One of the most beautiful and significant matters revealed to us in God's Word is the believer's union with Christ. Although the expression "union with Christ" does not occur in Scripture, the reality thereof is revealed to us throughout God's Word. It is a profound blessing that the Lord Jesus Christ does not remain at a great distance from His people, but that Christ becomes one with them. That is revealed to us clearly in Scripture by the terms such as "Christ in you" and "you in Him."

It is the beauty of the Christian religion that Christ is not only transcendent, highly exalted above every power and person, but that He is also very close to His people. He even dwells within His people. Because of this intimate bond with Christ, the believer receives love, faith, hope and strength and all the graces of the Holy Spirit. We can agree with L. Berkhof when he defines this union with Christ as follows: "That intimate, vital and spiritual union between Christ and His people, in virtue of which He is the Source of their life and strength, of their blessedness and salvation."¹

This union with Christ has essential significance for man. Without this union with Christ being established in one's life, one cannot enter the kingdom of God. One can only be saved in the way of being united to Christ by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we read Scripture carefully we notice that there are three important and vital unions revealed to us:

The union of the three divine persons of the trinity. There is one eternal God Who exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Yet we do not have three Gods or merely three modes of existence of the One God. We confess one God and three divine persons.

The union of the divine and the human nature in the person of Christ. The essential Godhead and true humanity of Christ are so joined as to constitute one person and yet there is no mixture of these two natures.

The union between Christ and believers. They are united together in a vital and everlasting relationship.

These three vital unions are the source, the channel and the realization of man's salvation. We wish to consider in more detail the third union, the union between Christ and believers. The older English writers referred often to the believer's union with Christ. Maybe that was emphasized more than it is in our day. Edward Polhil, a theologian of the seventeenth century, who is now virtually unknown, but who in his day wrote quite a number of books and treatises, also wrote on the topic of union with Christ. Polhil emphasizes that the three aforementioned unions must be viewed in conjunction to one another and that they are indispensable to the salvation of man.²

The first two unions are conducive to the third union. That is to say, the union within the trinity and the union within the person of Christ are necessary for the union between Christ and His people. There is Scriptural evidence to say that the union with Christ is dependent upon the two other forms of union: John 6:57, "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me;" John 17:21, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me;" John 14:20, "At that day ye shall know that I (am) in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

The union within the person of Christ is an example of the union between Christ and His people. Richard Sibbes emphasizes the grace aspect as the most important point of comparison. He argues that God displayed grace in uniting the divine nature to the human nature in the one person of Christ. It is an indescribable grace that God unites the Lord Jesus to a sinful human being. Sibbes writes: "If we respect eternal salvation, or grace, or office, Christ was chosen in respect of his manhood; for as it is well observed by divines, Christ is the head of all that are predestinate; and the human nature could not merit its incarnation, it could not merit union with the Godhead, it was merely from grace. Therefore the knitting of the human nature of Christ to His divine, it is called the grace of union. The choosing of the human nature of Christ to be so gracious and glorious, it was of grace."³

E. Polhil notes in Christ a threefold grace and compares this to a threefold grace in God's people:

The grace of union, in that His human nature was united to the Deity; the grace of unction, in that His human nature was anointed with the Holy Spirit; the grace of headship, in that He is head unto the church. Suitably in believers may be noted a threefold grace, the grace of union, in that they are united to Christ; the grace of unction, in that they are anointed with the Holy Spirit; and the grace of membership, in that they have all their graces from Christ their Head.⁴

We see that the pattern of the union with Christ is set in the Godhead itself. We also realize that the trinity or the two natures within the person of Christ cannot be understood or fathomed by human intelligence. We must conclude two matters:

1. The union with Christ is a matter which cannot be fully comprehended by human reasoning.
2. The union with Christ must be studied in close reference to the Scriptures, as the final and decisive authority.

