Union With God
Union with God is a state of pure, simple, and whole-hearted surrender to God's eternal will, resulting in humility, a blameless walk, and every virtue.
W.R. Inge delves into the concept of union with God, emphasizing the need to align our will with the eternal Will of God, allowing our created will to merge seamlessly with His. He highlights that religious practices, words, or works alone cannot achieve this union; instead, we must surrender all things and enter into a deep connection with God. In this union, the inner man remains steadfast while the outer man moves through life's necessities, expressing readiness to fulfill the eternal Will without personal desires. True union with God manifests in humility, virtuous living, and a heart devoid of spiritual pride, reflecting Christ's example.
Text
In what does union with God consist? It means that we should be indeed purely, simply, and wholly at one with the one eternal Will of God, or altogether without will, so that the created will should flow out into the eternal Will and be swallowed up and lost in it, so that the eternal Will alone should do and leave undone in us. Now observe what may be of use to us in attaining this object. Religious exercises cannot do this, nor words, nor works, nor any creature or work done by a creature. We must therefore give up and renounce all things, suffering them to be what they are, and enter into union with God.
Yet the outward things must be; and sleeping and waking, walking and standing still, speaking and being silent, must go on as long as we live.
But when this union truly comes to pass and is established, the inner man henceforth stands immoveable in this union; as for the outer man, God allows him to be moved hither and thither, from this to that, among things which are necessary and right. So the outer man says sincerely, "I have no wish to be or not to be, to live or die, to know or be ignorant, to do or leave undone; I am ready for all that is to be or ought to be, and obedient to whatever I have to do or suffer." Thus the outer man has no purpose except to do what in him lies to further the eternal Will.
As for the inner man, it is truly perceived that he shall stand immoveable, "though the outer man must needs be moved. And if the inner man has any explanation of the actions of the outer man, he says only that such things as are ordained by the eternal Will must be and ought to be. It is thus when God Himself dwells in a man; as we plainly see in the case of Christ. Moreover, where there is this union, which is the outflow of the Divine light and dwells in its beams, there is no spiritual pride nor boldness of spirit, but unbounded humility and a lowly broken heart; there is also an honest and blameless walk, justice, peace, contentment, and every virtue. Where these are not, there is no true union.
For even as neither this thing nor that can bring about or further this union, so nothing can spoil or hinder it, except the man himself with his self-will, which does him this great injury. Be well assured of this. xxvii., xxviii.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Nature of Union with God
- A. Pure, simple, and whole-hearted surrender to God's will
- B. The created will being swallowed up and lost in God's eternal will
- II. The Means of Attaining Union with God
- A. Renouncing all things and entering into union with God
- B. Accepting the outward things of life as they are
- III. The Characteristics of Union with God
- A. The inner man standing immoveable in union with God
- B. The outer man being moved by God's will and obedient to it
- IV. The Fruits of Union with God
- A. Humility and a lowly broken heart
- B. An honest and blameless walk, justice, peace, contentment, and every virtue
Key Quotes
“We must therefore give up and renounce all things, suffering them to be what they are, and enter into union with God.” — W.R. Inge
“The inner man henceforth stands immoveable in this union; as for the outer man, God allows him to be moved hither and thither, from this to that, among things which are necessary and right.” — W.R. Inge
“It is thus when God Himself dwells in a man; as we plainly see in the case of Christ.” — W.R. Inge
Application Points
- Surrender your will to God's will and renounce all things that hinder your union with Him.
- Accept the outward things of life as they are, and trust in God's sovereignty.
- Cultivate humility and a lowly broken heart, and seek to live a blameless and virtuous life.