Union with Christ is one of the most neglected doctrines in Christianity today and also one of the one of the Gospel’s greatest mysteries.  In his helpful book Union with Christ in Scripture, History, and Theology, Dr. Robert Letham notes that “Union with Christ is right at the center of the Christian doctrine of salvation” (1). Calvin agrees with this comment and notes that, “For we await salvation rom him not because he appears to us afar off, but because he makes us, ingrafted into his body, participants not only in all his benefits but also in himself.”[i] The Westminster Larger Catechism describes our entire salvation as union and communion with Christ in grace and glory. Dr. John Murray considered that “nothing is more central of basic than union and communion with Christ,”[ii]for it “is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.”[iii] In the words of Dr. Lane Tipton, “there are no benefits of the gospel apart from union with Christ.”[iv]

Union With Christ covers topics such as creation, incarnation, Pentecost, union with Christ and representation, union with Christ and transformation and union with Christ in death and resurrection. Since the entirety of the Christian’s relationship with God can be summed up in union with Christ this review could be quite long to examine everything Dr. Letham teaches in this book, but in an effort to remain focused I am only going to touch on chapter five, which I believe is the most helpful in the book.

In chapter five after discussing the external aspects of union with Christ, Dr. Letham turns to examine how union with Christ transforms us from within.  He notes that “when Christ died and rose from the dead, we died and rose with him, and so our status and existence was dramatically changed” (85). The author doesn’t stop at the death and resurrection but continues with the ascension explaining that “following Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent to bring us to spiritual life and indwell and renew us, our participation in Christ’s death and resurrection is vitally dynamic and transformative” (85).

The believer’s union with Christ will lead to our being like Christ “for it is the intention of the Gospel to make us sooner or later like God” (Calvin).  The Christian is now a “partaker of the new nature,” (2 Peter 1:4) having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. At His Parousia we will see Him as he is, in his glorified humanity, and will be finally and climatically transformed to be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21).

Union with Christ is an important book that will help Christians to think through one of the most neglected doctrines in Christianity today. Union with Christ would be a good book not for a new believer but for the intermediate to advanced student of theology. Union with Christ is a well-written, biblically faithful and Gospel-centered book that will help Pastors and seminary students understand the importance of their union with Christ. This book will help its readers explore from Scripture, and church history what union with Christ is and what the Church has taught on this vital topic. I recommend you pick up a copy of Union With Christ and learn how union with Christ is the central truth of the whole biblical teaching about salvation.

Title: Union with Christ: In Scripture, History, and Theology

Author: Dr. Robert Letham

Publisher:  P & R (2011)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the P & R book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dave Jenkins( Executive Director )

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021),  The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.