2 As well as similar phrases, i.e., with Christ, In Him, with Him, in the Beloved, etc.

Transcription

1 A MYSTERIOUS UNION (pt 1)! Point: Union in Christ can fill the emptiness of life (COMFORT) p1- Our Mysterious Union with Christ p2- Growing in Mysterious Union w/christ (open to text, explain vision, pray) Ephesians 1:3-10 What does being a Christian mean? Many think rules. Others think doing good. But what does the Bible say about following Jesus? Overwhelmingly, we hear descriptions about being in Him. 11 times in this chapter Paul says in Him The phrase in Him occurs 73 times in the New Testament 1 Not only is in Christ 2 used frequently, but it is also extensive in its scope and is often simply called Union with Christ. 3 What is Union with Christ?!!!! AP!! Wayne Grudem: Union with Christ is a phrase used to summarize several different relationships between believers and Christ, through which Christians receive every benefit of salvation 4 Ephesians 1:3-10!! AP! chosen in Him (4) predestined in the Beloved (5-6) adopted in the Beloved (5-6) redeemed in Him (7) all things brought into order 5 in the Messiah (10) As one scholar states It underlies all the works of God in our lives: election, calling, regeneration, faith, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification. To study union with Christ is to explore all of these particular blessings, and therefore the vast range of meaning in that little word in. 6 - John M. Frame So what?! Some of you think of union with Christ an abstract doctrine for arm-chair theologians to nitpick, but that doesn t touch the human experience. 1 of 7 1 Constantine R. Campbell, in his groundbreaking exegetical study on union with Christ, notes that There are seventy-three occurrences of the precise phrase ἐν Χριστῷ in the Pauline corpus. Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012) p.67 2 As well as similar phrases, i.e., with Christ, In Him, with Him, in the Beloved, etc. 3 John M. Frame suggests that Union with Christ is in Scripture the most general way of characterizing Jesus work of salvation. Jesus saves us by uniting us to himself. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2013). p Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology. 1st ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994) p.840 Frank Thielman. Ephesians. (BECNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010). p.67 6 Ibid. p.914

2 There isn t anything in the Bible that touches the human experience more than this! 7 When a person becomes a Christian, they are not brought into merely an assent to beliefs, or a list of behaviors, but into mysterious, all-encompassing, multi-faceted relationship and realm of another Person. John 14:20 (HCSB) In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. I. Christ is in us!! AP!! 2 of 7 A. Christ s presence 1. It s not just an idea or His teaching that is in us, but Jesus Christ Himself. 8 Galatians 2:20a I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Romans 8:10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? unless you fail the test. Colossians 1:27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Revelation 3:20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. But here s what some of us do: we take the presence of God (the spirituality) thinking nothing in our lives will or should change. But Christianity is not just relationship with God, it s moving into the realm of God s influence and desires. Everything changes! II. We are in Christ 9!!!! AP!! A. Christ's work B. To be in Christ means you re the beneficiary of redemption everything changes about us 1. Our regeneration a) Spiritual transformation 7 John Murray speaking in relation to the Christian life, said Nothing is more central or basic than union and communion with Christ. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1955) p John Murray. It is union of an intensely spiritual character consonant with the nature and work of the Holy Spirit so that in a real way surpassing our power of analysis Christ dwells in his people and his people dwell in him. Redemption Also, Wayne Grudem, There is a real, personal dwelling of Christ in us this does not mean that we merely agree with Christ or that his ideas are in us. Rather, he is in us and remains in us through faith. Systematic Theology Wayne Grudem, explains that union with Christ is a summary of several different relationships between the believer and Christ, including the fact that we are in Christ, Christ is in us, we are like Christ, and we are with Christ. Systematic Theology. p.840

3 3 of 7 Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 2. Our redemption a) Redemption from our sins Ephesians 1:7 We have redemption in Him through His blood 3. Our justification 10 a) Imputed righteousness Philippians 3:8-9 Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ the righteousness from God based on faith. Romans 8:1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus! Our acceptance a) Adoption by God Ephesians 1:5-6 In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. 5. Our allegiance 12 a) New leadership 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (speaking of sexual immorality) Don t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. 6. Our sanctification a) Conformity into the image of Christ. Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.! 10 Wayne Grudem: God thought of us as going through everything that Christ went through, because he was our representative. When Jesus perfectly obeyed God for his whole life, God thought of us as having obeyed, too (emphasis by author). Ibid For more references on imputed righteousness, see Rom 3:21-22, 26; Rom 4:5; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21 11 J. Todd Billings writes, adoption is first of all a legal matter of justification through Christ justification is received as a gift as believers are united to Christ. Union With Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011) p Constantine R. Campbell, Union with Christ involves the identification of believers with Christ. Situated within the realm of his rile, believer s identity is shaped by their belonging to Christ, the Second Adam. We are marked off as his rather than belonging to Adam, and this is to shape believers sense of who they are and to whom they owe allegiance. Union with Christ. p.408

