Union with Christ

Galatians 2:20“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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A few weeks ago, we unpacked what the supernatural power of the Gospel reveals to us. Do you remember the three main points? We have a new birth, we are a new creation, and we have a new heart. By no means are there only three. But the three we placed our focus on I hope would prepare us for this morning’s sermon and the next that God will help me present. I often think about the heart surgery God the Father performed on me when I was 16 kneeling on the ground in a campsite within Yosemite National Park. My 4 decades of life since that precious moment would undoubtedly have been different if I did not respond to the Father’s calling. I know my nature intimately; without the union I have in Christ the life I lived out would have been a life of toils and snares and some of those snares I might not have been able to free myself of them.

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Our old hearts were self-gratifying, self-serving, self-centered. Our old hearts could not pivot our eyes to the heavens above to see the Creator of the universe. It had only eyes fixed down on an earthly plane where the prince of darkness reigns. We unknowingly or worse knowingly served him in our selfish desires to make a better life without the wisdom of our all-knowing God. Our heart could not seek out His wisdom until that radical heart surgery that Ezekiel spoke of in Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

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In our Union with Christ everything changed. We have become the aliens on this world. John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

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We are not of the world. In our Union with Christ He took us out of the world, why because the world hates us. Are we comfortable with this? Let’s begin to get comfortable with the station Christ has given us.

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There is no place in the Bible that captures Union with Christ more succinctly than this morning’s text. (Wilbourne, Rankin. Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God (p. 31). David C Cook. Kindle Edition).

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Paul here is dealing with the Galatian Church and Peter. The Galatian church initially embraced and accepted the true Gospel that Paul introduced to them. Now they are being influenced by false teachings. Paul in the verses prior to this morning’s text was admonishing the Galatian church for giving into following these false teachings. Even Peter succumbed to some of those teachings. Paul said that if they continued down this road it would nullify what Christ did on the Cross for them. Paul says basically, either a person is justified by his own obedience to the law, which is an impossible path obstructed by sin and the curse of the law, or else a person looks by faith alone to Jesus Christ for justification. (Fesko, J. V. (2012). Galatians (J. D. Payne, Ed.; p. 32). Tolle Lege Press.) Once again let us recognize, reflect, remember that we died with Jesus and was raised up with Him. We are made new in so many dimensions and I want us to be challenged to study this fact in our daily worship of our Triune God.

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Charles Spurgeon says: It is a new thing—as new as though you had been actually dead and rotted in the tomb and then had started up at the sound of the trumpet to live again. (Spurgeon, C. (2013). Galatians (E. Ritzema, Ed.; Ga 2:19). Lexham Press.)

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We begin with an entirely new life. We discussed this “newness” in depth in my last sermon. And

Galatians 2:20 expands on our newness pointing to a new life in our Union with Christ. Paul says that he no longer lives but it is Christ who lives in him. This is deeply personal to Paul and so it should be for us as well. Numerous times Paul says “I” and “me”. Our text is not about community worship it is about our individual worship. When we came into a Union with Christ there was a spiritual death and a spiritual resurrection. Christ comes into us and now lives in us. I know I am preaching to the choir - but how often Choir do you preach this to yourself. The more we preach the Gospel to ourselves the more it will transform us into the likeness of Christ. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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Paul says that the Christ who lives in him has to mean that he no longer needs to justify his life. Remember Paul’s life before his conversion. That was his old life. In our old life, for approval we needed to work for it earn it. The new life we now live is lived out in faith in the Son of God. We no longer need to work for approval, we work from approval. That radically audacious love of God the Father, to turn the world upside down, He asked His Son Jesus to die a horrific death so we can receive a new life. We are approved to directly seek out the King of Kings and converse with Him. No longer do we need sacrifices or mediators. Paul ends this morning’s text by keeping it personal “who loved me, and gave himself for me”. Christ has wed himself to us. This is not just a declaration to agree with. It is an objective reality to live into. Christ has fully atoned for us, and He is now with us, assuring us that with Him, we have the resources to overcome anything that threatens to overwhelm us. (Wilbourne, Rankin. Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God (p. 31). David C Cook. Kindle Edition). Union with Christ needs to be everything to us the believers of the Gospel Truth. This Union with Christ we now live solely on faith alone in Christ. With the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus our identity is objectively in Christ. What does it mean to have our identify in Christ? In our Union with Christ, in our death and resurrection with Christ, Christ’s now resides in us and we now are faithfully able to live a life pleasing to our Creator King. We will look at 3 identifiers of our life this week and 3 next week hoping to give us a beautiful picture to deepen our faith in our Triune God on our journey of faith.

