The Mystery of the Union
Christ is not found out there somewhere, separate from us. He does not visit us or become near to us at moments in time. He is found IN us. Now, Paul proclaims this magnitude of union. Riches and glory are words used to describe our position of Christ-in-us. Union must not be passed over or taken lightly. Riches and glory are wonderful, magnificent, and something to be sought and treasured. We know that Christ came so that “we might have life, and have it more abundantly.” Now we can see how we are to be fulfilled with abundant life. Our abundance is Jesus himself, living in us.
Paul once again reinforces his point in Colossians 3:3-4 when he says:
“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4 NKJV).
Paul says that you (or we) are dead, and we see the message of Galatians 2:20 here again in this verse. We have been put to death, sharing in the cross with Christ. Again, the “I” has been nailed to the cross, and the futility of a life independent of Christ has been buried. Our new life is the shared resurrection for we now have new life. This new life exists in union with Christ. Paul even says that this life is “hid with Christ.” Since our life is hid with Christ, then the part of ourselves that does remain cannot be detected nor determined. Though we retain our humanity by our flesh (body) and mind and emotion (soul), our core (spirit) is joined with Christ and becomes hidden there.
In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul again gives us these bold pieces of truth. Christ does not exist in a far away place where He is separate from us. Paul bluntly says in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ.” His words are clear and concise. Paul’s mere existence is the life of Jesus Christ. Paul does not make exception to the rule or caveats to the statement. Paul doesn’t say that most of the time he tries to be Christ-like. He does not say that when his faith has been elevated to a point of perfection that Christ will be with him, strengthen him, and comfort him. No, Paul simply and succinctly states that simply living, simply being, all aspects of life are Christ. This can only be true if Paul and Christ are joined in union, and that Paul’s life is the glorious manifestation of Christ’s life lived by Paul’s human form.
Paul digs deeper and explains that the Spirit of God in us lives out the will of God through us. As we are in union with Christ, God uses us to do His business, to be His agent in this world. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” We can easily understand how we are used to “do of His good pleasure.” God has always used humanity to be the force of action in the destiny of the world. We serve as the mouthpieces, the foot soldiers, the teachers, etc. of God the Father. Yet within the verse, we easily pass by the boldness of the statement that God works in us to both do and to WILL. We do not simply take orders like an army private or follow instructions like a computer robot. We do the work of God AFTER we have willed that it be done. Yes, we can boldly say that our desires are the desires of Jesus Christ who lives in us and is our life. His will is expressed out through us by our Godly desires.
Continued in the next issue…
