WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.000 So, as I said, we're thinking this evening about the theme of union with Christ, and that takes us to questions of our identity. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:20.000 ! This week, in the news, Ed Sheeran declared that he now identifies as culturally Irish. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:29.000 He was raised in Suffolk, but his dad's from Belfast. All his holidays were spent there. That was the music he grew up with. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:33.000 He enjoys family gatherings, and so he identifies as culturally Irish. 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:39.000 And what caught my eye in the middle of his interviews, he said this, I don't think there's any rules to it, any rules to how we identify. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:43.000 It should be how you feel and what you lean into. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:56.000 And I like that phrase, because I think as Christians, it's so important that what we feel about ourselves, what we lean into, is the truth that we are united to Christ. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.000 That should define our identity. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:05.000 Of course, we know that thinking about our identity, there's that whole complex web of things. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:10.000 There's the various hats we wear through our lives, and there's the titles that we carry. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.000 There's the relationships that we have. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:19.000 And you can think about those for yourselves, whether you're thinking about a family setting, whether you're thinking about the workplace, 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.000 whether you're thinking about life and community in general. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:29.000 We have so many roles and responsibilities, all of which probably go into shaping our own sense of self. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Well, the wonder of the Gospel is that as the Spirit comes and gives us new birth, that we get a new identity. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:45.000 And that new identity is so powerful that it's intended to give us this whole new lens through which we view ourselves, 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:49.000 but also a lens through which we view everything else and everyone else. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:53.000 When we say, I am a Christian, that is no mere title. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:59.000 That is the most basic and fundamental element of our existence. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:04.000 And we know that because the New Testament writers, they really got this. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:13.000 When you read through, especially the letters in the New Testament, we can clearly see that for first-generation believers, 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:19.000 what was so important for them to discover and to learn was the truth of this new identity, 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:24.000 and how that was to shape and change everything in their life. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:29.000 And then it's really interesting to think about how are Christians described in those letters. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:33.000 So we typically talk about ourselves, if we're Christians, as Christians. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.000 But that title only comes up four times in the New Testament. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:44.000 But the idea of being in Christ comes up over 160, especially in Paul's letters. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.000 He's constantly talking about being in Christ. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:51.000 So we've got a couple of introductions to his letters to think about. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:55.000 First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 2, he's writing to the church of God in Corinth, 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:59.000 to those sanctified, set apart for God in Christ. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:04.000 And then he says, I always thank my God because of His grace given you in Christ. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:08.000 How are we set apart? How are we saved? How do we receive grace? In Christ. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.000 Ephesians 1, 3, wonderful verse. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:20.000 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:25.000 Every good gift that we have as a Christian comes because we are in Christ. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:28.000 And so it's helpful for us to think about that. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And really helpful, I think, the Bible gives us pictures, metaphors, symbols to help us. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:43.000 And so we're going to think about those three passages briefly together that we've already heard, that it might shape how we feel. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:52.000 If we're followers of Jesus, that it would influence what we lean into as we choose how to think about ourselves. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:57.000 And there's a couple of books which I wish I remembered to bring. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:03.000 One we used to have on the church bookshelf by a guy called Rankin Wilborn, called Union with Christ. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:04.000 That's a really helpful book. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.000 And then there's a fairly new book. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Some of you may know Sam Albury. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 Used to be down in Cambridge, now he's over in Nashville. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.000 He's got a book, One with my Lord. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:23.000 If you want to read a really helpful, you know, kind of popular level treatment of this topic, that's a really good one. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.000 But anyway, so let's turn first of all to John chapter 15. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:37.000 Think about that image of the vine and the branches to recognize that in union with Christ, Jesus gives us life. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.000 It's been good weather recently. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:46.000 It was such good weather recently that for a short spell, we even played badminton in the garden. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:48.000 And the shuttlecock didn't get blown away. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:53.000 But one obstacle that we discovered in our garden was we had an overhanging branch. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:57.000 So badminton is more important than good gardens. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:03.000 So I cut the big offending branch off and I placed it at the bottom of the garden. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:09.000 So now whenever I look out of my study, I see this brown withered lifeless branch. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:14.000 It looks very different from all the other branches because it's been cut off. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.000 There is no life getting to it. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:23.000 And Jesus, when he comes to this image of the vine and the branches, it gives us that basic point. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:29.000 That it's as we are united to the vine, as we're united to Jesus, there is life, there is growth. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.000 If a branch is cut off, there is death, there is withering. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:35.000 How does Jesus put it? 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.000 In verse 4, 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.000 Remain in me as I also remain in you. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:42.000 No branch can bear fruit by itself. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.000 It must remain in the vine. