Union with Christ is really the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation… —John Murray
The discussion about whether we have one or two natures—whether we are half good and half bad—really does matter. What we believe about our nature determines what we believe about our relationship with God. Scripture is so clear that our old, sinful self died with Christ and that He now lives in us (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our belief doesn’t change that reality, but it changes how we experience that reality. Consider this:
But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
The original Greek sentence doesn’t have the phrase “with Him.” It literally says:
He that is joined to the Lord, one spirit is.
If you are in Christ, one spirit with Him you are. But until we understand that this union with Christ is tied to the fact that our old self is dead, we will constantly be confronted with the deception of separation. I use that word very carefully, deception. I’m convinced it is a deception of the evil one to convince you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, that you are separated from God, that He is out there somewhere, and you are down here.
Now, if you’re a non-believer, you are separated from God by your sin. But once you trust in Christ, you’re in Christ. Your old self died, and your new self lives:
- You are never separated from Him again… ever.
- You are in perfect union with Christ in your spirit forevermore.
- You don’t have to figure out how to get closer to God.
- You’re already as close as you can get.
- You don’t have to come up with a plan to get more intimate.
It just doesn’t get any more intimate than complete union with Him. You can’t get closer than “in!”
God of Truth expose the “deception of separation” that keeps me from experiencing the unity of spirit between us. I reject the lie that my old sinful self is alive and separated from You. I rejoice that because my old self died, I am living in Him now and forever! Amen.