Owen, Of Communion With God, File 2
(... continued from File 1)
Part 1. Of Communion with each Person distinctly - Of Communion
with the Father
Chapter 1. That the saints have communion with God - 1 John 1:
3 considered to that purpose - Somewhat of the nature
of communion in general.
In the First Epistle of John, chap. 1, verse 3, the
apostle assures them to whom he wrote that the fellowship of
believers "is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:"
and this he does with such an unusual kind of expression as
bears the force of an asseveration; whence we have rendered
it, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ."
The outward appearance and condition of the saints in
those days being very mean and contemptible, - their leaders
being accounted as the filth of this world, and as the
offscouring of all things, - the inviting others unto
fellowship with them, and a participation of the precious
things which they did enjoy, seems to be exposed to many
contrary seasonings and objections: "What benefit is there in
communion with them? Is it any thing else but to be sharers in
troubles, reproaches, scorns, and all manner of evils?" To
prevent or remove these and the like exceptions, the apostle
gives them to whom he wrote to know (and that with some
earnestness of expression), that notwithstanding all the
disadvantages their fellowship lay under, unto a carnal view,
yet in truth it was, and would be found to be (in reference to
some with whom they held it), very honourable, glorious, and
desirable. For "truly," saith he, "our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
This being so earnestly and directly asserted by the
apostle, we may boldly follow him with our affirmation, -
namely, "That the saints of God have communion with him." And
a holy and spiritual communion it is, as shall be declared.
How this is spoken distinctly in reference to the Father and
the Son, must afterward be fully opened and carried on.
By nature, since the entrance of sin, no man has any
communion with God. He is light, we darkness; and what
communion has light with darkness? He is life, we are dead, -
he is love, and we are enmity; and what agreement can there be
between us? Men in such a condition have neither Christ, nor
hope, nor God in the world, Eph. 2: 12; "being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them," chap.
4: 18. Now, two cannot walk together, unless they be agreed,
Amos 3: 3. Whilst there is this distance between God and man,
there is no walking together for them in any fellowship or
communion. Our first interest in God was so lost by sin, as
that there was left unto us (in ourselves) no possibility of a
recovery. As we had deprived ourselves of all power for a
return, so God had not revealed any way of access unto
himself; or that he could, under any consideration, be
approached unto by sinners in peace. Not any work that God had
made, not any attribute that he had revealed, could give the
least light into such a dispensation.
The manifestation of grace and pardoning mercy, which is
the only door of entrance into any such communion, is not
committed unto any but unto him atoned in whom it is, by whom
that grace and mercy was purchased, through whom it is
dispensed, who reveals it from the bosom of the Father. Hence
this communion and fellowship with God is not in express terms
mentioned in the Old Testament. The thing itself is found
there; but the clear light of it, and the boldness of faith in
it, is discovered in the gospel, and by the Spirit
administered therein. By that Spirit we have this liberty, 2
Cor. 3: 17, 18. Abraham was the friend, of God, Isa. 41: 8;
David, a man after his own heart; Enoch walked with him, Gen.
5: 22; - all enjoying this communion and fellowship for the
substance of it. But the way into the holiest was not yet made
manifest whilst the first tabernacle was standing, Heb. 9: 8.
Though they had communion with God, yet they had not
"parresian", - a boldness and confidence in that communion.
This follows the entrance of our High Priest into the most
holy place, Heb. 4: 16, 10: 19. The vail also was upon them,
that they had not "eleuterian", freedom and liberty in their
access to God, 2 Cor. 3: 15, 16, etc. But now in Christ we
have boldness and access with confidence to God, Eph. 3: 12.