Scripture is very comprehensive in explaining this vital union between Christ and the believers. The expression "union with Christ" as such is not mentioned in Scripture. The issue, however, occurs many times in God's Word. The term "union with Christ" is the theological expression of those many portions of Scripture in which we find the term "in Christ." We can refer to many quotations from the apostle Paul and some from the apostle Peter.⁵ Well-known is 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man (be) in Christ, (he is) a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Besides that we also read of the concept "with Christ."⁶ For example, we read in Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." We must also consider the passages in which reference is made to the expression: "Christ in you."⁷ Colossians 1:27: "To whom God would make known what (is) the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." The terms 'with Christ' or 'in Christ' or 'Christ in you' give further expression to the notion of "Union with Christ."⁸

Mention should also be made of three passages in the writings of the apostle John which combine the concepts of "we in Christ" and "Christ in us:" John 6:56, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him;" John 15:4, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me;" 1 John 4:13, "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."

These quotations illustrate that the scope of the New Testament notion of "union with Christ" is indeed broad. We must keep in mind that the New Testament is the proclamation of God's salvation unto man. Without that salvation appropriated personally in the lives and hearts of sinners, those sinners remain destitute of the salvation of Christ. A.A. Hoekema writes: "We are not saved until we have been made one with Christ, and we remain saved only as we remain in union with Christ."⁹

There are strong expressions and examples in Scripture to illustrate this bond of unity between Christ and His people, such as:

• Union between the Father and the Son. See John 17:11, 21.
• Union between the various stones of a building. Christ is the cornerstone and His people who are in union with Him are the other stones which all depend upon the cornerstone. See 1 Peter 2:4, 5 and Ephesians 2:19-22.
• Union between the body and its members. Christ is the Head of the body of believers and His people are the members. For references see Ephesians 4:15, 16 and 1 Corinthians 12.
• Union between Adam and his posterity (Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22). The analogy is that as man stood and fell in Adam, so God's children stand in Jesus Christ.
• Union between the shepherd and the sheep (John 10). This refers to the special care the Lord Jesus has for His people.
• Union between the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8). The element of comparison here is that of a changed life which brings forth fruits. In the lives of God's children fruits of faith are produced from the vital strength which flows to them from Christ.
• Union between a husband and his wife (Ephesians 5:22, 23). This denotes the element of communion between two people and their expression of mutual care and love.
• Union of our food with our bodies. See John 6:56, 57.

We must keep in mind that all these illustrations have their limitations. As with any analogy, they bring across a certain point of similarity without allowing us to assume congruence between these illustrations and the matter signified. For instance, Peter compares the union between the Lord Jesus Christ and His people to the unity between the stones of a structure, but Peter calls these stones: "living stones." This expression elevates the actual state of union with the Lord Jesus far above this earthly illustration. In conclusion we may say that the union of a mortal human being and the Lord Jesus Christ is a Biblical revelation which cannot be understood. Union with Christ is of such vital, essential and eternal importance, that in theological literature it is characterized in various ways. Let us view some of these various characteristics.

Vital Union⤒🔗

Union with Christ is a vital union. This is so because Christ is the "vitalizing and dominating principle of the whole body of believers" (L. Berkhof, o.c. page 450). The life of Christ dwells in the believers and activates and infuses energies to them (John 15:5; Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:10,11). This vital union is further emphasized by the term: Christ in us. If this union would be only Christ through us instead of in us, there would be no real, vital union between Christ and the believer. If Christ would live through us, that would mean that all the faculties of humanity would be bypassed. The opposite is true. Christ employs the faculties of man and purifies man and redeems him. Man's life becomes Christ centred and transformed according to the image of Christ Jesus. This shows that there is a vital union between Christ and the individual believer.

Personal Union←⤒🔗

Union with Christ is a personal union. Every believer is personally united to Christ. This is not to be understood in a pantheistic or sacramental way, but in a soteriological sense. Christ is the personal Saviour of every individual believer. The Bible emphasizes this personal bond of the believer with Christ. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye (are) the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:4,5).

Transforming Union←⤒🔗

Union with Christ is a transforming union. "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare (it): that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26); "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13)¹⁰ By this union believers are changed into the image of Christ according to His human nature. What Christ works in His people is an imitation of what He Himself is. They suffer and die with Christ and are raised in newness of life with Christ.