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:51.000 The vine in the Old Testament was that picture of God's people Israel. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:56.000 And now Jesus identifies himself as the true vine, the true Israel. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.000 He is the one who reveals the glory of God. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:04.000 He is the one who will continue to build and establish the kingdom of God. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:10.000 And there's that wonderful truth that as we come to faith, we are grafted into the Lord Jesus. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:17.000 And so we now have the possibility of life and fruitfulness. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:22.000 And Jesus' language is that of remaining and abiding. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:23.000 Verse 5, 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.000 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:30.000 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.000 On the flip side, apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:36.000 So it's a very basic image. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:41.000 We must be in Christ for our spiritual life and vitality and growth. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:47.000 And the wonderful truth and the promise is that Jesus says He remains in us and we remain in Him. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.000 And then of course there will be life. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:57.000 Michael Reeves, the theologian, says the vine holds nothing back from its branches, pouring all its life into them. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:07.000 And if you think about that picture, in Christ we have life, we have blessing, we have grace flowing to us constantly. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:15.000 To return to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul gives thanks because of God's grace to you in Christ Jesus. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.000 And then he goes on to say, 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:22.000 For in Him you have been enriched in every way. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.000 Enriched. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:33.000 Like the gardener tending to plants and flowers, giving the flower food to ensure there's the right nutrients, the right goodness. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:39.000 In Christ, Paul tells us, we have a rich supply of enriching grace. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:43.000 And so, Jesus speaks the Word of God to us. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:46.000 Jesus gives His Spirit to live within us. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:51.000 In Jesus, we claim all God's promises as yes and amen in Him. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:55.000 In Jesus, we know the presence of God in our lives. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:00.000 In Christ Jesus, there is a fellowship that we enjoy together. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.000 In Jesus, there's a worship that unites us. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:07.000 We have been enriched by God's grace in every way in Christ Jesus. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:12.000 What does this mean for our identity, for our experience? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.000 Jesus is the vine. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:16.000 We are the branches. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.000 Jesus gives us life. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.000 Let me suggest two things. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.000 In Christ, we find our place. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:31.000 I think we all understand that location is something that's important to us. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 And important to our idea of identity and self. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:45.000 If I find the right city to live in, or if I find the right getaway from the city, if I find the right home to live in, if I have the right environment, then everything will be good. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.000 That's our great hope, I think. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:52.000 If I find my sense of belonging, then I will find true flourishing. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:09:00.000 And this picture reminds us that here is, for the believer, our dream, our true location. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.000 We are vitally connected in Him. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:05.000 In Him, we have life. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.000 A life that leads to joy. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:12.000 And so, we're invited to lean into that. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:19.000 But also, this image reminds us that in Christ, we find our power. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.000 Because remember, Jesus does that contrast. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.000 In the vine, there is life. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.000 Outside of the vine, there is nothing. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:32.000 Maybe we can think about another cutting-off story in the Old Testament this time. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.000 Remember the story of Samson? 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.000 And in his long hair, and in the hair was the power. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:44.000 A woman, his hair was cut off, and he didn't realize, he presumed he would be exactly as strong as he was before. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:57.000 And there's that lesson for us that it's dangerous to presume that we can do in our own strength what we need to get from Jesus. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:10.000 It is dangerous for us to presume that we can grow and have life and please God apart from Jesus and abiding in Him. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:27.000 And when we do make progress in the Christian life, if there is any evidence of growth in us, if we do have the joy of sharing our faith with someone else, if we are laying down our lives to serve someone and God has given us gifts and we're using those gifts, 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:36.000 We need to recognize that any fruitfulness, any growth that comes from Him, so that He, not we, get the praise. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:45.000 That the pattern of our life is service, but it's humble thankfulness that He has given us everything that we need. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:56.000 We recognize, as verse 5 reminds us, if Jesus is in us and we in Him, we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him, we can do nothing. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:04.000 So, Jesus gives us life is one of the important ideas that we receive from John 15. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.000 Now, let's flip over in our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 4. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.000 That's on page 1175. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:18.000 And again, a lot of these images are related, but here, perhaps we can have the emphasis that Jesus gives us growth. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.000 There's that image of the head and the body. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:26.000 Now, I am not a gardener by any stretch. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.000 I don't know much about vines and branches. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.000 I know even less about biology, but I do know this. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.000 Every body needs a head. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.000 I think we all know that. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:42.000 It is amazing to see the developments in medical technology. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:51.000 There are many artificial body parts available, but there will never be, I don't think, except for maybe in sci-fi, an artificial head. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:57.000 Okay, a body depends on a head for life and for growth. