Two Small Words
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Two small words stand at the center of that verse, and at the center of the Christian life: in Christ.
Paul uses the phrases in Christ, in Him, and in the Lord more than 150 times. Forgiveness, righteousness, sonship, new life, and the hope of glory are all found there. God does not hand you salvation as a package and send you on your way. He gives you His Son, and everything comes with Him.
We believe that the moment a person trusts Christ, the Holy Spirit places him into Christ, joined to Him forever. This is not a feeling to work up or a level for the spiritually advanced. It is true of the newest believer tonight.
The believer's living, permanent oneness with Jesus Christ. The moment a sinner believes, the Holy Spirit places him in Christ, so that he shares in Christ's death, resurrection, righteousness, and life, and Christ lives in him.
Union is a fact: you are in Christ. Communion is a walk: you enjoy Him. Union can never be broken. Communion can be disturbed. Keep those two apart, and much of this subject comes clear.
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For Deeper Study
- Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological StudyAmazon Constantine R. CampbellAn evangelical New Testament scholar works through every use of Paul's in Christ language. For serious readers.
- Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy GodAmazon Rankin WilbourneA readable, pastoral book by a Presbyterian pastor. He writes as a Reformed believer, and we differ on election and baptism.
- Abide in ChristAmazon Andrew MurrayA devotional classic from 1882 by a South African Dutch Reformed pastor in the deeper-life tradition. Read it for its warmth, and test its experience language by Scripture.
- One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of SalvationAmazon Marcus Peter JohnsonAn evangelical theologian who wrote his doctorate on Calvin and belongs to a Lutheran church shows how every part of salvation is found in union with Christ. Stronger on the sacraments than we would be.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ once, at the moment of saving faith, and is then commanded to be filled with the Spirit day by day; the evidence of His presence is His fruit, not tongues.
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