"And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised." (Rom. 4:12.)

"There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:28-29.)

I want to stress today two things: how we are united with Jesus Christ and the importance of being one with Him.

We can see the importance of this spiritual union with Jesus when we realize that it means that we are thus united with God. Without being spiritually united with Jesus, we cannot be in fellowship with God. To use the language of the Bible, we have not God.

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father, but he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23.)

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son, that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him." (John 5:22-23.)

"Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time." (1 Tim. 2:4-6.)

No one can claim union or fellowship with the God of the universe unless they are spiritually united with Jesus Christ. Jesus is not only the Mediator, but he is also equal with God in His divine nature. (John 1:1.) This is what the world religions deny. There are many who believe that they can have fellowship with God directly (through prayer, for example) without being a disciple of Jesus. Such is biblically impossible. To be united with Jesus is to be united with God. To be one with God is to be one with Jesus for redemption. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. One cannot blaspheme or deny the Holy Spirit and claim fellowship with God.

No one can be saved with being united with Jesus Christ.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36.)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23.)

"And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:11-13.)

"That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Eph. 2:12.) One who is without Christ has no hope and is without God in the world!

Think about it. If you are a mature, responsible person, you are without spiritual life if you are not united with Jesus Christ. You are lost in sin. No one can be saved on one’s own merit or goodness. All of us are dependent beings spiritually. God has provided for our salvation in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote, " Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake that they may also obtain the salvation with is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10.)

If salvation and life is found in Christ Jesus and I am outside of Him, then I do not have salvation or life. All men are dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1.)

"Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear." (Isa. 59:1-2.)

"I go my way and you shall seek me and shall die in your sins. Whither I go, you cannot come. . . I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins." (John 8:21, 24.)

By faith in his blood. One significant and even primary way we are united with Jesus is by faith. Jesus said, Except you believe that I am he you shall die in your sins. (John 8:24.) Paul wrote, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God." (Rom. 3:24-25.)

The primary connection or union that we have with Jesus Christ is faith. We believe that he was born of the Virgin Mary, that he healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, that he was crucified and raised the third day. We believe that Jesus lived without sin. We believe that he is the Son of God. There is a tremendous difference between believing these things and denying them. A disciple accepts these great truths upon which Christianity is built. He holds them as precious truths, without doubt or wavering.

When the Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be baptized, Philip the evangelist replied to him, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And the eunuch answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37.)

We are justified by such a faith, we are saved by it, we are reconciled to God upon this basis, and we are united with Jesus through faith in Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

By obeying Jesus Christ as Lord. One major test of one’s faith is obedience. Jesus asked, "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46.) "Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:8-9.)

"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21.)

We are called by the Gospel to follow Jesus. Paul wrote, "Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 2:14.) Jesus called some to leave what they were doing and come follow Him. They were fishermen and tax collectors. Imagine some of them saying, No, I will not do it!

Jesus told a parable about a certain king making a marriage feast for his son. He sent forth servants to invite people to the wedding. The servants said that all things were ready for them. But note verse five of Matthew 22: "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." People still make light of the Gospel when they are called to obey it today. They go their own way without obeying Jesus as Lord. It is necessary to be obedient in order to be united with Jesus.

By being baptized into Christ. After laying the proper foundation for obedience to the Gospel, Paul tells the Romans how they were united with Jesus Christ. He first told them about the sinfulness of everyone, both Jew and Gentile. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (3:23.) Paul related how sinful man could be justified by expressing faith in Jesus’ blood. (3:25.) God set forth Jesus to be our mercy seat, our justification and redemption. Then he wrote these words:

"Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." (Rom. 6:3-5.)

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:26-29.)

Some of the Jews rejected John’s baptism. This baptism, according to Jesus, was from the Father above. They should not have rejected it. Luke wrote these words about those who did: "And all the people heard him and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30.)

On the Day of Pentecost, three thousand Jews were obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:41.) The Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch obeyed the Gospel preached by Philip, Peter and John. (Acts 8.) Even Saul of Tarsus obeyed. (Acts 9.) The household of Cornelius. (Acts 10.) Luke records this about the Corinthians: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8.) Since then untold millions have been immersed into Jesus Christ. If you have not, then you should and must in order to receive eternal life.

By being added to the spiritual body of Christ. When you obey the Gospel, the Lord adds you to his church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47.) Often in the New Testament, Jesus is described as being the head of the church. The collective body of Christians makes up the body of Christ with Jesus as their spiritual Head. (Col. 1:18.) "Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular." (1 Cor. 12:27.) You are united with Jesus Christ in redemption when you are added to His body.

"And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:10.)

By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. We put Christ on when we are baptized. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27.) The imagery is that of putting on a garment. When you do so, you are also in the garment. Paul also told the Christians at Rome to put on the Lord Jesus. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:14.) He means here to put on the likeness or qualities of Jesus Christ in your life. Put off the sinful, lustful deeds of the flesh, but put on the Lord Jesus as a righteous garment to wear.

How can we all be united with Jesus? We can by putting on his nature and holy traits. To try to live as He did we unite ourselves with Him.