This boldness and access with confidence the saints of old
were not acquainted with. By Jesus Christ alone, then, on all
considerations as to being and full manifestation, is this
distance taken away. He has consecrated for us a new and
living way (the old being quite shut up), "through the vail,
that is to say, his flesh," Heb. 10: 20; and "through him we
have access by one Spirit unto the Father," Eph. 2: 18. "Ye
who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of
Christ, for he is our peace," etc., verses 13, 14. Of this
foundation of all our communion with God, more afterward, and
at large. Upon this new bottom and foundation, by this new and
living way, are sinners admitted into communion with God, and
have fellowship with him. And truly, for sinners to have
fellowship with God, the infinitely holy God, is an
astonishing dispensation. To speak a little of it in general:
- Communion relates to things and persons. A joint
participation in any thing whatever, good or evil, duty or
enjoyment, nature or actions, gives this denomination to them
so partaking of it. A common interest in the same nature gives
all men a fellowship or communion therein. Of the elect it is
said, "Ta paidia kekoinoneke sarkos kai haimatos", Heb. 2: 14,
"Those children partook of" (or had fellowship in, with the
rest of the world) "flesh and blood," - the same common nature
with the rest of mankind; and, therefore, Christ also came
into the same fellowship: "Kai autos paraplesios metesche ton
auton". There is also a communion as to state and condition,
whether it be good or evil; and this, either in things
internal and spiritual, - such as is the communion of saints
among themselves; or in respect of outward things. So was it
with Christ and the two thieves, as to one condition, and to
one of them in respect of another. They were "en toi autoi
krimati", - under the same sentence to the cross, Luke 23: 40,
"ejusdem dolores socii." They had communion as to that evil
condition whereunto they were adjudged; and one of them
requested (which he also obtained) a participation in that
blessed condition whereupon our Saviour was immediately to
enter. There is also a communion or fellowship in actions,
whether good or evil. In good, is that communion and
fellowship in the gospel, or in the performance and
celebration of that worship of God which in the gospel is
instituted; which the saints do enjoy, Phil. 1: 5; which, as
to the general kind of it, David so rejoices in, Ps. 42: 4. In
evil, was that wherein Simon and Levi were brethren, Gen. 49:
5. They had communion in that cruel act of revenge and murder.
Our communion with God is not comprised in any one of these
kinds; of some of them it is exclusive. It cannot be natural;
it must be voluntary and by consent. It cannot be of state and
conditions; but in actions. It cannot be in the same actions
upon a third party; but in a return from one to another. The
infinite disparity that is between God and man, made the great
philosopher conclude that there could be no friendship between
them. Some distance in the persons holding friendship he could
allow, nor could exactly determine the bounds and extent
thereof; but that between God and man, in his apprehension,
left no place for it. Another says, indeed, that there is
"communitas homini cum Deo," - a certain fellowship between
God and man; but the general intercourse of providence is all
he apprehended. Some arose to higher expressions; but they
understood nothing whereof they spake. This knowledge is hid
in Christ; as will afterward be made to appear. It is too
wonderful for nature, as sinful and corrupted. Terror and
apprehensions of death at the presence of God is all that it
guides unto. But we have, as was said, a new foundation, and a
new discovery of this privilege.
Now, communion is the mutual communication of such good
things as wherein the persons holding that communion are
delighted, bottomed upon some union between them. So it was
with Jonathan and David; their souls clave to one another (1
Sam. 20: 17) in love. There was the union of love between
them; and then they really communicated all issues of love
mutually. In spiritual things this is more eminent: those who
enjoy this communion have the most excellent union for the
foundation of it; and the issues of that union, which they
mutually communicate, are the most precious and eminent.
Of the union which is the foundation of all that communion
we have with God I have spoken largely elsewhere, and have
nothing farther to add thereunto.
Our communion, then, with God consisteth in his
communication of himself unto us, with our returnal unto him
of that which he requireth and accepteth, flowing from that
unions which in Jesus Christ we have with him. And it is
twofold: - 1. Perfect and complete, in the full fruition of
his glory and total giving up of ourselves to him, resting in
him as our utmost end; which we shall enjoy when we see him as
he is; - and, 2. Initial and incomplete, in the first fruits
and dawnings of that perfection which we have here in grace;
which only I shall handle.
It is, then, I say, of that mutual communication in giving
and receiving, after a most holy and spiritual manner, which
is between God and the saints while they walk together in a
covenant of peace, ratified in the blood of Jesus, whereof we
are to treat. And this we shall do, if God permit; in the
meantime praying the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, who has, of the riches of his grace, recovered
us from a state of enmity into a condition of communion and
fellowship with himself, that both he that writes, and they
that read the words of his mercy, may have such a taste of his
sweetness and excellencies therein, as to be stirred up to a
farther longing after the fulness of his salvation, and the
eternal fruition of him in glory.
Owen, Of Communion With God
(continued in File 3...)
----------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-09: owcom-02.txt
.
