Thomas Watson

The Mystical Union With Christ Thomas Watson

There is a marital union between Christ and believers. The apostle, having treated at large of marriage, winds up the whole chapter thus: "This is a great mystery - but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Eph. 5:32). What is closer than union? What sweeter? There is a twofold union with Christ:

A NATURAL UNION. This all men have, Christ having taken their nature on him and not that of the angels (Heb. 2:16). But if there is no more than this natural union, it will give little comfort. Thousands are damned - though Christ is united to their nature.

A SACRED UNION. By this we are mystically united to Christ. The union with Christ is not personal. If Christ's essence were transfused into the person of a believer, then it would follow that all that a believer does should be meritorious.