“We have come to share in Christ” Heb. 3:14a (ESV) The Greek word for “share” in this verse means participate, or be a partner. We have a union with Christ and we actually participate in him. Think how incredible this is! We love Jesus for his wisdom and love and compassion, and in spite of our faults, we are privileged to share in Jesus. This is yet another biblical mystery we can’t fully understand, but we continually grow in the reality of it. We participate in Christ’s righteousness, in his power, in his love and in his light. We see the same idea in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV)
Furthermore, our baptism indicates an intimate bond with Christ: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:27, NIV). Scripture often uses the term “in Christ” to refer to our connection to Christ. “Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” (or “in him” or other closely related phrases) over 160 times in the letters attributed to him.”[1] We refer to this theme in Scripture as “union with Christ.”
Union with Christ is one way of describing the entire Christian life, including our eternity. Union with Christ is to have what he has except for being fully God. We both have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. We both have the restored image of God in human form. Since we are siblings of Christ and united with him, we share in his rewards: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6, NIV.) Since we have the same Father, we share in his inheritance, which includes the future new creation. Romans. 8:17 affirms we are “fellow heirs with Christ” (NIV); we will have a “glorious inheritance” (Eph. 1:18). It is like marrying a billionaire; suddenly, you are astonishingly wealthy.
Do you think of yourself as being in union with Christ? What benefits do you have because of your union?
[1] Rankin Wilbourne, Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2016) ____.
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