, or degree of religious knowledge’97or oneness as to the state of the emotions. In these there is evidently a great diversity. And it is clear this diversity neither destroys nor impairs the oneness of true Christians.’97"For ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
This oneness, however,
1. Regards faith.
They are one in a saving belief of the truth. Not in opinions, or modes of illustration; but in the act and exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is but one faith that justifies, and brings the soul into a state of acceptance with God.
Now in an experimental belief of the gospel of Christ, all Christians are one. As there are not two Saviours or two gospels, so there is only one faith, by which Christ is received into the soul, and all the saving benefits of the gospel enjoyed. Hence it is declared that all believers are the children of God, by faith. So, the apostle says, when speaking of the essential unities of the gospel, "there is one faith."
Then, as to this oneness,
2. It regards spirituality of nature.
All Christians have one renewed holy nature. Born again from above’97born of God’97born of incorruptible seed, and thereby partakers of the Divine nature. All such have the new heart and the right spirit. Just as all men have one "human nature, so all Christians have one Divine and spiritual nature.
3. This oneness regards relative affinities.
God is the Father of all’97Jesus the Saviour and elder brother of all’97the Spirit the sanctifier and comforter of all’97the Church the mother of all. Hence it follows, each Christian is brother of all. There is but one family of God’97one household of faith, and all spiritual persons, of every color, and country, or language, belong to it.
Observe, as to this oneness,
4. It regards the privileges cf Christians on earth.
All are one in the privileges of the children of God; they all have one holy catholic church’97they all have one fold. There is one glorious gospel for all’97one true covenant for all’97one series of precious promises for all’97one throne of mercy for all. The rich and infinite plenitude of grace in Christ the Mediator, is for all. There is no partiality nor respect of persons, as it respects those who are in Christ Jesus; for they are all essentially and declaratively one in him.
5. It regards the destiny of Christians in a future state.
They are all called to God’s eternal kingdom and glory. All begotten again to a lively hope of the resurrection from the dead’97sill have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life’97all shall finally sit down together with the whole company of the redeemed in the heavenly kingdom. They shall form one united, pure, and holy assembly around the eternal throne of God forever; for heaven is but one house, with numerous mansions: all shall have the glory with Christ which he had with the Father before the world was. Thus are all Christians truly and essentially one.
We ask,
II. Where this oneness is realized?
The text responds, "in Christ Jesus."
All Christians are one in Christ as the common meeting place between God and man. All come to God through Christ, and all are accepted in Christ. Here they meet, and here they become one.
Every believer is such through the sacrifice and work of the Mediator; and the Mediator is one, so that in him all Christians must meet. The grace then that unites the soul to Christ, binds all believers together. So all Christians, as living stones, are united by Christ the cornerstone. He holds and connects the Jewish with the Gentile believers, and so all others unite and adhere by and through him. So, as all members of the body are united by the head, Jesus is the head of his body, and all Christians are members of him, and therefore members one of another. By these figures there is no difficulty in seeing that all Christians are one in Christ Jesus.
Then Jesus refers us also,
To the vine. He is the vine, believers are the branches, and as all the branches are connected with the one vine, so all believers are one in Christ Jesus.
Now, thus you see in every case, how all Christians are one, and also how they are all one in Christ Jesus.
It is equally obvious, that in no other will Christians ever be really one. Not in the Fathers’97not in the Protestant Reformers’97neither in Wickliffe, nor Luther, nor Calvin ’97not in any of the glorious martyrs’97nor puritans’97nor founders of religious sects or parties’97not in Baxter, nor Whitfield, nor Wesley. It is equally clear that all Christians will never unite and be openly one it Episcopalianism, however reformed’97nor Presbyterianism, however strict’97nor Congregationalism, however liberal’97nor in Methodism, however practical. Diversity will characterize God’s people in many things, probably to the end of time; but Jesus, the one blessed and only mediator, will be the centre of attraction to each and every one. And how desirable that this real unity should be cherished, honored, and exhibited. As the various regiments of our national army honor the same laws, and are enlisted under one monarch, so, all the host of God’s elect have Jesus as the one and only captain of their salvation.
