Union with Christ: Identity, Righteousness, and Purpose
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 7:4, we delve into the profound mystery of our union with Christ, likened to a marriage. This union is not merely a metaphor but a transformative reality that redefines our identity, purpose, and destiny. We are no longer bound to the law, which could not produce righteousness in us, but are now united with Christ, who empowers us to bear fruit unto God. This new relationship is marked by privileges and responsibilities that are both humbling and exhilarating.
Firstly, we inherit the name of Christ, becoming Christians in the truest sense. This name is not just a label but a declaration of our belonging to Him, a source of dignity and strength that should embolden us in our daily walk. Secondly, we are clothed in His righteousness, a gift that assures us of our standing before God, despite our weaknesses and failures. This righteousness is both imputed and imparted, leading us into a life of sanctification.
Moreover, our union with Christ grants us access to His privileges. We are seated with Him in heavenly places, enjoying a spiritual authority and perspective that transcends earthly limitations. We have direct access to the Father, a privilege that assures us of His love and provision. Additionally, we are served by angels, ministering spirits sent to aid us in our journey.
The ultimate purpose of this union is to bring forth fruit unto God. This fruit is holiness, a life lived for His glory, characterized by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and more. Our marriage to Christ is not for our comfort or happiness alone but for the manifestation of His life and power in us, producing a holy progeny that reflects His nature.
Key Takeaways:
- Identity in Christ: Our union with Christ gives us a new identity, marked by His name. This identity is a source of strength and dignity, reminding us that we belong to Him and are called to live in a way that honors His name. [05:48]
- Righteousness and Sanctification: We are clothed in Christ's righteousness, which assures us of our standing before God. This righteousness is both a gift and a process, leading us into a life of sanctification and holiness. [10:42]
- Heavenly Privileges: Our relationship with Christ grants us access to heavenly privileges, including spiritual authority, direct access to the Father, and the service of angels. These privileges are a testament to our exalted position in Him. [13:19]
- Purpose of Union: The purpose of our union with Christ is to bear fruit unto God. This fruit is holiness, a life lived for His glory, characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. Our marriage to Christ empowers us to live a life that reflects His nature. [35:45]
- Love and Protection: Christ's love for us is intimate and personal, manifesting in His care and protection. He nourishes and cherishes us, ensuring that we have everything we need for life and godliness. [28:34]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Introduction to Romans 7:4
[01:10] - The Necessity of Christ's Sacrifice
[02:05] - Union with Christ: A New Relationship
[03:36] - Privileges of Being Married to Christ
[05:12] - Our New Identity in Christ
[06:30] - The Power of Christ's Name
[08:21] - Glorying in Our Position
[10:01] - Righteousness and Sanctification
[12:45] - Sharing in Christ's Privileges
[14:36] - Access to the Father
[16:32] - The Ministry of Angels
[18:41] - Reigning with Christ
[20:22] - Our Inheritance in Christ
[22:35] - Experiencing Christ's Love
[35:45] - Purpose of Our Union: Bearing Fruit
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Union with Christ
Bible Reading:
- Romans 7:4
- Ephesians 5:25-27
- John 17:17
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 7:4 say about our relationship with Christ and the law? How does this relationship change our identity? [02:05]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the privileges that come with being united with Christ? [03:36]
3. How does the sermon describe the significance of taking on the name of Christ as Christians? [05:48]
4. What role do angels play in the life of a believer, according to the sermon? [16:49]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of marriage help us understand our union with Christ and its implications for our daily lives? [02:21]
2. In what ways does being "clothed in Christ's righteousness" impact a believer's confidence before God, despite personal weaknesses? [10:42]
3. How does the sermon explain the purpose of our union with Christ in terms of bearing fruit? What kind of fruit is expected? [35:45]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our identity in Christ and our spiritual authority and privileges? [13:19]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life: How does knowing you bear the name of Christ influence your actions and decisions? Are there areas where you feel you could better honor His name? [05:48]
2. Consider a recent challenge you faced. How might the understanding of being clothed in Christ's righteousness change your approach to similar situations in the future? [10:42]
3. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) that you feel called to cultivate more in your life. What specific steps can you take this week to nurture this fruit? [35:45]
4. Think about a time when you felt spiritually weak or inadequate. How can the knowledge of your heavenly privileges and spiritual authority in Christ empower you in such moments? [13:19]
5. How can you make time in your daily routine to listen for Christ's voice and experience His love more deeply? What distractions might you need to minimize to make this possible? [24:26]
6. Reflect on your prayer life: How can you incorporate the understanding of having direct access to the Father into your prayers? What specific requests or praises might you bring before Him with this confidence? [14:36]
7. Consider the role of angels as ministering spirits in your life. How might this awareness change the way you perceive and respond to challenges or feelings of loneliness? [16:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
Our union with Christ is a transformative reality that redefines who we are. This new identity is not just a label but a profound declaration of our belonging to Him. As Christians, we inherit the name of Christ, which becomes a source of dignity and strength. This identity should embolden us in our daily walk, reminding us that we are called to live in a way that honors His name. Our identity in Christ is a constant source of encouragement, empowering us to face life's challenges with confidence and grace. [05:48]
Ephesians 2:19-20 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."
