But the law upon which rested the covenant of works, whereby we were held in union with Adam, having been slain by Christ, " that being dead wherein we were held," we were " married to another," that is, to Christ, Rom. vii., 1-4.
2. What is the general nature of our union with Christ ?
It is a single, ineffable, and most intimate union, presenting to our view two different aspects, and giving rise to two different classes of consequents.
1st. The first aspect of this union is its federal and represent- ative character, whereby Christ, as the second Adam, (1 Cor. xv, 22,) assumes in the covenant of grace those broken obligations of the covenant of works which the first Adam failed to discharge, and fulfills them all in behalf of all his " sheep," " they whom the Father has given him." The consequences which arise from our union with Christ under this aspect of it are such as the imputa- tion of our sins to him, and of his righteousness to us, and all of the forensic benefits of justification and adoption, etc. — See Chaps. XXX., XXXI.
2d. The second aspect of this union is its spiritual and vital character, the nature and consequences of which it is our business to discuss under the present head.
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370 UNION WITH CHEIST.
3. What is the foundation of this union ?
The eternal purpose of the triune God, expressed in the decree of election (we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, Eph. i., 4), providing for its own fulfilment in the covenant of grace between the Father as God absolute, and the Son as Me- diator, John xvii., 2-6 ; Gal. ii., 20 ; in the incarnation of the Son, whereby he assumed fellowship with us in community of nature, and became our brother, Heb. ii., 16, 17 ; and in the mission and official work of the Spirit of Christ (1 John iv., 13), through the powerful operation of whom in the bodies and souls of his people the last Adam is made a quickening spirit (1 Cor. xv., 45), and they are all constituted the body of Christ and members in particular, 1 Cor. xii., 27.
4. By what analogies drawn from earthly relations is this union of believers with Christ illustrated in Scripture ?
The technical designation of this union in theological lan- guage is "mystical," because it so far transcends all the analogies of earthly relationships, in the intimacy of its communion, in the transforming power of its influence, and in the excellence of its consequences. Yet Holy Scripture illustrates different aspects of this fountain of graces by many apt though partial analogies.
As, 1st, foundation of a building and its superstructure, 1 Pet. ii., 4, 6. 2d. Tree and its branches, John xv., 5. 3d. Head and members of the body, Eph. iv., 15, 16. 4th. Husband and wife, Eph. v., 31, 32 ; Rev. xix., 7-9. 5th. Adam and his de- scendants, in both their federal and natural relations, Eom. v., 12-19 ; 1 Cor. xv., 21-49
5. What is the essential nature of this union ?
On the one hand, this union does not involve any mysterious confusion of the person of Christ with the persons of his people ; and on the other hand, it is not such a mere association of sepa- rate persons as exists in human societies. But it is a union which, 1st, determines our legal status on the same basis with his. _2d. Which revives and sustains, by the influence of his in-
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dwelling Spirit, our spiritual life, from the fountain of his life, and which transforms our bodies and souls into the likeness of his glorified humanity.
It is, therefore —
1st. A spiritual union. Its actuating source and bond is the Spirit of the head, who dwells and works in the members, 1 Cor. - vi., 17 ; xii., 13 ; 1 John iii., 24 ; iv., 13.
2d. A vital union, i. e., our spiritual life is sustained and determined in its nature and movement by the life of Christ, through the indwelling of his Spirit, John xiv., 19 ; Gal. ii., 20.
3d. It embraces our entire persons, our bodies through our spirits, 1 Cor. vi., 15, 19.
4th. It is a legal or federal union, so that all of our legal or covenant responsibilities rest upon Christ, and all of his legal or covenant merits accrue to us.
5th. It is an indisoluble union, John x., 28 ; Rom. viii., 35, 37 ; 1 Thes. iv., 14, 17.
6th. This union is between the believer and the person of the God-man in his office as Mediator. Its immediate organ is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, and through him we are virtually united to and commune with the whole Godhead, since he is the Spirit of the Father as well as of the Son, John xiv., 23 ; xvii., 21, 23.
6. How is this union between Christ and the Christian estab- lished ?