Then observe,
III. The influence which this subject should exert on all the people of God.
It should lead,
1. To mutual Christian recognition.
There should be a distinct, generous acknowledgment of one another. Instead of excluding one another, there should be a reception of each other. The Christianity of each should be cheerfully admitted, and this admission should be followed by a hearty recognition, and by a holy and lofty esteem of one another in Christ Jesus. Instead of suspicion, there should be a generous confidence; instead of coldness, there should be a frank, warm spirit of brotherly union.
2. There should be mutual Christian love. There may, and will be preferences. We may innocently be specially attached to our own band, and select our own company, with whom we shall fraternize most intimately; but there should be universal charity to the whole family of Christ. This should reach to all, and embrace all. To love persons for their likeness to us, or for their creed or sectarian character, may exist without one particle of real Christian affection. Christian love is the love of the Christian character; and the love of the Christian character for its own sake, and for its reflecting the likeness of our blessed Lord. And in proportion to this Christ likeness and Christ mindedness, ought our affection to be intense and enlarged.
No attachment to others deserves to be called Christian, unless it is grounded on the foregoing principle of resemblance to our divine and blessed Lord. And this should be very superior to any mere party or denominational attachment.
3. There should be mutual Christian forbearance.
There may sometimes be a need for controversy, for expressing difference of views, for taking different actions in ecclesiastical matters; but there should be ever prominently exhibited with all this, the spirit of the Christian. It should be done with Christion dignity and forbearance, and not with bitterness and wrath. And the differences of the Church can never be adjusted till believers approach each other in the spirit of brotherly love; and till they are as eager for the interests of charity, as they are for the interests of truth itself.
Truth is never promoted when love is either undervalued, or made to hold a secondary position; for of all the graces, this is the chiefest and the best.
4. There should be mutual, Christian cooperation.
As far as circumstances will admit, and in all things, when conscience will allow, let there be fraternal intercourse and united effort to glorify God and to save souls. Christianity has to conflict with ignorance, depravity, and ungodliness, in all its forms and phases, and the aggressive energies of the church should embrace the power of every Christian; and that power in a united form. No petty difference should divide the army of Christ’97separate the friends of Christ’97or prevent the whole spiritual church from living, loving, and laboring together.
Such a blessed union and combination would be the brightest star of hope, in reference to our world’s millennial glory. And it is utterly Utopian ever to think of a golden age of Christian glory on earth, until all God’s children shall have one heart and one way.
This united cooperation to exalt Jesus and save souls, would do more in any one year for religious progress, than sectarian zeal could effect in a whole century.
"Christ, from whom all blessings flow,
Perfecting the saints below,
Hear us, who thy nature share,
Who thy mystic body are.
Join us, in one spirit join,
Let us still receive of thine;
Still for more on thee we call,
Thou who fillest all in all.
Closer knit to thee, our head;
Nourish us, O Christ, and feed;
Let us daily growth receive,
More and more in Jesus live.
Sweetly may we all agree,
Touched with softest sympathy;
Kindly for each other care,
Every member feel its share.
Wounded by the grief of one,
Now let all the members groan:
Honored if one member is,
All partake the common bliss.
Many are we now and one,
We who Jesus have put on;
There is neither bond nor free,
Male nor female, Lord, in thee!
Love, like death, hath all destroyed,
Rendered our distinctions void!
Names, and sects, and parties fall’97
Thou, O Christ, art all in all!"
Then, in conclusion, let us see how fitly the spirit of oneness and love is eulogized and enforced in the divine word. Hear the devout exclamation of the Psalmist! "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."’97Ps. cxxxiii.
And still more let us hear the declaration of Jesus before his death: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."’97Joh_13:34, Joh_13:35.
And which was ratified by his sacerdotal prayer’97"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."’97Joh_17:20, Joh_17:21.
And now suffer the word of apostolic exhortation: "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my love, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."’97Php_2:1-3. "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."’97Col_2:12-14.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS