GRACE-LOVE-TRUTH COURSE. LESSON 7: OUR UNION WITH CHRIST www.gracelovetruth.com PART 7: OUR UNION WITH CHRIST INDEX INTRODUCTION PART 7. LESSON 1. INTIMACY WITH GOD 1. ARE WE CHILDREN OR WORKERS? 2. ABBA'S UNASHAMED INTIMACY 3. INTIMACY WITH JESUS 4. WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST 5. A SCRIPTURAL EXCERSICE PART 7. LESSON 2. OUR UNION WITH GOD 6. PRESENCE 6.1 GOD'S PRESSENCE IN THE OLD COVENANT 6.2 GOD'S PRESENCE IN THE NEW COVENANT 7. WE ARE HIDDEN IN CHRIST 8. CHRIST IN US 8.1 THE WORD IN US 8.2 CHRIST IN US 8.3 A SCRIPTURAL MEDITATION 8.4 THE MYSTERY OF THE AGES: CHRIST IN US 8.5 UNION, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GRACE 9. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US 9.1 JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT 9.2 WE ARE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 9.3 LIVING LIFE BY THE SPIRIT 9.4 BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Copyright: G.R.Hare. This material may be used freely. When used please acknowledge: www.gracelovetruth.com 2 9.5 OUR TEACHER IS NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH US 10. GROUP EXERSISE 10.1 QUESTIONS 11. CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION Grace brings us into a place of intimacy and oneness with God as Jesus has removed all barriers for those who are "in Christ". Intimacy is defined as: A close or warm friendship, the absence of barriers and fences, a mysterious place where no one knows privacy, familiarity, close involvement, belonging together, sexual relations. Sadly this is a word that many people simply don't associate with God. So often it has been taught that God is distant, demanding and unapproachable. For those under the Old Covenant of the Law, this image certainly has some truth (Heb.12:18-21) and was reinforced as God the Judge related to Israel through the Law. A fearsome, distant and scary God inflicted punishment and disease on a pride filled, self righteous people who simply could not fulfil their promise to obey and do their duty. Israel rejected the faith and intimacy that their father Abraham enjoyed and valued. Because of pride, Israel chose to live by rules and regulations (Ro.9:31-32) instead of by trust, faith and grace. In a sense, Israel was acting out the sinful choice of our original parents, Adam and Eve. They had chosen to live by their own knowledge of good and evil, which is the essence of law living, instead of trusting in a kind and loving God wanted to cared for them and guide them. This choice destroyed mankind's intimate, trusting relationship with God. The good news is that Jesus came to restore and better the relationship that Adam and Eve had in the garden of Eden before the fall. Initially, theirs was a relationship of intimate, innocent, childlike dependence and trust in God. This intimacy and childlike relationship (Mt.18:3) is the purpose for which we were all created and the reason Jesus died - to remove all barriers and reconcile mankind to our loving Father (2Co.5:19). Copyright: G.R.Hare. This material may be used freely. When used please acknowledge: www.gracelovetruth.com 3 PART 7. LESSON 1. INTIMACY WITH GOD 1. ARE WE CHILDREN OR WORKERS? Luke 18:17 "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Many Christians believe that God has saved them to be his servants, or even his slaves. Many see themselves as "doers" for God instead of children of God. Another view is that we are called to be an eternal heavenly choir, worshipping God endlessly as a kind of eternal payback for salvation. Although we may well be called at certain time to do some or all of these things, we need to be clear that God is not looking for servants or workers, he has enough angels who fulfil that role. God is looking for "sons" created in his image (which includes both male and female), with whom he can be loving, real and intimate. The Law mindset says that we are to fear God, obey God's commands and do our duty as God's servants. In contrast, New Covenant grace reveals that we are beloved children who are called to be close and intimate love relationship with Abba. It is then out of our identity as God's beloved children that we love, honour, obey, worship and respect our "Dad" and go about his business (Do you remember hero worshipping your dad when you were very small? I know I did.) God's business is now his children's business - the kingdom is now a family affair not a military duty motivated by fear. In fact the Spirit of "sonship" has set us free from the old "fear" of God the Judge (Ro.8:15). Our fear has turned to reverence and worship for our Father. Our new relationship gives us the confidence to approach our Abba Father to ask for anything we need (Heb.4:16). Intimacy and closeness - child to Dad - son's of God. Amazing but true! By grace, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the great three in one, are calling us to join in their 24/7, eternal, loving intimacy and oneness. 2. ABBA'S UNASHAMED INTIMACY Luke 15:20(KJV) And the son arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Copyright: G.R.Hare. This material may be used freely. When used please acknowledge: www.gracelovetruth.com 4 Surly this is one of the most beautiful and intimate scenes in the Bible. The Father, who represents God, runs to meet his wayward son. He falls on his neck with kiss after kiss, absolute relief that his lost son had been found. What an amazing image this is. Through this parable Jesus himself was revealing the Father's soft and vulnerable heart of love and compassion for his children. Spend a few moments picturing the scene, it's implications are enormous - it brings tears to my eyes, because I know I was once that son - just as you probably were. Let it be known, the Father's heart is for intimacy with his children and he is unashamed to make his need known to those who would hear. Far from being a stern and demanding, judgmental, Victorian father, Abba is compassionate, kind, loving and longing for intimacy. Jesus knew it - he experienced it, and he open the door for us to have the same intimacy with Abba. Intimacy is the core purpose of the Fathers grace to us. Through Jesus, the Father's grace has removed every obstacle to intimacy with him, nothing now can separate us from the love of God (Ro.8:39). 3. INTIMACY WITH JESUS John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Intimacy with Jesus was something that really offended the religious leaders of Jesus' day (the Pharisees). They not only found people's intimacy with Jesus offensive, but also his intimacy with the people. They asked "How could he associate with "sinners" (Lk.7:39)? How could he touch and be touched by the "unclean"? Did he not know she was a prostitute or that he was a thief? How can this man be from God?" Yet over and over Jesus poured out grace and promoted intimacy that even offends in this day and age. Just dwell on the above scripture and picture - even today such a scene talks of radical intimacy that pushes the limits. Mary has much to teach us about intimacy with Jesus. Mary chose to spend time close to Jesus, just sitting at his feet listening, near and close up. Jesus was never offended by this, quite the opposite. Jesus rebuked Mary's sister Martha, who was always busy, albeit serving Jesus (Luke 10:41); "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary chose intimacy with Jesus, while Martha chose busyness for Jesus. Martha had good reason to be busy. After all it was her home and she had to make Jesus welcome. Martha was preparing and cooking for Jesus and his disciples! But, like many of us, Martha Copyright: G.R.Hare. This material may be used freely. When used please acknowledge: www.gracelovetruth.com 5 got distracted from what was really important, because like so many of us Martha was a worrier and a doer. Martha wanted to make a good impression by doing for Jesus. But busyness, even for Jesus, does not please him. What pleases Jesus is intimacy and closeness. Jesus wants intimacy with all believers and Mary is a type of us, the New Covenant believer. So draw close like Mary and allow yourself to let go of busyness and worry so you can rest in the presence of Jesus. Remember the old acronym has some truth, especially in this day and age; BUSY = bowed under Satan's yoke. When we enter into a place of inner rest and let go of the nosiness and busyness of the world we are so much more able to hear the sweet voice of Jesus within us (Jn.10:27 KJV).