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We will begin with Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

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In the prior chapter Paul makes a vigorous and provocative defense of the law. The subject of Israel’s plight is never the law, but always their sin. Law is involved, as a passive instrument. It was a counterweight to sin but has been neutralized or weakened as Romans 8:3 says. (Toews, J. E. (2004). Romans (p. 204). Herald Press.) “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,” (Toews, J. E. (2004). Romans (p. 204). Herald Press.)

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The law is and remains the covenant law of God; holy, righteous, good, and spiritual. Sin is a power that conquers and rules every human being. Sin as power resides in the domain of the flesh, the force operating through the body and linking people with the world system. The flesh and the Spirit are competing forces. Sin as power dominates the force of our flesh. (Toews, J. E. (2004). Romans (p. 204). Herald Press.) If we look at the two verses we should be able to see what the Word is speaking to us about concerning our Union with Christ. God did not send Jesus to condemn us, He sent Jesus to come and condemn the sin in our flesh so it can have no more power against us.

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We who choose Christ are reckoned as righteous before God. Not based on any work we have done, but the work of the Cross performed on our behalf by Jesus. And this was not just a one time act - it is continuous. The work of the Cross did not end thousands of years ago - it started and will not end until Christ returns to make everything new. That is what Paul underlines for us in this first identifier we have through the Union with Christ - “there is therefore now no condemnation” Now clearly means present. If we had a rough day and made a mistake, lied to cover it up, or hurt someone’s feelings and was too prideful to say sorry whether or not it was our fault or not we can wake up the next day and through our Union with Christ we can claim:

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I am JUSTIFIED!

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Justification is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because his sins are not counted against him.

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We are seen by God as not guilty. Now this does not give us an excuse to not correct our errors, but it does give us power to overcome the guilt to fix our errors. It frees us of guilt but not accountability over the consequences of our sinning. Christ bared the burden of all our guilt yesterday, today, and all our tomorrows. God sees us not guilty because of our Union with Christ.

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Our next identifier can be seen in John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” Throughout the Old Testament there was reference to our Messiah. And what happened when Jesus arrived. The two prior verses beginning with verse 10 said “the world did not know Him.” Verse 11 said “His own people did not receive Him”. His chosen people - the Israelites who were time and time again saved by God and was reminded time and time again a Savior will come to rescue them out of their despair, when Jesus arrived, they rejected Him. Worse - you know - they literally murdered Him. Verse 12 begins with “But” not all the world and not all of the chosen ones rejected Him. Some like us received Him. They like us entrusted ourselves to Christ our Savior. We acknowledge all His claims. We openly confess to our family, community, the world who Jesus is. This is why we get baptized and take communion. It does not save us, but it openly confesses our faith in Christ publicly to the world. We who are true believers are then to immerse oneself in all that is Jesus as the Word of God (Osborne, G. R. (2018). John: Verse by Verse (J. Reimer, E. Ritzema, D. Thevenaz, & R. Brant, Eds.; p. 32). Lexham Press.) The true believers, disciples of Christ chooses a new worldview built on a foundation where Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. A worldview that is no longer patterned after self-centeredness but patterned after Jesus-centeredness. In our Union with Christ the final words of this verse identifies us as children of God. He, Christ gave us the right to become a child of God. Familial imagery is often used to describe our relationship with God and humanity. The use of familial imagery shows us the depth of the relationship and commitment to this relationship God desires of His redeemed people. The power of the Gospel grafts us into a new life. The work of the Cross is declarative and personal. Declarative for we have been given a new legal status. Personal for a change in relationship has taken place. Once enemies we are now God’s sons and daughters, prince and princesses. Once forever separated now forever in communion with the Creator of the universe. In our Union with Christ we can claim:

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I am ADOPTED!

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Adoption is the divine work wherein God declares regenerated believers to be His beloved sons and daughters and welcomes them into His eternal family.