4 4 of 7 7. Our new family 13 a) Incorporation into God s people Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 8. Our resurrection a) Death is dealt with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. (or 1 Cor 15:22) 9. Our glorification a) Our mind, body, soul are made perfect Philippians 3:21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.! The entire Christian life, from conversion to glory, is made possible only through our union with Christ and participation of the benefits thereof. Salvation IS by grace alone. How is Union with Christ comforting? AP!! An historical reality (we are in Christ) and a present experience (Christ is in us) There is truth we can count on (transformation) He s there to bring those truths to bear on our hearts He s not a distant God he makes his dwelling in us (presence) He s not an uncaring God he doesn t leave us the way he found us (transformation) Union with Christ touches the whole human experience it s as costly as it is comforting. Some of you want a God that s close & relational, but doesn t tell you what to do! But what kind of relationship would that really be? It s not in the cheery times that I most experience the love of my wife, but in the difficult times, where, in conflict, she makes me a better man. What kind of love would it be if I said, Brianna, love me in theory, but stay out of the way. True love is when the rough edges of our loves are ground away, and we emerge together. It involves the whole self being immersed in the other. Same with God. Romans 8:28-30 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified. 13 Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology. 844

5 You may say, I don t want to conform! I like who I am! God doesn t erase your identity. Our identity is made up of all our experiences, beliefs, and relationships. Not all of these are good, right? Therefore, or identities can become quite marred. And you know this is true, if you ve ever done something you were ashamed of: vindictive, temper, workaholic, etc. And thought, That s so unlike me! or What was I thinking?! Illustration: my dad s Pontiac Bonneville ( I want to restore the original luster ) God wants to do this with you! He wants to restore his original artwork. 14 But some of you want the transformation without the relationship.! Faithful living, active life, business, productivity, etc. But severed from the relational connection to God, activity is left as it s own end: legalism Some people have dads who are distant and cold, and they work hard to win their acceptance. The smallest loving gesture can go a long way and so can the lack of them 15 C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory) To be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artists delights in his work or a father in a son it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. 16!! (His presence is there to bring these truths to bear on us)! So much in our minds could be healed if we saw each other as the Father sees us: in His Beloved Son, therefore beloved! 5 of 7 Full humanity is humanity in complete union with God 17 - J. Todd Billings What does the Christian life offer? You get everything in Christ. But Christ gets everything in you! Union with Christ is comforting to the degree that you are willing to give yourself up to God. Ephesians 1:13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. How do you experience Union with Christ?! 14 J. Todd Billings argues that Union with Christ centers Christian identity in Jesus Christ himself, and in the claim of the triune God upon the Christian. Union With Christ. p.9 15 John Murray, It is out of the measureless fullness of grace and truth, of wisdom and power, of goodness and love, of righteousness and faithfulness which resides in him that God s people draw for all their needs in this life and for the hope of the life to come. There is no truth, therefore, more suited to impart confidence and strength, comfort and joy in the Lord than this one of union with Christ. Redemption. p C.S. Lewis. The Weight of Glory. (HarperOne, 1949) p.39 J. Todd Billings. Union with Christ. p.11

6 Through faith in Christ, by the power of the Spirit. It starts with regeneration (You must be born again). Then you participate in that mysterious union starting with an overhaul of your identity: remembering who you are in Christ, and walking accordingly. You are not what you do. You are not the mistakes you ve made. You are not what you re gifted at. You are not who you married. You are primarily in Christ. As someone once said, Your experiences may explain you; they don't have to define you. The Christian worldview says that our union with Christ defines us. We are who Christ says we are. But then there s an ongoing experience Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith.! Paul is praying that they would continue to draw their inner strength and encouragement from that objective truth. 18 Trust and dependance. 6 of 7 Some of you are not believers and you re looking to see if Christianity offers comfort. Ponder this: is there any other god, personality, or system of religion out who primary way of pulling your out of your mess is by themselves condescending into your mess, suffering and despair and being with you? Some of you know all the right Bible answers, but you are as discouraged as ever. Some of you have been going to church your whole life, and feel something is still missing. Some of you are doing everything you know to do, but still feel hungry. Perhaps what you need is for the Holy Spirit to make the truth of this union real to you. Personal exhortation When I first took over, I shared some mutual expectations. One was that I would never preach to you what I did not first preach to myself to my own heart. Lest I become a hypocrite. But more than that, to be persuaded by and rejoice in the truth together with you, my family. I want to reiterate that point today regarding this thing called the mysterious union with Christ. I want to preach this to my own heart. I want you to preach this to your own heart. I want us to preach it to each other's hearts. And I want to go on a crazy ride into glory with you, even if it includes suffering; knowing that the thing which binds us, that pulls us together, that keeps us sober, fastens us, and keeps us from slipping, transcends the latest psychobabble, self-help, pseudo-spiritual therapy, pursuit of happiness, cultural trends, contemporary ideas, legislation, or great idea that the world or society happens to be offering at the time. It goes deeper than what we think of ourselves, what our lives account for, and what our relationships are worth, and yet it also affects all of those things. That transcendent hope is us being found in the grip of God. The One who is infinitely beyond us, yet is found with us, and in us, and we in him. Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen. 18 Frank Thielman. Ephesians. (BECNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010). p.231

7 7 of 7 Works Used! Billings, J. Todd. Union With Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Campbell, Constantine R. Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Fitzpatrick, Elyse M. Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and our Union with Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, Lewis, C.S. The Weight of Glory. HarperOne, Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. 1st ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Payne, Leanne. The Healing Presence: Curing the Soul through Union with Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, Thielman, Frank. Ephesians. BECNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.