Chapter 43, Union with Christ
*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple summary chapter by chapter of his book for my own enrichment.*
Every aspect of God's relationship to believers is somehow connected to Christ.
Past (foundation of the world), present, and future (glorification)... all is eternally linked together in God and in Christ.
We are "in Christ," Christ is "in us," we are "like Christ," and "with Christ." Grudem takes them one at a time.
In Christ:
Chosen in Christ from before the beginning of time.
As Christ lived on earth, God thought of us as being in Christ and thus laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all, and "He himself bore our sins on his body on the tree." crucified, buried, and raised with Christ...
We have a new life in Christ.
All our actions can be done "in Christ," as the New Testament gives example of. Paul speaks truth in Christ, proud of his work in Christ, hopes in Christ, rejoices in the Lord, exhorts in Christ, and can do all things in him who strengthens me.
We are one body in Christ, in fellowship with believers. Thus, if one member suffers, all suffer, if one rejoices, all rejoice.
Christ is in us:
A real personal dwelling of Christ in us, so that instead of merely agreeing with the ideas, HE is is us and perseveres with us in faith. We are dependent on Christ.
We are like Christ:
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ, writes Paul. Welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you. Love your wives, as Christ loved the church. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
In contrast, disobedience to Christ holds him up in contempt. Heb 6.
We even suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We are with Christ:
We have fellowship with him, we know him, we are comforted by him. As we worship and pray, we commune with God and he desires to have us with him.
There is also a connected union with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple summary chapter by chapter of his book for my own enrichment.*
Every aspect of God's relationship to believers is somehow connected to Christ.
Past (foundation of the world), present, and future (glorification)... all is eternally linked together in God and in Christ.
We are "in Christ," Christ is "in us," we are "like Christ," and "with Christ." Grudem takes them one at a time.
In Christ:
Chosen in Christ from before the beginning of time.
As Christ lived on earth, God thought of us as being in Christ and thus laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all, and "He himself bore our sins on his body on the tree." crucified, buried, and raised with Christ...
We have a new life in Christ.
All our actions can be done "in Christ," as the New Testament gives example of. Paul speaks truth in Christ, proud of his work in Christ, hopes in Christ, rejoices in the Lord, exhorts in Christ, and can do all things in him who strengthens me.
We are one body in Christ, in fellowship with believers. Thus, if one member suffers, all suffer, if one rejoices, all rejoice.
Christ is in us:
A real personal dwelling of Christ in us, so that instead of merely agreeing with the ideas, HE is is us and perseveres with us in faith. We are dependent on Christ.
We are like Christ:
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ, writes Paul. Welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you. Love your wives, as Christ loved the church. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
In contrast, disobedience to Christ holds him up in contempt. Heb 6.
We even suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We are with Christ:
We have fellowship with him, we know him, we are comforted by him. As we worship and pray, we commune with God and he desires to have us with him.
There is also a connected union with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
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