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:01.000 A body depends on a head for its direction. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.000 It is our control center. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:11.000 And it's that imagery that Paul picks up in Ephesians chapter 4. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:25.000 Verses 11 to 16, there is this picture of the church growing in truth and love and becoming a mature body and doing so in dependence on Christ, the head. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.000 Look at verse 15. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:47.000 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:51.000 So, there is a context in this chapter. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:59.000 Paul is talking about gifts of grace that Christ gives, the victorious ascended Christ gives to his church. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:06.000 And among those gifts, end of verse 11, are pastors and teachers. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:13.000 And then Paul goes on to explain what the role of these pastors and teachers among others is. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:23.000 Verse 12, to equip the people of God for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:37.000 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:56.000 So, Jesus uses his word and the teaching of his word to equip his people in the church, to bring unity in the gospel to a church, to bring maturity and fullness among his people. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:01.000 He is the head who ensures the healthy growth of the body. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:11.000 Verse 14 continues the image when it says, then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:23.000 It's kind of a little bit stormy, a little bit infant-like, but I think the idea, and we know this from toddlers, as they're making that progression, as they begin to walk, they're unsteady. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:31.000 And then there's that wobbly phase, while children, while toddlers are trying to get their balance, where they're learning to walk. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:37.000 And any little thing, any bump, even a strong wind, perhaps, might knock a child over. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:43.000 But the goal is growing up to have stability and balance as part of the maturity. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:53.000 And Paul takes this idea and he says, the stability that we have, the maturity that we have, it comes from knowing Jesus in his word. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:15:02.000 And when we have proper balance, there is truth and there is love. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:11.000 That's the kind of balance and stability and maturity that Jesus wants his body to have. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:18.000 That we value truth and we're committed to love. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:23.000 Within Ephesians 4, there are two important truths. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:27.000 And they're connected to this idea that Jesus as the head wants the body to grow healthy, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:33.000 which for Jesus is also to grow up to be more like him, to grow in holiness. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:42.000 One is this, we all need to be committed bodybuilders. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:47.000 Again, full disclosure, I'm not a skilled weightlifter. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:50.000 You can probably tell that. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.000 But I do know this. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.000 I do know that you need more than biceps to lift a weight. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:03.000 There's a whole set of muscle groups that need to be involved in the work of lifting a heavy weight. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:07.000 Leg, muscles, core, back, chest, arms, all need to get stronger. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:12.000 All need to be operating for a body to grow in strength. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:24.000 And the principle that Paul gives in Ephesians 4 is that God gives ministers to a church and their role is an equipping role. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:31.000 To equip people with the word of God so that the people of God might be building each other up. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:34.000 That we might all be committed to bodybuilding. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.000 That it isn't just the job of a preacher. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:46.000 It's the job of every Christian to build up others within the body through the use of God's Word. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:49.000 That it's God's Word that gives us growth. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:57.000 That it's God's Word that will give us that maturity and stability and balance of truth and love that Jesus looks for in His church. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:05.000 So, have a think about what that might mean for us this week. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:17.000 It certainly means that things like community groups provide a wonderful opportunity for us to build one another up in truth and in love as we spend time together around God's Word. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:24.000 But it also means every time that we are with another Christian, we're just having a cup of coffee or we're going for a walk or we're having a conversation. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 Or we're sending them. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:33.000 We have opportunities to equip one another so that together we would be growing. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:40.000 That we would all be committed to this progress in maturity. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:49.000 As verse 13 says, until we all reach unity in the faith and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.000 Which takes us to the second issue. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:58.000 If we need to be committed to that work of bodybuilding, and we are, we also need to hear another truth. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.000 And it's related to Jesus the head. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:05.000 To recognize that He is committed to growing us up. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:08.000 And that's really foundational. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:15.000 Jesus is the one who is committed to ensuring that His church grows. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:20.000 I don't know how many of us have struggled with issues about our height and we wish we were taller. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.000 I remember when I was a child reading the story of a goalkeeper. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.000 I can't remember now who it was. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.000 I have a feeling it might have been Peter Shelton. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.000 The one time England goalkeeper who as a youth decided he wanted to be a goalie. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.000 He was quite short. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.000 He wanted a longer wingspan. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:42.000 So he would spend hours hanging from his banister hoping, I don't know whether that works, but he was hoping that it would help him to grow. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:49.000 But maybe you can remember, you know, those height charts and wishing you were up there and you're still down here. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Maybe you have some of that spiritually. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:58.000 Wow, I wish I was more mature, but I seem to be stalling. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:08.000 The good news of union with Christ is that Jesus, our head, is absolutely committed to growing His body. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:16.000 And growing His body in such a way that in the end we will be as tall as He is. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:27.000 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head that is Christ. