The work of Christ in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension is most impressive and foundational to the Christian faith. Yet these grand acts of redemption are of little benefit if one is not so closely associated with Jesus as to find his life and death in Him. In Union and Communion with Christ, Maurice Roberts offers us eighteen meditations on the Christian’s union with Chris and its accompanying fellowship. These reflections probe the essence of this blessed union, examine its evidences and revel in its benefits. This past I was able to interview Maurice Roberts going over his new title that was published by us here at RHB. I asked him a few issues that the buyer (YOU) may be interested in before purchasing it that you all may want to know before you order it today! If you are interested in buying this after you read the interview, you can order here.
Interview with Maurice Roberts
Dewalt: Why the title Union and Communion with Christ?
Roberts: Union is something, which believers have always and unvaryingly with Christ. Communion is something, which varies. It is the conscious enjoyment of that union. In this book both aspects are dealt with.
Dewalt: What was the reasoning behind wanting to write on the Union and Communion with Christ?
Roberts: It is one of the most wonderful themes in the entire Christian life, full of encouragement for the Lord’s people.
Dewalt: For what purpose do you see this book helping those that are believers in the church understand their relationship with that of Jesus Christ?
Roberts: Our deepest need as believers is to cultivate out relationship with Christ in this life. As we appreciate our privileged position in Him more perfectly we are enlivened to seek Him with our whole heart. Nothing is more conducive to our spiritual good or to our progress in grace.
Dewalt: How is this particular doctrine a necessity for the Christian to understand in the Reformed faith?
Roberts: To be truly Reformed is not merely to have our heads well taught. Those who love the Reformed faith need also to have their hearts well exercised in all aspects of heart-religion. This we see exemplified in the lives of Calvin and the other great theologians of the Reformed tradition.
Dewalt: In what part of the Gospel does the union with Christ play in the believer’s life?
Roberts: It sweetens our whole life with the realisation that Christ and we are all one, in that He is our Husband and we as believers are His spiritual bride whom He came to redeem at infinite cost to Himself and to make “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh” forever.
Dewalt: How can the believer enjoy the union with Christ in their life?
Roberts: By understanding this doctrine as fully as it is revealed in scripture and by exercising faith in this truth so as to walk closely with Christ all our life, in the expectation that we shall soon see His blessed face with unspeakable joy and so be with Him in glory forever.
Dewalt: Do you see a huge decline of Christians today not knowing or maybe not seeing this important truth of the gospel?
Roberts: A knowledge of the Puritans and their wonderful writings is enough to convince any reader that we as Christians today fall very far short of what they were and of what we ought to be.
Dewalt: What can we today the bride of Christ do to help bring about the importance of a doctrine like this, that may be overlooked in not only an American culture but in the world as a whole?
Roberts: We must reaffirm the great importance of communion with Christ, as the Puritans in their own day did. Further, we ought to seek to live lives which are convincingly seen by others as lived in nearness to the Saviour whom we profess. Western culture generally has not been conducive to the cultivation of that spiritual relationship which our great forebears once had with Christ. But this is no excuse.
Dewalt: What would be your advice for the believer who wants to study this truth deeper and learn a greater knowledge of the beauty that lies in Christ communion with his saints.
Roberts: My advice would be this. Get a clearer sight of your own heart as totally depraved and tell yourself daily that we are but the rubbish of a once perfect Adam, who fully bore the image of God. We in this life as Christians have made but a very small start in the knowledge of God. The more we can increase in the fear of God the better shall we glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
