“Union with Christ refers to the believer’s position in Christ, established at conversion, experienced in all of life, and enjoyed forever. Let this doctrine disperse the clouds of doubt and discouragement from your heart. We can rest assured of our salvation because we are united to our Savior. He has set us free from the tyranny of sin, called us to live in service to him, and will not let us go. He has made us fruitful, pruning what is evil from our lives and producing what is good. He has guaranteed our future, promising to bring us through this life and into the glories of the life to come. We are safe and secure in Christ Jesus our Lord.” p. 103 – Brad Wetherell, Saved to Sin No More
From the beginning to the end of Saved to Sin No More, Brad Wetherell takes the reader deeper into the joy to be found in our salvation and the hope we have in Christ. I’d highly commend this work to the new believer who is just discovering the richness in a relationship with Christ as well as to the longtime faithful follower who may be missing the true fulfillment to be found in union with Christ. I highlighted several things while reading and have posted those notes below…
- If union with Christ seems boring to you, it may be because your previous exposure was too transactional and not sufficiently relational. Perhaps the emphasis was on the union, on the exchange, or on the goods, but not on the person. p. xi
- “We must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value to us.” – John Calvin, p. 3
- Every spiritual blessing comes to us in Christ. Our redemption, our forgiveness, and all the grace we enjoy is ours in him. Our eternal inheritance is secure in him. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit in him. p. 5
- In Christ, we are justified. We are clothed with his righteousness, and nothing can change this status. p. 7
- In Christ, God not only pardons us; he also transforms us. p. 7
- Union with Christ refers to the believer’s position in Christ established at conversion, experienced in all of life, and enjoyed forever. (based on Romans 5:12-6:23) p. 10
- Understanding your union with Christ will increase your joy, empower your pursuit of holiness, and strengthen your assurance. p. 12
- If you listen to other believers’ testimonies with either pride or envy, it can only mean that you have not yet grasped the extent of Jesus’s saving work on your behalf. p. 15
- Union with Christ refers to the believer’s position in Christ established at conversion, experienced in all of life, and enjoyed forever. p. 28
- Union with Christ is a doctrine that describes out fundamental position. We were born in Adam, condemned before God, ruled by sin, and destined for death. But in his great mercy; God takes us from our natural position in Adam and transfers us to a new position in Christ. We become members of Christ’s family, and this changes everything. p. 40
- We ought to continually meditate on the reality that we have died with Christ and have risen with him. p. 47
- Now, because we are united to Christ, “We know that our old self was crucified with him” (Romans 6:6). p. 50
- I delight to do your will, O my God: your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) p. 64
- God’s purposes are always for our good (Romans 8:28). His commands always lead to blessing and life (Psalm 1). Therefore, we can submit to his authority with great joy (Psalm 100:2; James 4:6-7). p. 68
- If we want to resist temptation well, we cannot exclusively focus on what we’re running from. We must also fix our eyes on what we’re running toward (Hebrews 12:1-2). In order to starve old desires, we must cultivate new ones. The Christian life is not simply about avoiding sin; it’s also about pursuing righteousness. And that pursuit is enabled and empowered by our union with Christ. p. 77
- Justification describes our righteous standing, but sanctification describes our righteous living. p. 78
- The more you follow the promptings of your redeemed heart in the pursuit of righteousness, the more you will desire to pursue righteousness. p. 82
- Union with Christ refers to the believer’s position in Christ, established at conversion, experienced in all of life, and enjoyed forever. Let this doctrine disperse the clouds of doubt and discouragement from your heart. We can rest assured of our salvation because we are united to our Savior. He has set us free from the tyranny of sin, called us to live in service to him, and will not let us go. He has made us fruitful, pruning what is evil from our lives and producing what is good. He has guaranteed our future, promising to bring us through this life and into the glories of the life to come. We are safe and secure in Christ Jesus our Lord. p. 103
