God and men
agree not in a life of holiness, and therefore can have no communion
together (Condensed from Stephen Charnock, 1628-1680). We are united
to the "first Adam" by a likeness of nature; how then can we be united to
the "last Adam" without a likeness to Him from a new nature or
principle?
We were united to the first Adam by a living soul, we must be
united to the last Adam by a quickening Spirit. We have nothing to do
with the heavenly Adam without bearing an heavenly image (1
Corinthians 15:48-49).
If we are His members, we must have the same
nature which was communicated to Him, the Head, by the Spirit of God,
which is holiness (Luke 1:35).
There must be one "spirit" in both: thus it
is written, "he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Corinthians
6:17).
And again God tells us, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his" (Rom 8:9).
Nor can anything be vitally united to another without life. A living head
and a dead body is inconceivable. There can be no communion with God
without a renewed soul.
God is unable on His part, with honor to His law
and holiness, to have fellowship with such a creature as fallen man. Man
is incapable on his part, because of the aversion rooted in his fallen
nature.
Then how is it possible for God and man to be brought together
without the latter experiencing a thorough change of nature? What
communion can there be between Light and darkness, between the living
God and a dead heart? "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
(Amos 3:3).
God loathes sin, man loves it; God loves holiness, man
loathes it. How then could such contrary affections meet together in an
amicable friendship?
Sin has alienated from the life of God (Eph 4:18),
and therefore from His fellowship; life, then, must be restored to us
before we can be instated in communion with Him. Old things must pass
away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Gospel-duties
cannot be performed without regeneration.
The first requirement of
Christ from His followers is that they shall deny self. But that is
impossible to fallen human nature, for men are "lovers of their own
selves" (2 Timothy 3:2).
Not until the soul is renewed, will self be
repudiated. Therefore is the new-covenant promise, "I will take the stony
heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel
11:19). All Gospel duties require a pliableness and tenderness of heart.
agree not in a life of holiness, and therefore can have no communion
together (Condensed from Stephen Charnock, 1628-1680). We are united
to the "first Adam" by a likeness of nature; how then can we be united to
the "last Adam" without a likeness to Him from a new nature or
principle?
We were united to the first Adam by a living soul, we must be
united to the last Adam by a quickening Spirit. We have nothing to do
with the heavenly Adam without bearing an heavenly image (1
Corinthians 15:48-49).
If we are His members, we must have the same
nature which was communicated to Him, the Head, by the Spirit of God,
which is holiness (Luke 1:35).
There must be one "spirit" in both: thus it
is written, "he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Corinthians
6:17).
And again God tells us, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his" (Rom 8:9).
Nor can anything be vitally united to another without life. A living head
and a dead body is inconceivable. There can be no communion with God
without a renewed soul.
God is unable on His part, with honor to His law
and holiness, to have fellowship with such a creature as fallen man. Man
is incapable on his part, because of the aversion rooted in his fallen
nature.
Then how is it possible for God and man to be brought together
without the latter experiencing a thorough change of nature? What
communion can there be between Light and darkness, between the living
God and a dead heart? "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
(Amos 3:3).
God loathes sin, man loves it; God loves holiness, man
loathes it. How then could such contrary affections meet together in an
amicable friendship?
Sin has alienated from the life of God (Eph 4:18),
and therefore from His fellowship; life, then, must be restored to us
before we can be instated in communion with Him. Old things must pass
away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Gospel-duties
cannot be performed without regeneration.
The first requirement of
Christ from His followers is that they shall deny self. But that is
impossible to fallen human nature, for men are "lovers of their own
selves" (2 Timothy 3:2).
Not until the soul is renewed, will self be
repudiated. Therefore is the new-covenant promise, "I will take the stony
heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel
11:19). All Gospel duties require a pliableness and tenderness of heart.
