Skip to main content

A key to real Christian living, union with Christ

Life with Christ, in Christ, by faith in God's Spirit...a key, if not the key to real Christian life.
Believing our real union with Christ is what the real Christian life is all about. 

True Christians operate, not from their own resources alone, but with the life of God connecting with their lives. A relationship with God is not merely knowing things about him. It is supposed to intimate, like a wife knowing her husband.

Quote from John Calvin about union with Christ:

“We must now examine this question. How do we receive those benefits which the Father bestowed on his only-begotten Son–not for Christ’s own private use, but that He might enrich poor and needy men?
First, we must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from Him, all that He has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us.
Therefore, to share with us what He has received from the Father, He had to become ours and to dwell within us. For this reason, He is called ‘our Head’ (Eph. 4:15), and ‘the first-born among many brethren’ (Rom. 8:29). We also, in turn, are said to be ‘engrafted into Him’ (Rom. 11:17), and to ‘put on Christ’ (Gal. 3:27).
For, as I have said, all that He possesses is nothing to us until we grow into one body with Him. It is true that we obtain this by faith.”
–John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeill, ed, Ford Lewis Battles, trans, Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960 [1559]), III.i.1.
A very good recent sermon on the topic: "You are in Christ, Christ is in you!" 
Perhaps the best book on the topic, praised by JI Packer and John Piper:

I hope this helps you keep yourself in the love of God

Jude 1:21

New International Version (NIV)
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

John 15 - Jesus is the vine...

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What do you think? Top five passages you need to know?

 Top 5 things students need to know about Jesus from the NT What if you had to choose the top 5 New Testament passages that a student needs to understand to become a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? Which passages you choose? GT staff Greg Ashworth and students in Bosnia this summer. Here is my first pass at answering this question:           Revelation 22 – The end or final blue print of what Jesus is doing, recreation, the new heavens and the new earth…           Luke 1,2 – Jesus’ origins and OT roots, the miraculous birth, his God-man nature, His name           Romans 3:21-28 In our place condemned He stood, the Gospel, justification by faith, propitiation           Ephesians 4 – Life Together in Christ, the Church, Christ-centered community           Luke 11 or Matthew 6 Jesus’ teaching on prayer and trusting the...

3 Songs based on Psalm 121 - in preparation for worship at City Church Eastside Sept. 1st

I am looking forward to the opportunity to preach on Psalm 121 at City Church Eastside on Sunday September 1. We are beginning a new series of sermons called "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction." It is all about what it means and what it takes to thrive for the long haul in your relationship with Jesus.  Here three songs that are based on Psalm. Enjoy and let me know which is your favorite. And if you are in town this weekend, join us for worship this Sunday, www.citychurcheastside.org .

Parkside People and Prayer

Parkside People and Prayer Initially, all good ministry is about a group of people praying to God to enable them to love and serve others in a specific way. This is really a good idea when you think about how much good you can accomplish apart from Jesus (nothing!!). Prayer is vital because it is both the means to what we called to and the end for which we called as well. So, here are a few pictures of the people of the Parkside project and some ways you can pray with us. One of our last official events as ChristChurch Presbyterian members -- out to Mexican while the church teenagers babysat.  We are thankful for the wonderful support and friendships of the ChristChurch family.   Prayer request: For Trent, Emily and our daughters for the personal aspect of this transition. Walking and praying on the Beltline ( http://beltline.org)  with Alicia and Dan DeCrisio.  On our walk we passed million dollar (plus) homes and a few guys with all their worl...