Reflection: How does knowing you bear the name of Christ change the way you approach your daily interactions and decisions today?
Day 2: The Gift and Process of Righteousness
Being clothed in Christ's righteousness assures us of our standing before God. This righteousness is both imputed and imparted, meaning it is a gift given to us and a process we undergo. It leads us into a life of sanctification, where we are continually being transformed into His likeness. Despite our weaknesses and failures, we can stand confidently before God, knowing that His righteousness covers us. This assurance should inspire us to pursue holiness and live a life that reflects His character. [10:42]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept Christ's righteousness as your own? How can you embrace this gift more fully today?
Day 3: Accessing Heavenly Privileges
Our relationship with Christ grants us access to heavenly privileges that transcend earthly limitations. We are seated with Him in heavenly places, enjoying spiritual authority and a perspective that is not bound by the physical world. This relationship gives us direct access to the Father, assuring us of His love and provision. Additionally, we are served by angels, ministering spirits sent to aid us in our journey. These privileges are a testament to our exalted position in Christ and should encourage us to live boldly for His kingdom. [13:19]
Hebrews 1:14 (ESV): "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"
Reflection: How can you consciously live in the reality of your spiritual authority and heavenly privileges today?
Day 4: Bearing Fruit Unto God
The ultimate purpose of our union with Christ is to bear fruit unto God. This fruit is holiness, a life lived for His glory, characterized by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and more. Our marriage to Christ is not for our comfort or happiness alone but for the manifestation of His life and power in us. We are called to produce a holy progeny that reflects His nature, living in a way that brings honor to His name and advances His kingdom. [35:45]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What specific fruit of the Spirit do you feel called to cultivate more intentionally in your life this week?
Day 5: Experiencing Christ's Love and Protection
Christ's love for us is intimate and personal, manifesting in His care and protection. He nourishes and cherishes us, ensuring that we have everything we need for life and godliness. This love is a constant source of comfort and strength, reminding us that we are never alone. As we experience His love, we are called to extend it to others, becoming vessels of His grace and compassion in the world. [28:34]
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV): "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Reflection: How can you actively rest in Christ's love and protection today, and how might you share that love with someone else?
Quotes
We are married to the Lord Jesus Christ and there are certain things which we have to say about this Union. I have described them as the consequences of the Union. In the first, which we dealt with last time, was the nature of the Union, and there the thing I emphasized was that we are made one flesh with him. [00:02:25]
The first obviously is this: his name becomes our name. When a woman marries a man, she gives up her own name; she takes on the name of her husband. It's one of the most obvious things about marriage, isn't it? Well, it's the Apostle's illustration, not mine. This, he says, is the position of the Christian. [00:05:20]
It is his righteousness that is put upon us. That is the whole teaching concerning justification by faith, which we've considered so frequently in the early chapters of this epistle. But let's remember that this is how it comes to us because we are married to him. [00:10:28]
We have this glorious privilege even here and now. This isn't something future. Because of our relationship to him, we are already seated with him in the heavenly places, which made Augustus Toplady say this: more happy but not more secure that Laura fide spirits in heaven. [00:13:49]
We have access to the Father because we are the bride of the son. There is no greater privilege than this: having a right of entry and of access into the presence of the Father. And that is what the scripture teaches us. We are accepted in the beloved. [00:14:54]
The angels are sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation. Indeed, our Lord had said it himself in Matthew 18. He said, in heaven, their angels do behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. [00:17:12]
Here in this world, as Christians, if we are worthy of the name, we are generally despised and derided and take no notice of. The world passes us by as if we were nobody at all, and it talks about its great privileges and its dignities and its honors and its positions and its pomp. [00:18:56]
As married to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are in a position to know his love, which no one else is in. It is to his bride that the bridegroom reveals and manifests his love. Therefore, since the Apostle Paul, husbands love your wives, how? Even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. [00:22:30]
The whole object of being a Christian, in a sense, is that you may know the love of Jesus Christ, his personal love to you, that he tells you in unmistakable language that he loves you and that he has given himself for you, that he has loved you with an everlasting love. [00:25:08]
The Apostle is saying here that it was essential we should be married to him. Why? Well, because until we are married to him, we shall never bear this, this, this children, this fruit. We were married to the law, but you know the law was impotent. It couldn't bring forth children out of us. [00:42:40]
The central object of salvation is holiness, and that is why I wouldn't hesitate to say that it is sinful to say that you can stop at justification, that a man can be justified and not sanctified. It's impossible. He of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. [00:44:40]
We are married to him in order that we should bring forth fruit unto God. His strength is so great, his might is so potent, that even out of us he can produce this progeny of holiness. [00:46:36]
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