Legal Union←⤒🔗

Union with Christ is a legal union. R.L. Dabney refers to this when he writes that our union with Christ is "a legal union, in virtue of which Christ's righteousness is made ours, and we are accepted in the beloved. See Rom.viii:1; Phil.iii:9. This is justification."¹¹

Mystical Union←⤒🔗

Union between Christ and His people may not be considered to be just a mental union, nor a physical union, as if Christ would become physically one with His people. Neither are we to consider this union as a union in essence, as if the people of God become one with the divine nature.

We believe that this union is a mystical union. This mystical union is a "bestowed" union (1 John 3:1,2); a supernatural union (1 Corinthians1:30); holy (1 John 3:24); necessary (John 15:4); and inviolable (Romans 8:38, 39).¹²

A.W. Pink writes: "The technical name by which the oneness between Christ and His people is designated by theologians is 'mystical union.' This term has been employed – for want of a better not because the union is vague or unreal, but because it far transcends all earthly analogies in its intimacy of fellowship and reciprocal partnership, both in the very nature of it, the power of its influence, and the excellency of its consequence."¹³

Spiritual Union←⤒🔗

Union with Christ is a spiritual union. R.L. Dabney writes that by this spiritual union, "we participate in spiritual influences and qualities of our Head Jesus Christ; … by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, which was given to Him without measure."¹⁴ This leads Dabney to further conclude that it would be incorrect to illustrate "union with Christ" by using the example of a leader and his followers. That would only be a union of sentiment, affections and interests, which would be too feeble. In the case of Christ and His people, there is far more; there is the emission of a Divine and vital Substance, the Holy Ghost, who literally unites Christ and His people, by dwelling and operating identically (though far differently in degree) in both; and who establishes and maintains in the creature by supernatural power, the same peculiar condition, called spiritual life, which exists in the Head.¹⁵

Indissoluble Union←⤒🔗

Union with Christ is an unbreakable or indissoluble union. This ties in with the fact that there is one body consisting of Christ and the believers. They form an organic unity and therefore this bond is unbreakable. A key text for this is Romans 8:38, 39,which states: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." If there would be any severance of this union, there would be dismemberment of the body of Christ and that is impossible. A.W. Pink writes in this connection: "There is such an indissoluble oneness between the Redeemer and the redeemed, such an absolute identification of interest between them, that the Father of mercies never saw them apart: He never saw Christ as 'Christ' without seeing His mystical body; He never saw the Church apart from its Head."¹⁶

Union with Christ is an everlasting union. It is a union which reaches from eternity and lasts until eternity. Therefore, any comparisons with everyday life fail to encompass the real scope of this union. In this connection the following verses may be used for reference:

Romans 8:1 – "(There is) therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

John 5:24 – "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Ephesians 1:3,4 – "Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly (places) in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."

John 10:29 – "My Father, which gave (them) me, is greater than all; and no (man) is able to pluck (them) out of my Father's hand."

That union may then be considered as virtual or that which was formed from all eternity.

Based on what we have seen so far, we may say that union with the Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in Scripture as a strong and vital bond between Christ and His church which constitutes the following essential and decisive aspects:

1. A union of natures. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (Peter 1:4). This must not be understood in the pantheistic sense of the dissolving of the human nature into that of the Godhead but as sharing in the communicable attributes of the Godhead in such a manner as corresponds to the divine, sovereign will.
2. A union of operations, whereby the sins of His people are imputed to Christ and the obedience of Christ and His payment for sin are reckoned to His people.
3. A union of life. This involves the new life which flows from Christ and is mediated by the Holy Spirit to the hearts of God's people. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). They receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24). They have the same interests as Christ: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29); "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (2 Corinthians 5:14).
4. An eternal union with Christ. The eternal home of Christ and His people is the same. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3); "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am" (John 17:24).

In conclusion we can say that "union with Christ" is an all-embracing doctrine which shows us the vital, personal, transforming, legal, mystical, spiritual and indissoluble relationship which exists between Christ and His people. The scope of this union with Christ cannot be underestimated.