RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-07-30	What Is Union with Christ?
		Union with Christ is central to our salvation, and our sanctification. What does it mean to be united with Christ, and how does it apply to my life? There is not just one meaning of our union with Christ. This is the kind of study where if we limit it to a single theological definition we may miss the fullness. There appears to be several different ways our union with Christ is described in Scripture. Perhaps the best way to learn this important doctrine is to use a concordance and view those verses for yourself. You can look up the phrases, “in Christ”, “in Him”, and “in whom”. Then read all these verses over the next few days or weeks. Write down all that you see about the nature of what it means to be in Christ. Notice how you get into Christ. What is it like to be in Him, and its effects for your life. Let's just get a taste of this marvelous truth. Eph 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, So God sees us before we existed in such a way that our election hangs on our being in Christ before the creation of the world. Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. The only way that grace flows to a sinner is connected with our union with Christ. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace God's purchase of us from the bondage of sin becomes real to us in our connection with Christ. Without this connection or relationship with Christ we are lost. Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, The Holy Spirit is the active agent who seals us “in Christ”. This connection with Christ is what makes it possible for the Spirit to secure us forever. Php 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. The righteousness we need to stand before God we have in Christ. We are found to be “in Him”. 2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. We only stand righteous and uncondemned before God because of our connection with Christ. 1Co 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Paul explains all we are in Christ. Christ became our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. What is the cause of this “inness”? How did we get in Christ? Paul says, “from God you are in Christ Jesus” (1Co.1:30). This happens by the new birth (1Jn.3:6,9). Abiding in Christ comes from being born of God. God's “seed” enters us at the new birth. Thus, we have a new nature. The seed is like DNA, and in that sense we are united with God. How do we experience this day by day? Paul answers, “by faith” (Cl.2:12). Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. We have been “buried with Him” so we identify with Him. And we die and rise with Him through faith. If this is how we experience our initial identity with Christ, how do we go on living it (Ga.2:20). Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. This is an amazing union, where we say, “not I but Christ”. The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. What does it mean when we wake up in the morning and say we experience union with Christ? It means we depend on Him totally for the living of our lives. Our union with Christ is the reality of all the ways the Bible describes our connection with Christ. He is beyond measure for every good that we enjoy. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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