But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV)
Joined to the Lord! One spirit with him! If that is not breathtaking enough for you, look at the full meaning of the Greek word translated "joined to." That word is kollaó (κολλάω). It means "to glue"! It literally means "glued together, to bond (cleave), adhere to, joined to, intimately connected in soul-knit friendship." I think we have all tried to super-glue something and ended up gluing our fingers together. That is the picture that I get here.
Super-glued together in sweet, intimately connected soul-knit friendship!
... I have called you friends (phílos – someone dearly loved, prized, in a personal, intimate way; a trusted confidant, held dear in a close bond of personal affection) ... John 15:15
I thought that this was as "joined to the Lord" as you could get. But then I saw this amazing verse:
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:5
United with Jesus in his death and resurrection. The Greek word translated "united with" is sumphutos (σύμφυτος) and it means congenital (!) -- united with, planted together, born together with, of joint origin.
Think about that - congenital. Like congenital twins, united with, connected to, one with. Born together with, as when born again, planted together like the vine and the branches, united with him by his death on the cross.
"This union is very near, and very dear, and very complete. We are so near to Christ, that we cannot be nearer; for we are one with him. We are so dear to Christ, that we cannot be dearer. Consider how close and tender is the tie when it is true that Christ loved us, and gave himself for us. It is a union more intimate than any other which exists among men; for 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' We were his enemies when Christ died for us, that he might save us, and make us so one with himself, that from him our life should be drawn, and that in him our life should be hid. It is, then, a very near and dear union which Christ has established between himself and his redeemed; and this union could not be more complete than it is." -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Members of Christ
I want that. I want to be bonded to, united with, joined, to the Lord, intimately connected in soul-knit friendship in a nearness that "cannot be nearer." But in order for that to happen, this verse, and others, say that I have to be united in a death like his. I have to be conformed to him in his death (Philippians 3:10), I have to carry about in my body the death of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:10). I have to be crucified with Christ.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
What does it mean though, practically, to be crucified with Christ? What does it mean to be one with Him, to be bonded together, to be congenital, like twins, like we share the same DNA? Having the same wants and desires, loving the same things, praying the same prayers. Seeing things and people the way He sees them. Surrendering it all up and trusting when I can't see at all. For me, this can only happen when I let go of self-demands, self-cravings, self-pity, even perceived self-needs. I have to deny the self. Self comes between me and my Lord. Even superglue will not stick then. We cannot be congenital.
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34 (ESV)
Deny: strongly reject, utterly refuse to recognize, ignore, disown, repudiate. It is the same word that is used when Jesus warns Peter that he will deny him three times (Mark 14:30). When referring to the "self" it means to forget oneself, lose sight of oneself and one's own interests.i Got Questions has this to say about dying to self:
"The concept of 'dying to self' is found throughout the New Testament. It expresses the true essence of the Christian life, in which we take up our cross and follow Christ. Dying to self is part of being born again; the old self dies and the new self comes to life (John 3:3–7). Not only are Christians born again when we come to salvation, but we also continue dying to self as part of the process of sanctification. As such, dying to self is both a one-time event and a lifelong process."
For me, as God is healing soul-mangling trauma from abuse, this process has been day-by-day, minute-by-minute. Long-stuffed emotion is being released - anger, rage, resentment, unforgiveness, self-hate, and self-rejection - and I must fight not to indulge it, but rather nail it to the cross and let it die. Let it not hurt anyone else. Let it stop with me. Line myself up instead with the Word of God. This is excruciating and can only be done by His grace and strength. But, oh, to be "one spirit" with Him, oh to be congenital!
Photo by Jack Bair
i Definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, HELPS Word-studies from Discovery Bible, and Thayer's Green Lexicon.
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