1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Note — I. A MYSTERIOUS DEEP. 1. There is a joining to the Lord — (1) In election. We were chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world. (2) In covenant, when Jesus became of old the Head of His Church. (3) In the incarnation. All this makes up a glorious joining unto the Lord, but the union taught here is vital and spiritual which is wrought in us when we are born again. 2. But what does that word "one spirit" mean? The union between Christ and His people is described by — (1) The marriage union. It is said, "These twain shall be one flesh"; but to take off the carnal edge of the metaphor "one spirit" is here substituted. (a) Christ and His people have one spirit. The Holy Spirit who quickens us anointed Him. The foot is baptized into the same spirit as the head. (b) We are of one spirit with Him, i.e., we come to think and feel as Jesus does. (c) Yet the text saith not that we are of one spirit, but we are one spirit. This is a matter to be understood only by the spiritual mind, and not to be expounded in words. "I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." We have known on earth friends who have become one spirit; intimacy and mutual admiration have ripened friendship into unity, till the one seemed to be the complement of the other; one soul in two bodies. (2) The branch and the stem, which are one vine, and are nothing separated from each other, their life one and their design one. (3) The member and the body. If there be life in this finger, it is identically the same life that is in the head; and so in the whole Church the life and Spirit of Christ are the life and spirit of His people. II. A MANIFEST GRACE. 1. To be one spirit with Christ much more is needed than — (1) To bear the Christian name. Call a poppy a rose and you will not thereby give it perfume. (2) Mere outward profession. Ye may be baptized in water, but unless ye are baptized into the Holy Ghost, ye know not what union with Christ is, for Simon Magus though baptized had no part nor lot in the matter. (3) The performance of some apparently good actions and the use of religious words in conversation. The superficial, the nominal, and the outward will not suffice. Deep down in the very vitals of our being must this union with Jesus Christ most eminently reside. 2. As an illustration of what unity of spirit is take that rare conjugal union of those who realise the highest ideal of the married life founded in pure love and cemented in mutual esteem. Their wishes blend, their hearts are indivisible. By degrees they come very much to think the same thoughts. Intimate association creates conformity. So the true Christian grows to think as Christ thinks till the teachings of Jesus are plain to him. Blessed consummation when their hearts at last are all wrapped up in Jesus, even as the bush at Horeb was all on fire with God! 3. Where such union exists, what does it produce? They who are thus one spirit with Christ live — (1) For the same end — God's glory. (2) For the same reason — the love of the Father. (3) By the same means. By the conversion of souls: not by being made a king, not by being called rabbi. (4) By the use of the same modes-teaching, preaching, living, suffering, and dying. Some nowadays seem tired of Christ's plans, and hunt up more rapid methods. Jesus never strained after effect by animal excitement. (5) With the same emotions. Oh that we felt as He did the weight of souls, the guilt of sin, the terror of the wrath to come, and the tenderness of Divine mercy! 4. Let me add that if we are fully joined to our Lord, and of one spirit with Him, we shall have — (1) The same tastes. What He loves will charm us, what He hates we shall loathe. (2) The same will. (3) Oneness of aim in our service of God. We have a dozen aims now, but if we were of one spirit with Jesus we should have but one object in life. (4) Great force and fervour. Our prayers would be very different from what they are, and our public service of God would never be so sleepy as it now is. (5) Abiding pertinacity. Defeated in one place we should try in another. (6) Wonderful serenity of spirit. We should not be disturbed with little, petty remarks of men, nor should we even be moved by great calamities.Conclusion: 1. A word of rebuke. We have been joined to Christ, but have we been manifestly one spirit with Him? Angry — was that Christ's spirit? Worldly — was that Christ's spirit? 2. A word of hope. We want to have the same spirit as Christ. Well, our hope is that we shall have it, for we are joined to the Lord, and he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. |
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