To have union with Christ means to be spiritually joined to Jesus Christ through faith. This union with Christ is made possible by God’s grace and through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is an intimate, transforming, and eternal relationship that impacts every area of the believer’s life.
The Bible uses various metaphors and imagery to describe this union with Christ. These include being “in Christ,” Christ being “in us,” being “one with Christ,” the vine and branches imagery in John 15, the head and body metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12, and the marriage metaphor portraying Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. Through these word pictures, Scripture reveals the nature of an inseparable spiritual connection and union between Christ and believers.
United with Christ Through Faith
The Bible clearly teaches that union with Christ is established by faith. When someone trusts in Christ for salvation, he or she is spiritually united to the Savior. Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The “in Christ” phrase describes those who have faith in Jesus. In Ephesians 1:13, Paul says believers were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit “when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him.” Faith in the gospel unites sinners to Christ.
Union with Jesus Christ is a grace-based relationship. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation is entirely an act of God’s grace, received by faith alone. Through trusting in Christ, sinners become united to the Savior. This spiritual union is a work of amazing grace.
The Holy Spirit is the agent who joins believers to Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:17 states, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” Through the indwelling Spirit, the Lord Jesus lives within every Christian. The Spirit is the bond of their union. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” The baptizing work of the Spirit unites believers to Christ and to one another. Union with Jesus Christ is a spiritual reality made possible by the Holy Spirit.
Identifiers of Union with Christ
Scripture uses various key phrases to identify those who are united to Christ by faith. These include:
– In Christ/in Him – Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17
– Christ in you – Colossians 1:27
– Abide in Christ/abide in Him – John 15:4-5; 1 John 2:6
– You are Christ’s – 1 Corinthians 3:23
– The body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:27
– Branches in the vine – John 15:5
– Members of His body – Ephesians 5:30
– Christ formed in you – Galatians 4:19
– Partakers with Christ – Hebrews 3:14
– Those who have put on Christ – Galatians 3:27
Such identifying phrases point to the intimacy of the relationship between Christ and believers. Union with Jesus means He lives in us by His Spirit, and through faith we abide in intimate fellowship with Him. We belong to Christ as part of His body and are linked to Him as branches drawing life from the vine. Biblical imagery highlights the shared life, connection, and oneness in spirit that Christians experience with the Lord Jesus.
Transformative Nature of Union with Christ
Not only is union with Christ eternally intimate, but it is also personally transformative. When joined to Jesus by faith, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers and His resurrection life begins transforming them to be increasingly Christlike. Several key passages highlight the transforming impact of union with Christ:
2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” As believers gaze spiritually at Christ, they are changed to be more like Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Union with Christ means the believer is a new creation.
Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him.” United with Jesus, aspects of His divine life permeate the believer’s life.
2 Peter 1:4 – “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” As believers cling to God’s promises, they increasingly manifest Christlike character.
From beginning to end, Scripture points to the inner transformation that accompanies union with Christ. His righteousness, His resurrection power, His indwelling Holy Spirit – all work together to make believers progressively more like Jesus. Union with Christ means sharing in His death, resurrection, righteousness, and life (Romans 6:3-5; Philippians 3:10). As Andrew Murray wrote, “The life of God, which was manifested in the flesh, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and which conquered sin and death and brought eternal life – that life is in us.”
Everything Affected by Union with Christ
Union with Christ is an overarching theological concept that impacts multiple aspects of the believer’s relationship with God. Murray said of union with Jesus, “It is not so much a separate privilege as the root of all other privileges.” Union with Christ influences:
– Regeneration – Faith unites us to Christ, resulting in new spiritual life (Ephesians 2:4-6).
– Justification – All who are in Christ are declared righteous (Romans 8:1).
– Adoption – In Christ we become God’s children (Galatians 3:26-27).
– Sanctification – Abiding in Christ is key to spiritual growth (Colossians 2:6-7).
– Perseverance – Our safekeeping is secured in Jesus (John 10:28-29).
– Death to sin – Joined to Christ in His death, we die to sin (Romans 6:5-11).
– Resurrection life – We walk in newness of Christ’s life (Romans 6:4).
– Eternal life – Those in Christ have eternal life (John 3:36).
– Ascended life – We are seated with Christ in heaven (Ephesians 2:6).
– Inheritance – Every spiritual blessing is ours in Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).
From regeneration to resurrection, from justification to eternal joy – union with Christ is the fountainhead from which all spiritual blessings flow. With Christ as the vital source, the fruits of His finished work are experienced by believers in union with Him.
Practical Effects of Union with Christ
In addition to the positional blessings which accompany being united to Jesus Christ, this union also brings practical effects into the believer’s daily experience. Several key passages highlight how union with Christ impacts Christian living:
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The old self-directed life dies; Christ lives His life through the believer.
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Christ becomes central in the purposes, plans, and passions of the believer’s life.
Colossians 3:3-4 – “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Christ Himself becomes the source, strength, and secret of the Christian’s life.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” United to Christ, believers are empowered for Spirit-filled living and service.
Abide and Obey
The primary ways Christians experience the transforming power of union with Christ on a daily basis is through abiding and obeying.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) As believers abide in close fellowship with Jesus, drawing life from Him, they experience spiritual vitality and power for kingdom service.
Jesus also declared, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Obeying Christ’s commands is a natural result of loving Him. As believers walk in surrender and obedience to the Lord, His righteous life flows through them.
So abiding and obeying are two essential activities that allow Christians to practically live out the new covenant reality of their union with Christ. Through the presence and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus stay connected to Him by abiding and obeying.
Eternal Union with Christ
While union with Christ holds great significance for Christian living now, the best is yet to come. The consummation of this union awaits believers in eternal glory. Paul described this by saying that when Christ appears, those united to Him “also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4) John wrote, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) Eternal union with Christ means believers will gloriously share in His image, likeness, and life forever.
The eternal state will involve the most intimate, blissful, and perfect union with Christ conceivable. The bride will be eternally united to the Lamb who is her husband (Revelation 19:6-9). The eternal city has Jesus Himself as its radiant, glorious Light (Revelation 21:22-23). Heaven will be marked by unhindered fellowship and unmatched intimacy as believers see Christ face to face and share in His glory. The eternal union of believers with their Savior will be far more wonderful than words could ever describe.
Conclusion
Union with Christ is a central Bible doctrine with massive implications for the Christian’s life now and forever. To be united to Jesus by faith results in profound transformation, empowerment, and blessings that affect every aspect of life. All the fruits of His finished redemptive work become experienced realities. Intimacy with Christ through the indwelling Spirit makes possible a life characterized by abiding and obeying Him. And awaiting all who are joined by faith to their Savior is an eternity of gloriously consummated union with Christ in the realms of heavenly joy and splendor. No wonder Paul declared that this surpassingly great union was his primary aspiration – “that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Philippians 3:8-9). To be united to the Son of God by His Spirit is life’s greatest privilege and its eternal goal.