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The adoption of Christians into God’s family also demands a change in the heart and lifestyle of the adopted son or daughter. As earthly children learn to imitate their parents, so spiritual children are taught to imitate their heavenly Father (Luke 6:36; Eph 5:1). God calls his adopted ones to a life of obedience, honoring their heavenly Father and welcoming his discipline as an expression of his love (Heb 12:5–11). The obedience and love of God’s children demonstrates his love and light to the rest of the world (Phil 2:14–16). (Logos:Web App)

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Our final identifier can be found in one of my life verses. It comes from Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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The second half of Romans 8gives us a reality check. The present world is in darkness. It is corrupted. It will get worse. It describes the whole of creation is suffering and groaning. But Paul points to a future glory that will be revealed to us and in us. Remember we have a new heart; in it the Holy Spirit resides to help us throughout our entire life here on earth. Listen to and pray to the Holy Spirit for He intercedes for us just like Jesus does, He will advocate for us as He knows the will of God. Be confident in the Father’s plan in our weak moments, through our desert wonderings. Romans 8:31-35 Paul ask a series of rhetorical questions - What shall we say in response to these things? These things of course are the suffering and groaning of creation since the fall of man. He is driving home a very important point to the people and ultimately to us. God is inseparable to His people. God is inseparable to us. Why? If God is for us who can be against us says Paul. Paul wants the people, God wants us all to exude in confidence in His abiding presence, provision, and protection. “For I am sure” begins the text. Paul has no doubt nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even the worst horrors cannot break the bonds of God’s love. Nothing - tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, nothing. “Death, life, angels, principalities, powers,” – and those are ranks of demons and angels - “things present, things to come, height, depth, nor any other creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Now, this is the affirmation that our salvation is secure. We can sing boldly the lyrics of Blessed Assurance:

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Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood.

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This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long

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Perfect submission, perfect delight Visions of rapture now burst on my sight Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

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This is you story, this is your song Praising your Savior all the day long This is your story, this is your song Praising your Savior all the day long Praising your Savior all the day long

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This song is all about our Union with Christ and we can confidently claim:

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I am SECURE!

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In Manifold Grace we are studying 1,2,3 John and Jude with insights from Max Lucado. There was a moment when we talked about our security. Can we be 100% sure? I did not answer I just listened. I can say confidently we can be 100% sure. In Christ we have the living Word. In Christ we are to live out the Word. In Christ we are 100% secure.

We will end here with these three identifiers of our Union with Christ. I am Justified! I am Adopted! I am Secure! I did not exhaustively speak into each one and the 3 next week I will also skim the surface of their description. For each of these identifiers can be an entire sermon. This week and next week is simply to encourage you to recognize, reflect, and remember what the Union of Christ gives us. I want to challenge us to have conversations with one another on our personal perspective of what the Union with Christ gives us. If you have a pressing question, you can reach out to me using the “Ask Pastor Wai” QR code. Or simply come and ask me after service.

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Like Paul began in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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Union with Christ means our personal worship, our life on earth must reflect our Identity in Christ. Jesus cannot simply be a guest in our hearts. Remember we are given a new heart - in this new heart resides Christ. Jesus must be the host! Is Jesus the guest or the host in our hearts?

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The first Adam separated all of humanity from the Creator God. In our salvation the second Adam reunites us back to the Creator God. Our life is no longer in opposition to the unconditional love of the Father in heaven. In Christ we have been totally and irrevocably reconciled back into the presence of the Almighty God. The theme of Union with Christ is everywhere in the New Testament. The phrase “in Christ” is extensively used by Paul in his letters.

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Remember how eloquently Pastor John phrased Isaiah 61 for us. Or how God connected last Sunday’s message to what our Union with Christ gives us. Instead of judgement we are in a time of grace. We receive beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of grief, and praise instead of despair. All we Christian receive from God is received “in Christ, so Christ’s charge is to abide in Him and to draw life from Him in all things (John 15:1–17). Individual we are in Union with Christ in His righteous life (Phil 3:9), crucifixion (Rom 6:6), death (2 Cor 5:14), burial (Rom 6:4), resurrection to new life, and ascension (Eph 2:6). Christ walked through each of these stages on behalf of all who would one day believe in Him (Calhoun, S. (2018). Union with Christ. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press.) , and the benefits and rewards of His obedience are gifted to all of us here this morning through our Union with Christ.