"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
(John 15:4, 5 KJV)
Union with God designates divine movement, an action that secures and preserves the believer in the life of faith. Communion is conditional, and we are the ones that determine the direction of the condition. "If you abide in me ..."
"Our communion with God consists in his communication of himself unto us, with our return unto him of that which he requests and accepts, flowing from that union with which in Jesus Christ we have with him. Divine action is first, union with Christ is the result, and human response is the desired consequence." (John Owen, 1616-1683)
(Dane Fowlkes, Pastor)
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