"Alive In Christ"

. . . by his resurrection from the grave, Jesus triumphed over death. But if we are to be saved, somehow what Christ did on the cross and through the empty tomb must be transferred to us. The salvation which he objectively accomplished must be subjectively applied. This is why every Christian must be united to Christ, joined to him by faith.

Union with Christ is the connection by which the Christian is joined to Christ for every blessing of salvation. What kind of connection is it? It is a spiritual connection, a union established by God the Holy Spirit: ‘We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit’ (1 John 4:13; cf. John 14:16-17); ‘he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in Spirit’ (1 Cor. 6:17). Union with Christ is also an incarnational connection. One of the reasons it is even possible for us to be united to Christ is that he first became a real human being (Phil. 2:7). Furthermore, our union with Christ is covenantal in that it finds its legal basis in God’s eternal covenant. . . . God connects us to Jesus Christ by appointing him as our representative: ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive’ (1 Cor. 15:22; Rom 5:12-21). The mention of life in Christ shows that our union with him is also vital, like the fruitful organic union between a vine and its branches. (John 15:1-17) It is such an intimate connection that the Bible compares it to the mysterious sexual union between husband and wife. (Eph. 5:31-32). Finally, it is a corporate connection, in which the whole church is joined with Christ. Together we are incorporated into one body – of which Christ is the head (I Cor. 12:12-27; cf. Eph. 4:15-16), or into one building – of which Christ is the chief cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:4-5; cf. Eph. 2:19-22).

Philip G. Ryken, The Message of Salvation, IVP., p. 182f.