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4. In virtue of this union believers have fellowship with Christ. Just as Christ shared the labours,
the sufferings, and the temptations of His people, they are now made to share His experiences.
His sufferings are, in a measure, reproduced and completed in the lives of His followers. They
are crucified with Him, and also arise with Him in newness of life The final triumph of Christ also
becomes their triumph. Rom. 6:5,8; 8:17; II Cor. 1:7; Phil. 3:10; I Pet. 4:13.
5. Finally, the union of believers with Christ furnishes the basis for the spiritual unity of all
believers, and consequently for the communion of the saints. They are animated by the same
spirit, are filled with the same love, stand in the same faith, are engaged in the same warfare,
and are bound for the same goal. Together they are interested in the things of Christ and His
Church, of God and His Kingdom. John 17:20,21; Acts 2:42; Rom. 12:15; Eph. 4:2,3; Col. 3:16; I
Thess. 4:18; 5:11; Heb. 3:13; 10:24,25; Jas. 5:16; I John 1:3,7.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY:
What is the meaning of the term ‘mystical’ as applied to the
union with Christ? What is the relation between grace in the legal, and that in the moral
sphere? How should we answer the contention that the sinner cannot become a participant in
the blessings of God’s special grace until he is subjectively incorporated in Christ? What can be
said in reply to the assertion that faith precedes regeneration, because it effects the union with
Christ, while regeneration is the fruit of this union? Does the mystical union suppress or does it
preserve the personality of man? Cf. Eph. 4:13. Do all believers derive equal benefits from this
union? If this union is indissoluble, how must John 15:1-7 be understood? What is
Schleiermacher’s conception of the believer’s union with Christ?
LITERATURE:
Bavinck, Geref. Dogm. III, pp. 594 f.; IV, pp. 114, 226 f., 268 f.; Kuyper, Het Werk
van den Heiligen Geest II, pp. 163-182; Dabney, Syst. and Polem. Theol., pp. 612-617; Strong,
Syst. Theol., pp. 795-808; Dick, Theol., pp. 36-365; Hodge, Outlines, pp. 482-486; ibid., The
Atonement, pp. 198-211; McPherson, Chr. Theol., pp. 402-404; Valentine, Chr. Theol. II, pp.
275-277; Schmid, Doct. Theol., pp. 485-491; Litton, Introd. to Dogm. Theol., pp. 321-322.