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:31.000 Jesus is never going to stop working on His church. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:40.000 He's not going to stop growing His people until we are made perfect and glorious. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:46.000 Fully mature in glory. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.000 And He's committed to that. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:53.000 So we commit knowing that He is committed to us. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:58.000 So Jesus gives us growth. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:06.000 The third and the final thing to think about from Ephesians chapter 5 is that Jesus gives us love. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:10.000 There's that image of the groom and His bride. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Ephesians chapter 5, beginning there at verse 25. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:19.000 It's a text that is read at many Christian weddings. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:25.000 And I imagine that for many of us we understand that marriage is a wonderful picture of the gospel. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:36.000 When that passage is read and we listen to Paul, we recognize here is a call to costly, covenantal, cross-shaped love. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.000 A love that sacrifices. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.000 A love that commits. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.000 A love with cost. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:45.000 And it's a beautiful truth for a beautiful day. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.000 That Jesus shares His life, shares His love with His church. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.000 Jesus is the perfect husband. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.000 And there's so many rich parallels within this text. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:06.000 In verse 28, for example, in this same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 Why? 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:12.000 Because it's a picture of the love that Jesus has for the church. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:27.000 Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church. 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:35.000 Jesus enters into this wonderfully committed relationship. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:39.000 He is committed to the holiness of His church. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:44.000 Committed to loving His church. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:51.000 In verse 31, for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:56.000 This is a profound mystery, but I'm talking about Christ and the church. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:02.000 Jesus enters into this vital spiritual union with His bride, the church. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.000 And it's a permanent covenantally committed union. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.000 He will love His bride. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:10.000 He will make His bride holy. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:19.000 And ultimately He will have the joy, the eternal joy of His bride, now made perfect, the church being with Him forever. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:34.000 The Bible has the ultimate romance story, the ultimate happily ever after, the ultimate bride and groom in the gospel. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.000 And it's important that we understand this and we not miss this. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:42.000 Back to verse 32, when Paul says, this is a profound mystery, but I'm talking about Christ and the church. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:46.000 Sometimes we think, oh, the gospel is a bit like marriage. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:52.000 But Paul wants us to understand, as amazing as marriage is, actually marriage is just a bit like the gospel. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:54.000 It's the gospel that comes first. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:56.000 It has the primacy. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:04.000 His point here is that the union of Jesus to His redeemed people, that's the dominant picture. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.000 That's the eternal plan of God. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:18.000 And God gives marriage to help us see the still bigger and more beautiful reality of God's steadfast covenant love for His people. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:31.000 I am sure some of us have gone to the Louvre and you've spent a bit of time trying to see maybe the most famous picture on display, the Mona Lisa. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:46.000 But let's imagine that you were to get to the front of the queue and you took your Polaroid picture and then you went to a different part of the Louvre and you stuck your Polaroid Mona Lisa on the wall. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Which is going to gather the crowd and which has the most value? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:24:01.000 It's so important that we understand that marriage is the Polaroid, but the gospel of union with Christ, that's the masterpiece. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:03.000 That's the Mona Lisa. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:15.000 And so marriage is always a little window into the much more wonderful reality of Jesus' commitment to be united to His church. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:29.000 And I think that takes us to one of the great and central themes of union with Christ, that it's an invitation for us to find both security and joy in knowing that Jesus loves His bride. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:35.000 If I'm a follower of Jesus, Jesus loves me. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:54.000 John Stott on this text writes, this relationship is nothing less than a vital, organic, intimate union with Jesus Christ, a shared life, a shared love. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:25:01.000 Key to the Christian life, Jesus loves me, this I know. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:05.000 It's the answer to so much of our anxiety. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:12.000 It's the antidote to that feeling that we might have about ourselves where we feel so hard to love. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:23.000 It's the healing to those wounds of bad relationships that make us come with our struggles to consider the gospel. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:30.000 As we understand trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior, I am deeply loved. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.000 I am personally loved. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.000 I am eternally, covenantally loved. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:52.000 That Jesus has taken all the debts, all the disgrace of His bride to Himself, and He freely gives to us His wealth, His honor, His righteousness. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:26:03.000 That in sacrificial love, He has laid down His life freely to freely give to His bride the gift of eternal life. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:10.000 That we can live every day and for all eternity knowing His joy, His love, His pleasure. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:19.000 That He now shares His life with me and I am free to enjoy life with Him. 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:26.000 It's the wonder of union with Christ. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.000 Being one with our Lord. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.000 Being one with our Lord. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:33.000 It's the way that we receive, as Paul says in Ephesians, every spiritual blessing. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:37.000 It's how we receive life from Jesus. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:41.000 It's how we grow in Jesus and to be more like Him. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:49.000 And it's how we live to enjoy, day by day, the wonderful love of Jesus our Savior. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.000 So let's pray.