Nov 01, 2024 Union with Christ – Words of Grace – November 1, 2024
The language of salvation we most often use includes words like forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life. Praise God for these realities of the gospel. A much less used phrase, but equally true and necessary, is “union”. By grace through faith, we are united to Christ.
As we come to Colossians 3 this Sunday at Grace Community Church, we will hear the language of union with Christ. The term is not used in this chapter (though it is in Romans 6), but the reality of it is here with clarity, giving us another wave of grace and instruction for walking with Christ.
Maybe union with Christ is a more difficult concept for us to grasp than other aspects of salvation. We understand forgiveness because we give and receive it often in relationships. We can grasp reconciliation because we experience it with people. But union with someone seems mystical.
Another reason we may be less familiar with union with Christ is because we don’t see the practical benefit of this reality, and so we don’t give it the attention we give to other aspects of salvation.
My hope for this Sunday is that we begin to see the reality and the blessing of being united to Christ by faith.
To get us started, this weekend reread the book of Colossians. Look for the language of union with Christ in phrases like, “in him”, “with him”, and “like him”.
“In him.” When you read this phrase, think of being united to Christ personally, in a relationship with him. Think of Christ being in you through his Spirit, and your spirit being alive and joined to him.
“With him.” You will notice that this phrase is used when talking about the events of Christ that we participate in. Christ died, was raised, is now seated at the right hand of God, and will appear in glory. Union with Christ means we participate in these events. We have died to sin with Christ, were raised with him to life, are with him in the heavens, and will appear with him in glory.
“Like him.” This phrase doesn’t appear in Colossians, but the idea does. As new selves in Christ, we are being renewed in his image to become like him (3:10). Becoming like Christ by the power of union with him is what Colossians 3 is about.
We are not introducing a new doctrine or esoteric teaching or human invention when we talk about union with Christ. Colossians 2 has already warned us against such things. Union with Christ is gospel doctrine, for all who believe, and is a gift of grace. We are taking up the truth that leads to life.
By grace through faith, we are united to Christ, vitally related to him, participating in (not contributing to) his saving work on our behalf, and becoming like him in his humanness.
Begin to think on these things this weekend. Join me in praying for the Lord to fill us with all spiritual wisdom and understanding that we may walk in a manner fully pleasing to him.
-Scott