Reflections
For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Cor. 5:21)
When a person is saved, the reason they are saved is because they, “are joined to the Lord and made one spirit with Him.” (I Cor. 6:17) Our spiritual union with Christ constitutes the new creation. It is WHY we are saved — we are joined to the One who IS life — and thus, we are alive in Him.
This spiritual union is described in many ways in the Bible. Paul says in Romans 6 that we are, “baptized into Christ,” and that this means we are, “baptized into His death.” He says that this is necessary if we are to be RAISED in Him. Indeed, Paul likens our spiritual union with Christ to an engrafting. He says, “If we are planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Rom. 6:5)
Note that we are united with Christ — our human spirit with His Spirit. Our physical body is not united with Him in this age, and neither is our SOUL or natural man. These remain OUTSIDE of our spiritual union with Christ. God has put them under the work of the Cross. As we bear about in our body and “soul man,” the dying of the Lord Jesus, the life of Christ will all the more be made manifest in us and through us. (see II Cor. 4:7-12)
But it is essential to see that we are united with Christ and what this means — for this is the essence of Christianity itself. For example, can we see that, yes, Jesus Christ died FOR us — but that because He died FOR us that we are united with Him IN HIS DEATH — which means that, “our old man is crucified with Him?” In fact, unless this is true — unless, “the body of sin is destroyed,” we have no freedom from sin. Can we also see that because we are united with Christ in His life that HE IS our life, and that everything that God has given us is wrapped up in the Person of Jesus Christ who dwells in us? That abiding in HIS life by faith is the key to all in the Christian life? These things are basic, but today this Truth has been pushed aside.
All of this leads us to Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified WITH Christ. Nevertheless I live, YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST…” Christianity is CHRIST IN US — a spiritual union with Jesus Christ. The result is NOT that I emerge in all of MY supposed potential and greatness. Rather, the result is that I decrease that He might increase. “Yet not I, but Christ,” is a description of both the attitude and life of one who is being set free by the Truth through this spiritual union of Christ in us.