“…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us…” — John 17:21
What if I told you the Christian life isn’t just about believing in Jesus or following his teachings—but about actually being united with him? Not symbolically. Not just emotionally. But mystically, spiritually, and truly.
The Bible teaches that when we come to faith in Christ, something extraordinary happens: we are joined to him by the power of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t just about having God “on our side” or feeling his presence close by. It means that the very life of Jesus flows into us. We become, as Paul says, “in Christ.”
This is what theologians call mystical ontological union—but don’t let the words throw you off. Simply put:
- Mystical means it’s a deep, spiritual reality—something more than we can see or touch.
- Ontological means it affects our very being—who we are at the core.
- Union means we are now one with Jesus.
Think of a branch connected to a vine. It draws life from the vine. It doesn’t just follow the vine—it depends on it. Jesus used this image in John 15 to show what it means to be united with him. We don’t just walk beside him—we live in him, and he lives in us.
Through the Holy Spirit:
- We share in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3–5).
- We are made into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
- We become part of one Body, united not only to Christ, but to each other (1 Cor. 12:13).
This last truth is especially important: our union with Christ draws us into union with his people. There is no such thing as a solitary Christian in the New Testament. To be united with Jesus is to be united with his Body—the Church. This is why church membership matters.
Church membership isn’t just a tradition or a formality—it’s a visible expression of our spiritual reality. When we commit to a local church, we’re saying, “I belong to Christ, and I belong to his people.” We submit to spiritual care, share in mutual responsibility, and participate in the mission of the Church together. Membership is one way we live out the truth that we are not just in Christ, but in Christ together.
This union shapes how we pray, how we love, how we suffer, how we hope—and how we gather. It’s why we can have confidence that God hears us. It’s why we can resist sin—not in our strength, but by the power of Christ living within us. It’s why, even when we feel alone, we never truly are.
Reflection Questions
- Do I see my relationship with Christ more as a partnership—or a union?
- How would my life change if I truly believed Christ lived in me?
- Am I actively living in connection with Christ’s Body through membership in a local church?
- How does my church life reflect the reality of our shared union in Christ?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you didn’t just come to teach us, but to unite yourself with us. Thank you that through your Spirit, we are joined to your life, your love, your power, and your mission. Help me to live today in the awareness that I am in you, and you are in me. And help me also to live in deeper connection with your Body, the Church, committing myself to others as you have committed yourself to me. Amen.
