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Answer
While the term “union with Christ” is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, the concept is conveyed in various ways. The expression “in Christ” appears more than ninety times in the New Testament. For instance, 1 Corinthians 15:22 states: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
Moreover, phrases like “in him” and “in whom” often signify being united with Christ. Ephesians 1:7 declares, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace,” while Colossians 1:13–14 affirms, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Scripture employs metaphors that reinforce the reality of our union with Christ: Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches “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 15:5). Jesus is the Head, and we are His body “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the Cornerstone, and we are the living stones built upon Him (1 Peter 2:4-7). He is the Bridegroom, and we are His bride (Ephesians 5:31-32;Revelation 19:7-9). We are crucified with Christ “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.” (Galatians 2:20).The faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) and baptized into Him “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3).
Pastor and theologian John Piper defines union with Christ this way: “The reality of all the ways that the Bible pictures our human connectedness to Christ, in which He is indispensable for every good that we enjoy” (“What Is Union with Christ?” interview, www.desiringgod.org, accessed 5-13-20). These good riches include the following:
• being chosen by God and given new life (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:4-5, 10)
• justification (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9)
• sanctification: having a new life that obeys God (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:16-17; 4:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30; John 15:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• a new identity in this life and the next (Romans 14:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 14:13)
• the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
• preservation/perseverance in the faith (John 10:27-28; Romans 8:38-39)10:27-28; Romans 8:38-39)
• future bodily resurrection (Colossians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22)
• future glorification (Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Union with Christ is the essence of being a Christian. When considering our salvation, our mystical union with the Lord should be given “the highest degree of importance,” according to Calvin. “We do not, therefore, contemplate him outside ourselves from afar so that his righteousness may be imputed to us, but because we put on Christ and are engrafted into his body— in short, because he deigns to make us one with him” Institutes of the Christian Religion, Donald McKim, ed., Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, III:11:10.
