It was established in the purpose and decree of God, and in the covenant of the Father with the Son from eternity, Eph. i., 4 ; John xvii., 2, 6. Nevertheless, the elect, as to personal char- acter and present relations, before their effectual calling by the Spirit, are born and continued " by nature children of wrath even as others," and " strangers to the covenants of promise," Eph. ii., 3, 12. In God's appointed time with each individual of his chosen, this union is established mutually, 1st. By the com- mencement of the effectual and permanent workings of the Holy Spirit within them, (they are quickened together with Christ) ; in the act of the new birth, opening the eyes and renewing the will, and thus laying in their natures the foundation of
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the exercise of saving faith. 2d. Which faith is the second bond by which this mutual union is established, by the con- tinued actings of which their fellowship with Christ is sustained, and its blessed consequences developed, Eph. iii., 17. Thus we " come to him/' " receive him," " eat of his flesh and drink of his blood," etc.
7. What are the consequences of this union to the believer ?
1st. They have a community with him in his covenant stand- ing, and rights. Forensically they are rendered " complete in him." His righteousness and his Father is theirs. They receive the adoption in him, and are accepted as to both their persons and services in the beloved. They are sealed by his Holy Spirit of promise ; in him obtain an inheritance ; sit with him on his throne and behold his glory, Eom. viii., 1 ; Col. ii., 10 ; Eph. i., 6, 11, 13 ; Phil, iii., 8, 9.
As Mediator, Jesus is "the Christ" anointed one, and the believer is the Christian or receiver of "the unction," Actsxi., 26; 1 John ii., 20. His mediatorial office embraces three principal functions, (1.) That of prophet, and in fellowship with him the believer is a prophet, John xvi., 13 ; 1 John ii., 27. (2.) That of priest, and the believer also is a priest in him, Isa. lxi. 6 ; 1 Pet. ii., 5 ; Kev. xx., 6. (3.) That of king, and in him the be- liever is a king, 1 Pet. ii., 9 ; Rev. iii., 21 ; v., 10.
2d. They have fellowship with him in the transforming, as- similating power of his life, making them like him ; every grace of Jesus reproducing itself in them ; " of his fulness we have all received, and grace for grace." This holds true, (1.) with regard to our souls, Rom. viii., 9 ; Phil, ii., 5 ; 1 John iii., 2 ; (2.) with regard to our bodies, causing them to be now the temples of the Holy Grhost, 1 Cor. vi., 17, 19 ; and his resurrection to be the cause of ours, and his glorified body to be the type of ours, Rom. vi., 5 ; 1 Cor. xv., 47, 49 ; Phil, iii., 21. And thus believers are made to bear fruit in Christ, both in their bodies and spirits, which are his, John xv., 5 ; 2 Cor. xii., 9 ; 1 John i., 6.
3d. This leads to their fellowship with Christ in their ex- perience, in their labors, sufferings, temptations, and death, Gal.
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vi., 17 ; Phil, iii., 10 ; Heb. xii., 3 ; 1 Pet. iv., 13. Thus ren- dering sacred and glorious even our earthly life.
4th. Also to Christ's rightful fellowship with them in all they possess, Prov. xix., 17 ; Eom. xiv., 8 ; 1 Cor., vi., 19, 20.
5th. Also to the consequence that, in the spiritual reception of the holy sacraments, they do really hold fellowship with him. They are "baptized into Christ/' Gal. iii., 27. "The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ; the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ," 1 Cor. x., 16 ; xi., 26 : John vi., 51-56.
6th. This leads also to the fellowship of believers with one another through him, that is, to the communion of saints.
8. What is the nature of that "communion of saints" which springs from the union of each saint ivith the Lord ?
See Confession of Faith, Chapter XXVI. Believers being all united to one head are, of course, through him mutually re- lated in the same community of spirit, life, status, and cove- nanted privileges with one another.
This involves upon the part of all believers —
1st. Keciprocal obligations and offices according to the special grace vouchsafed to each. Like the several organs of the body all have part in the same general life, yet each has his own indi- vidual difference of qualification, and consequently of duty ; "for the body is not one member but many," 1 Cor. xii., 4-21 ; Eph. iv., 11-13.
2d. They have fellowship in each others gifts and complemen- tary graces, each contributing his special loveliness to the beauty of the whole, Eph. iv., 15, 16.
3d. These reciprocal duties have respect to the bodies and temporal interests of the brethren as well as to those which con- cern the soul, Gal. ii., 10 ; 1 John iii., 16-18.
4th. They have fellowship in faith and doctrine, Acts, ii., 42 ; Gal. ii., 9.