Revere Franklin Weidner on Mystical Union

First: As has already been stated, we may conceive of an order in the work of the Holy Spirit:

(1) Calling.

(2) Illumination.

(3) Regeneration, or the implanting of the new life, that faith

may be attained.

(4) Conversion, which begins in repentance and ends in faith.

(5) Justification, for we are justified by faith.

(6) At the moment a man is justified, then at the same time he

is mystically united to God, and adopted as a son of God.

(7) And as an effect of justification, there follows now renovation and sanctification.

Second: Nevertheless regeneration, justification, and the mystical union so closely cohere that they cannot be separated in order of time, but are simultaneous.

Third: The mystical union does not consist simply of the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit in believers, John 14: 26; 16:13; Rom. 8:26.

Fourth: But it is a true, literal, and most intimate union with God and Christ.

(1) Christ and the Father will come unto the believer, and make abode with him, John 14: 23.

(2) The Holy Spirit abideth with us, and shall be in us, John 14:17.

(3) Christ is in us, John 17:26; Rom. 8: 10; Col. 1:27.

(4) Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, I. John 1:3.

(5) Believers are in the Father and the Son, John 17:21; I. John 2:24.

(6) Believers are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1; I. Cor. 1:30; Eph. 2:6; I. John 5:20.

(7) Christ liveth in me, Gal. 2:20.

Fifth: God dwells in the believer as in a consecrated temple, by his special presence.

(1) The believer is the temple of God, I. Cor. 3: 16.

(2) The temple of the Holy Ghost, I. Cor. 3: 17; 6: 19.

(3) We become partakers of the divine nature, II. Pet. 1: 4.

(4) We are united to Christ as the branch to the vine, John 15: 1, 4, 5.

(5) Our bodies are members of Christ, I. Cor. 6: 15; Eph. 5; 30.

(6) Christ dwells in the heart of believers, Eph. 3: 17; II. Cor. 6:16.

Sixth: This is a special union between the believer and God, and differs from the general union between God and man, Acts 17:27,28.

Seventh: This special union is:

(1) A gracious one, John 14: 23; 17: 11, 81.

(2) Tends to the glory of God, and therefore glorious, I. Cor. 15:28.

(3) A mystical union, E ph. 5:32; Gal. 3:27.

Eighth: We are exhorted to maintain this mystical union with Christ, John 15: 4; Col. 2: 7, 19.

Ninth: This union with Christ is maintained:

1. By faith, Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17.
2. By abiding in him, John 15: 4, 6.
3. By his word abiding in us, I. John 2: 24; II. John 9; John 14:23.
4. By keeping his commandments, I. John 3:24.
5. By partaking of the Lord’s Supper, I. Cor. 10: 16, 17; John 6:55, 56.

Tenth: It bestows great blessings:

(1) It promotes growth in grace, Eph. 4: 15, 16; Col. 2:19.

(2) It promotes holiness and fruitfulness, John 15: 4, 5; Rom.

8:10; I. John 3: 6.

(3) Christ’s righteousness is continually imputed to the believer,

II. Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9.

(4) The believer is always free from condemnation, Rom. 8:1.

(5) The believer can have boldness and does not dread the coming of Christ, I. John 2: 28.

Tenth: It bestows great blessings:

(1) It promotes growth in grace, Eph. 4: 15, 16; Col. 2:19.

(2) It promotes holiness and fruitfulness, John 15: 4, 5; Rom.

8:10; I. John 3: 6.

(3) Christ’s righteousness is continually imputed to the believer,

II. Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9.

(4) The believer is always free from condemnation, Rom. 8:1.

(5) The believer can have boldness and does not dread the coming of Christ, I. John 2: 28.