Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.

Our Mystical Union With Christ
What is it, and how do we get it?

"O Holy Spirit, Enter Within Me," by Rev. Bill McGinnis
HTML page with lyrics at http://www.loveallpeople.org/oholyspirit.html

Our Mystical Union With Christ is the state in which the believer is "in Christ" and Christ is "in the believer." This is what Jesus means when He says, "In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." (John 14:20) and "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)

This refers to the actual spiritual presence of Christ inside us, as well as our actual spiritual presence inside Him. This mutual indwelling of His Spirit in us and our spirit in Him occurs when we freely choose to accept Him, inviting Him into our lives as our personal Lord and Saviour. As He says . . .

      "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears
       my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat
       with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

You can do this here and now by following the instructions at http://www.loveallpeople.org/jesusdirect.html

The Apostle Paul confirms that Jesus actually lives within His believers, when he says . . .

     "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
      but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the
      flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
      gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"Faith in Christ"

Bible, Revised Standard Version
6 matches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acts.24
[24] After some days Felix came with his wife Drusil'la, who was a 
Jewess; and he sent for Paul and heard him speak upon faith in Christ 
Jesus. 
Gal.2
[16] yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but 
through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in 
order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, 
because by works of the law shall no one be justified. 
Phil.3
[9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on 
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from 
God that depends on faith; 
Col.1
[4] because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love 
which you have for all the saints, 
Col.2
[5] For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, 
rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in 
Christ. 
2Tim.3
[15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred 
writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in 
Christ Jesus. 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever 
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 
(RSV)
"because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and 
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be 
saved." - Romans 10:9 (RSV) 

But there are more than eighty Biblical references to "in Christ" which do not mention either faith in Him or belief in him, but simply "in Christ." So what does "in Christ" really mean" And why is it mentioned so frequently in the Bible?

The words "in Christ" mean that the believer is in a state of mystical union with Christ, in which the believer is "in Christ" and Christ is "in the believer." This is what Jesus meant when he said . . . "In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." (John 14:20) and "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4)

NOTE: "Abide in me, and I in you." means "Live in me, and I in you."

And the reason these words appear so frequently in the Bible is that the early Christians must have considered this mystical union with Christ to be perhaps the most important part of their Christian life!

So here are all of the Biblical refences to "in Christ,"not including references to "faith in Christ." All of these cases refer to Our Mystical Union With Christ.

Bible, Revised Standard Version
More than 80 cases of "in Christ," not including references to "faith in 
Christ." 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rom.3
[24] they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption 
which is in Christ Jesus, 
Rom.6
[11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God 
in Christ Jesus. 
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal 
life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Rom.8
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ 
Jesus. 
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free 
from the law of sin and death. 
[39] nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be 
able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Rom.9
[1] I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience 
bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, 
Rom.12
[5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members 
one of another. 
Rom.15
[17] in Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for 
God. 
Rom.16
[3] Greet Prisca and Aq'uila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 
[7] Greet Androni'cus and Ju'nias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; 
they are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before 
me. 
[9] Greet Urba'nus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 
[10] Greet Apel'les, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong 
to the family of Aristobu'lus. 
1Cor.1
[2] To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in 
Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every 
place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and 
ours: 
[4] I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God 
which was given you in Christ Jesus, 
[30] He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our 
wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; 
1Cor.3
[1] But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men 
of the flesh, as babes in Christ. 
1Cor.4
[10] We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are 
weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 
[15] For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have 
many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the 
gospel. 
[17] Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in 
the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere 
in every church. 
1Cor.15
[18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 
[19] If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men 
most to be pitied. 
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 
[31] I protest, brethren, by my pride in you which I have in Christ 
Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 
1Cor.16
[24] My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
2Cor.1
[21] But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has 
commissioned us; 
2Cor.2
[14] But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and 
through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 
[17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of 
sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in 
Christ. 
2Cor.5
[17] Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old 
has passed away, behold, the new has come. 
[19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not 
counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message 
of reconciliation. 
2Cor.12
[2] I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the 
third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, 
God knows. 
[19] Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending 
ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been 
speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 
Gal.2
[4] But because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to 
spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring 
us into bondage -- 
[17] But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves 
were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! 
Gal.3
[14] that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the 
Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 
[26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, 
there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 
Gal.5
[6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of 
any avail, but faith working through love. 
Eph.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints 
who are also faithful in Christ Jesus: 
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has 
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly 
places, 
[9] For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of 
his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ 
[12] we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to 
live for the praise of his glory. 
[20] which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead 
and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 
Eph.2
[6] and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly 
places in Christ Jesus, 
[7] that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his 
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 
[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought 
near in the blood of Christ. 
Eph.3
[6] that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same 
body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 
[11] This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in 
Christ Jesus our Lord, 
[21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all 
generations, for ever and ever. Amen. 
Eph.4
[32] and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 
as God in Christ forgave you. 
Phil.1
[1] Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in 
Christ Jesus who are at Philip'pi, with the bishops and deacons: 
[26] so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, 
because of my coming to you again. 
Phil.2
[1] So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, 
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 
[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 
Phil.3
[3] For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and 
glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. 
[14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God 
in Christ Jesus. 
Phil.4
[7] And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your 
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
[19] And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches 
in glory in Christ Jesus. 
[21] Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me 
greet you. 
Col.1
[2] To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colos'sae: Grace to 
you and peace from God our Father. 
[28] Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all 
wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. 
1Thes.2
[14] For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in 
Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things 
from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 
1Thes.4
[16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of 
command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of 
God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 
1Thes.5
[18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in 
Christ Jesus for you. 
1Tim.1
[14] and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love 
that are in Christ Jesus. 
1Tim.3
[13] for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for 
themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ 
Jesus. 
2Tim.1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the 
promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 
[9] who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our 
works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us 
in Christ Jesus ages ago, 
[13] Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, 
in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; 
2Tim.2
[1] You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 
[10] Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they 
also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. 
2Tim.3
[12] Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be 
persecuted, 
Phlm.1
[6] and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge 
of all the good that is ours in Christ. 
[8] Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do 
what is required, 
[20] Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my 
heart in Christ. 
[23] Ep'aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to 
you, 
Heb.3
[14] For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm 
to the end, 
1Pet.3
[16] and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those 
who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 
1Pet.5
[10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, 
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, 
establish, and strengthen you. 
[14] Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you that 
are in Christ. 

You, too, can have this Mystical Union With Christ (if you don't already have it), by following the instructions at http://www.loveallpeople.org/jesusdirect.html

Here is a typical prayer you can pray to accept Him . . .

"Lord Jesus, I give myself to You, for You to be my only Lord and Saviour. I renounce and repudiate all other loyalties, and I desire no other Lord but You. Please come into me and take control of my life. Mold me to Your will and to Your use. I ask that You drive out all other spirits which conflict with You in any way. I want to belong only to You, to be subject only to You. I make this prayer to You, in Your name, the name of Jesus. Amen."

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May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.

     Rev. Bill McGinnis  <><
     bmcgin@patriot.net
     

See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical truths.

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May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.

     Rev. Bill McGinnis  <><
     bmcgin@patriot.net
     

See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical truths.

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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Blessings to you. May God help us all.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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