partnership can be forged. The adjustment on God’s part was to become
human. God is perpetually coming closer to the extent that we are com-
ing closer to him. And as this takes place, a partnership is forged. For each
and every set of things that become one and share their existence, these
three stages happen in this sequence and proceed in this order.
(c) Our partnership with the Lord is reciprocal: the Lord is in us and we 371
are in the Lord.The partnership is reciprocal. Scripture teaches this and
reason sees it. The Lord teaches that his partnership with his Father is
reciprocal. He said to Philip, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father
and the Father is in me? Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me” (John 14 : 10 , 11 ).
So that you know and believe that the Father is in me and I am in the
Father. (John 10 : 38 )
Jesus said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that your
Son will also glorify you.” (John 17 : 1 )
Father, all that is mine is yours and all that is yours is mine. (John 17 : 10 )
The Lord says something similar about his partnership with us, spec-
ifying that it is reciprocal. He says,
Live in me and I [shall live] in you. Those who live in me and I in them
bear much fruit. (John 15 : 4 , 5 )
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me and I in them.
(John 6 : 56 )
On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me
and I am in you.(John 14 : 20 )
Those who do the commandments of Christ live in him, and he lives in
them.( 1 John 3 : 24 ; 4 : 13 )
If any confess that Christ is the Son of God, God lives in them, and they
live in God.( 1 John 4 : 15 )
If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and will dine
with them and they with me.(Revelation 3 : 20 )
[ 2 ] The very clear passages just quoted make it evident that the part-
nership between the Lord and us is reciprocal. Because the partnership is
reciprocal, it obviously follows that we have to unite ourselves to the
Lord so that the Lord will unite himself to us. Otherwise there will be a
§371 faith 443