The Doctrine of the Union With Christ

This necessitates just a bit of understanding in regards to a rich doctrine called the Doctrine of Our Union with Christ. And so I'd like to explain to you the Doctrine of Our Union with Christ. Man's distinct makeup of having a heart, soul, mind, and even bodily strength is infused by the power of God through His Spirit. We're sealed by the Spirit when we're saved. Ephesians 1:13 clarifies this, and then from that point forward we are inseparably united to Christ.

And so Christ is actually then your hope. He is your hope. Colossians chapter 1 and verse 27 says that Christ in you is the hope of glory. And so He in you is your hope. You don't have a hope in and of yourself. You're united to Christ and He being in you energizes your hope. Our life comes from Christ. John 6:53–58 basically says this, that without Him we have no life. No life at all. And so Christ essentially is our life.

This life is abundant. In Christ we have abundant life. John 10:10 says so. Not only do we have abundant life, eternal life, it's free and filling. Ephesians 3:19 says it's of the fullness of God. And so Christ in you not only is the hope of glory, and not only does He give you abundant or eternal life, but He also fills you to overflowing. The fullness of God cannot be contained inside of this house. It has to have a light on. It has to exit. It has to overflow. This is God in you.

So Christ being united with us, it's not only a personal thing, it's a collective thing. Collectively as the church we are united. John chapter 17 verses 21–23 says so. The best illustration of this union that perhaps we can comprehend this side of glory is marriage. Marriage illustrates our union with Christ and how to become one. What a mystery that is. But as two are married and as years go by they become more and more like one. Not only do they finish each other's sentences, but it's almost like their minds are united. They're thinking the same things. They're united. It is a mystery, but it's beautiful and it's wonderful.

And so it is with Christ. It is hard to put into earthly language to finite minds and even to comprehend this union with Christ, but it is rich and wonderful and beautiful. Far beyond anything else in this world. No other excitement can make or reach or be what it is to be excited in Christ. I say it like this as best as I possibly can. There's nothing better than Bible study. Communing with Christ and being with Christ and studying who He is. Studying theology, who God is. Studying God, the attributes of God, and learning more about Him. Our union with Christ is energized as we are in the Scriptures. And the Holy Spirit of God is illuminating the truth of His eternal Word inside of our hearts and souls. And there is an indescribable energy that happens within us that is beautiful and wonderful. And not only that, you become more and more like Christ.

John chapter 15 describes how we are grafted in as branches into the vine of Christ. And Jesus being the vine and we being the branches are grafted in. And guess what happens when you graft a branch in? If you have a branch and you cut it off and then you take another branch, another tree, and you cut it off and you bring that branch over — a different tree, like a Gentile to an Israelite, like a non-Christian to Christ. You bring it over and it's best to cut it at an angle, by the way, so that when you put it together, you can tape it up and perhaps even put a stent on there and tape that up and give it some time. Well, this different branch that has been grafted in to this vine will unite. And the inner tree, or should I say, the nutrients, the water starts to flow through this vine, this branch into this cut-off branch and gives it life. And then after a while, guess what? This branch not only heals right here and is united, but it starts to look like this vine.

And the result is this: it's indistinguishable after some time. And so are you indistinguishable from Christ. Christ then starts to rule and reign in your life in such a way that His energy, His nutrients, His everything — the source — you are rooted in Him, starts to flow through you and you produce His fruit. This is a wonderful thing, our union with Christ. Our lives are to not only be hidden in Christ, but indistinguishable from Christ.

Galatians 2:20 says, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me." And so we who are crucified together with Christ are then raised together with Christ. This is a beautiful concept found in Colossians 3:1. And so our union with Christ — us being ones who have been blood-bought, us being now the bride of Christ owned and operated by Him — are His household. And this means, as John recorded in John 14:20, "You in Me and I in you." Remember that: "You in Me and I in you." When you're praying to the Father, you can pray just like this. You can say, "It's amazing, our union. You are in me and I am in you."