Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-08
IN CHRIST.

lNIlSiHJ.J
IN CHRIST.
The relation which believers sustain to Christ
is certainly most interesting one, and it is
not more interesting than it is important.
The language chosen by the Holy Spirit to in
dicate this relation, is such as conveys the idea
of very close and indestructible union.
Christ is represented in the Scriptures as the
body and believers as the members. In other
words, the same relation subsists between
Christ and his people that is between the body
and the several members Of the body. Neal
as this relation may be, the relation between
Christ and his people is even nearer The idea
of union between Christ and his people is
brought prominently to view, not only in par.
ticular passages of the Scriptures, but by the
general scope Of all the parts of the Scriptures
This union may be contemplated in variety
Of aspects, and in each, it is full of intense in
terest, and is a source of inexhaustible com
fort to every true child of God. 1t is the priv
ilege as we'll as the duty of the believer to re-
gard himself as united to Christ in that cove
nant which Christ, the son of God, made with
God, the father. Christ made a covenant
with His father for and in behalf of his people
In that covenant-commonly called the Cove
nant of Grace-Jesus Christ, the Saviour, rep
resented his people just as Adam, the first
man, represented in the Covenant Of Works,
all his posterity. The language of the Scrip
lures, in describing the representative union
which exists between Christ and his people, is
very strong. Paul, in the fifth chapter of his
second epistle to the Corinthians, at the four
teenth verse, uses this language "For the
love of Christ constrains us; because we thus
Judge, that if one died for all, then were all
dead.'' It is evident that the translators mis-
took the Apostles meaning in this passage and
make it teach truth which is abundantly
taught in the Scriptures, but only by inference
in this passage. The reader is liable to con-
clude that the passage teaches that since Christ
died for all, then were all dead in trespasses
and SIM This is most certainly aBible-taught
doctrine, but it is not taught in this passage.
The Apostle did not say s'then were all dead,''
but ssthen all died" !" The simple meaning of
the Apostle is, that when Christ died for all,
he died as their representative, and on account
Of the snion which existed between him and
'all died: IF this be not clear, the plain
meaning of the passage may be thus stated.
Christ died as surety for his people, that is,
in their room, and in their stead, and in law
his death is regarded as their death. Actual
ly, they did not die, but since Christ stood as
their legal representative, his death is, in law,
regarded as their death.
The DeOnle of God live i'm Christ by a living
faith. All Christians are believers in Christ,
that is, they have faith in him. This is the
link which unites the soul to Christ Jesus.
The simplest definition which can be given
of faith is, 'sreliance on testimony" Faith
in Jesus Christ is Scripturally defined to be ''a
saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon
him alone for salvation as he is freely offered
to US in the gospel" The gospel is the testi-
simply believing this record, or believing the
gospel.
Faith unites the soul to Jesus Christ, be-
ance is cast out and the believer depends upon
Christ, and Christ alone, for salvation. Be-
levers are in Christ Jesus, in that from him
they derive all their spiritual life. 1t is no
figure to say that believers live in Christ.
They sustain to him the same relation that
the branch sustains to the vine. Their life is
hid in Christ. This union is most intimate
it is impossible to be more intimate.
The fact that an individual is in Christ is
known by the actual change, which is wrought
upon him. Every one is able to discover the
change which takes place. The individual
himself is conscious Of the change. lie hates
what he once loved, and he loves what he once
hated