# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1856_S145
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Questions Concerning the Effect of the Holy Supper, etc. 145

...and Belial would be united with one another, contrary to 2 Cor. 6:15, ch. 1:3 and 4; and Christ would also deem the ungodly worthy of his gracious presence, whom he nevertheless hates and abhors, ch. 14:9. For union is the immediate consequence of gracious presence, John 14:23 and 56, Eph. 3:17, 2 Cor. 6:15 and 16. —

The Weigelians object, a., from John 17:21: as the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father according to essence, and they are essentially one, so Christ is in the believers and the believers in Christ, and they are one.

Answer. The union of Christ and the believers is not, in all respects, constituted like the union of the Son of God with the heavenly Father, which latter union is μονότροπος ("unique in its kind"); furthermore, the particle "as" more often signifies likeness than equality, and in this passage it does not signify equality or an identical unity of nature, but only a union of love in grace.

b. Christ is the vine, but men are the branches, John 15:5. Thus: as the vine and the branches are essentially joined, so also Christ and the believers.

Answer. In these two cases one and the same relation does not obtain, for in the vine and the branch only nature is at work and exerts its physical power, but in Christ and the believers divine grace reigns and exercises its mystical efficacy. Hence the apostle, speaking of Christ and the church, calls their union a great mystery, Eph. 5:32. —

c. Of Christ it is said that he dwells in us, Eph. 3:17; and that we can say nothing unless Christ works it in us, Rom. 15:18; that it is not we who live, but Christ in us, Gal. 2:20; that Christ works in us both to will and to do, Phil. 2:13; that we are members of his body in such a way that we are of his flesh and of his bones, Eph. 5:30 — all of which are indications not of an accidental (not essential) presence, but of an essential union with Christ.

Answer. This is not to be understood in a substantial way, or in the sense of an essential transformation of our substance into the substance of his body, but rather in this sense: that his righteousness is imputed to us, the work of renewal is begun and more and more, day by day, brought to completion, and all thoughts, actions, and words are directed through the Word to our salvation; for he is our righteousness and sanctification, 1 Cor. 10:30. Moreover, we are his members, of his flesh and of his bones, not in a physical manner, nor as though we were a part of him — as if one were the foot, another the hand, a third the arm, a fourth the back of Christ's natural body; nor by virtue of a community of nature, such that we have human nature in common with him, for in that case the unbelievers too would be members of his body, of his flesh and

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