I am currently reading an excellent book called The Life and Theology of Paul by Guy Prentiss Waters. I highly recommend this book because it gives a clear and faithful exposition of Pauline theology and brings much-needed clarity to many of the deep and difficult theological arguments Paul presents in the book of Romans and throughout his epistles.
One of these arguments is the issue of unity. Paul teaches that we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–5). We are also united in Christ as a body of believers—not only with Him, but also with one another (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). This unity is foundational to our being declared righteous and is also the basis for the new creation we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). In fact, the phrase “in Christ” is Paul’s shorthand for this union. This is a powerful perspective to grasp, and once we truly understand it, it becomes a life-changing paradigm.
Unity with Christ means many things. It means that we are fully saved, that we possess an immutable position and standing in Him, and that this standing is eternal (Romans 8:1, 30). Our security does not rest in our performance, but in our participation in Christ Himself.
Jesus said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). If I am understanding this correctly, it speaks of unity. As believers, we share in a similar kind of unity—not only with one another, but also with Him and in Him (John 17:21–23). It is this union that transfers Christ’s record of perfect obedience to us and becomes the means by which God declares us righteous (Romans 5:18–19). This is the basis for what many refer to as the “great exchange”: Christ takes our sin, and we receive His righteousness by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because we are united to Him, we are declared righteous—and, in Christ, we are even called the righteousness of God.
Therefore, if we are all united in Christ, and this new state cannot be changed or lost, it becomes clear why Jesus said that our love for one another would mark us as His people (John 13:34–35). While our union with Christ is unbreakable, our experience of unity with one another can be fractured when we fail to walk in love (Ephesians 4:1–3). Love for God is the bond of unity, and love for one another flows from that bond (Colossians 3:12–14). Love is the glue that holds everything together, and unity is the structure that this love builds.
I believe this topic is especially important for us to truly grasp in our hearts, because our world is divided on so many fronts and over so many issues. If there is any area where Satan seeks to bring confusion and weaken the church, it is in our understanding of our unity. Division does not come from faithful disagreement, but from forgetting who we already are in Christ. Paul reminds us that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4–6).
When we forget this, unity appears to have no practical value. A house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25). But when we understand who we already are in Christ, polarization loses its power over us. Instead of fighting among ourselves, we stand together as a united people, grounded in the gospel. When division takes root, we undermine the strength and power we already possess in Christ.
Our faith unites us in Christ—in God—forever. Let us believe it, understand it, and walk in it.
One of these arguments is the issue of unity. Paul teaches that we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–5). We are also united in Christ as a body of believers—not only with Him, but also with one another (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). This unity is foundational to our being declared righteous and is also the basis for the new creation we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). In fact, the phrase “in Christ” is Paul’s shorthand for this union. This is a powerful perspective to grasp, and once we truly understand it, it becomes a life-changing paradigm.
Unity with Christ means many things. It means that we are fully saved, that we possess an immutable position and standing in Him, and that this standing is eternal (Romans 8:1, 30). Our security does not rest in our performance, but in our participation in Christ Himself.
Jesus said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). If I am understanding this correctly, it speaks of unity. As believers, we share in a similar kind of unity—not only with one another, but also with Him and in Him (John 17:21–23). It is this union that transfers Christ’s record of perfect obedience to us and becomes the means by which God declares us righteous (Romans 5:18–19). This is the basis for what many refer to as the “great exchange”: Christ takes our sin, and we receive His righteousness by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because we are united to Him, we are declared righteous—and, in Christ, we are even called the righteousness of God.
Therefore, if we are all united in Christ, and this new state cannot be changed or lost, it becomes clear why Jesus said that our love for one another would mark us as His people (John 13:34–35). While our union with Christ is unbreakable, our experience of unity with one another can be fractured when we fail to walk in love (Ephesians 4:1–3). Love for God is the bond of unity, and love for one another flows from that bond (Colossians 3:12–14). Love is the glue that holds everything together, and unity is the structure that this love builds.
I believe this topic is especially important for us to truly grasp in our hearts, because our world is divided on so many fronts and over so many issues. If there is any area where Satan seeks to bring confusion and weaken the church, it is in our understanding of our unity. Division does not come from faithful disagreement, but from forgetting who we already are in Christ. Paul reminds us that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4–6).
When we forget this, unity appears to have no practical value. A house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25). But when we understand who we already are in Christ, polarization loses its power over us. Instead of fighting among ourselves, we stand together as a united people, grounded in the gospel. When division takes root, we undermine the strength and power we already possess in Christ.
Our faith unites us in Christ—in God—forever. Let us believe it, understand it, and walk in it.
