The reason that Jesus died and rose from the dead was that he might accomplish our union with Him. No words of Scripture, other than “God manifest in the flesh,” hold within themselves a deeper mystery than this simple blueprint of the Christian life, “in Christ.”
This is how God saved us. There is no salvation outside of union with Christ. Every single Christian is a Christian because they are in Christ, though every Christian doesn’t necessarily abide in Christ. Satan has done a very good job of blinding Christians about the truth of their salvation. Sadly, too many neither understand what it means to be in Christ, or how to abide in the glorious reality of the risen Lord clothing Himself in our humanity.
There is a threefold purpose of our union with Christ which must never be forgotten. It is in order that we may be as He is before God; that we might be as He is before mankind; and that we might experience life and life more abundantly.
We were able to be as Jesus before God because we are the righteousness of God in Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Thus we get to participate in His intimate relationship with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. Because we are clothed with Christ we enjoy the unconditional acceptance and celebration that Jesus experiences in the presence of God. Jesus is 100% God, but He is also 100% fully man. One who is fully human sits among the triune God and will forever. Because of our union with the God-Man, we share, in Christ, that fellowship.
Because Christ is clothed with us, then we get to experience being as Jesus before mankind. We get to participate in His love relationship and supernatural ministry among people. We are His body, and therefore we carry Him into every life situation. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We don’t have to create good works by striving in the flesh to perform for God. Instead, we get to simply walk in the good works that God has already prepared, allowing Jesus Christ to display His supernatural adequacy through our available humanity.
Finally, because we are able to be as Jesus before God, and we are able to be as He is before mankind, we get to experience the amazing abundant life that Jesus promised. Our glorious liberty, our hilarious celebration of life in Christ, is God’s great delight. In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand, there are pleasures forevermore. Nothing brings God more glory than our limitless joy experienced in Christ.