Can anyone recommend a resource in Logos 4 that gives a comprehensive overview of "who we are in Christ?"
The passages most used for this are Ephesians 1-3. You can search your Library for the phrase "position in Christ" and the Believer's Bible Commentary has an article. Bible Exposition Commentary is also useful.
Let me give you a bunch of resources and then a recommendation:
There is a Reading List called Union with Christ that Phil Gons created. Some of what I list below may be on that list.
The ISBE, Rev. has an article "In the Lord"
The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters has an article "In Christ" and on page 98 "The En Christo Formula"
The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology has an article "Union with Christ"
The New Dictionary of Theology has an article "Union with Christ"
Boice's Expositional Commentary on Romans discusses Union with Christ under Romans 5:12.
Grudem's Systematic Theology, Chapter 43 is on Union with Christ
Erickson's Christian Theology has a section on Union with Christ on page 961
Great Doctrines of the Bible has a section on Union with Christ
Strong's Systematic Theology deals with Union with Christ on page 795
Berkouwer's Systematic Theology volume on The Church deals with 'Mystical Union with Christ' on page 84
Hodge's Systematic Theology deals with the subject in volume 3, page 104
The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Erickson, and Grudem are the most helpful in my opinion.
Dear Mark,thank you so much. That is very helpful. I always appreciate the help you give to me and so many others. Sincerely, Steve
If you have the Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible by Kevin Vanhoozer et al (London: SPCK, 2005), in the article under "Pauline Epistles" Judith Gundry-Volf says, "The theme of divine grace in Christ, however, can stake a claim to being the most pervasive and central theological motif in Paul’s thought..."and you will find that theme repeated throughout the article.If you have the Tyndale Commentaries, N T Wright says in his commentary on Col 1:15-20 (p74):"The redemption achieved in Christ is indeed the new Genesis: the church really is the new humanity (3:10–11) ...Humanity was made as the climax of the first creation (Gen. 1:26–27): the true humanity of Jesus is the climax of the history of creation, and at the same time the starting-point of the new creation."
That's a huge idea to grasp: that what God has done in Christ changes everything, that since we are now incorporated into Christ, we are part of that new creation. Paul is going that far in 2 Cor 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ -- new creation!" (literal translation, following Wright.) The "in Christ" passages in Eph rest on the same understanding (e.g. 1:10 expresses the restoration of creation as the goal.)
You could also search your commentaries on Ephesians for the phrase "in Christ". To search just those books, make a collection like this:(Title:Ephesians, Subject:Ephesians)
For example, Peter O'Brien says in the Pillar commentary on Eph 2:8-10 (Eerdmans, 1999) p178-179:
The following participle defines what God has made: we have been created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works. The prepositional phrase in Christ Jesus may be taken simply as instrumental, signifying through Gods activity in Christ; but it may also indicate in our union with Christ Jesus, and in the light of the surrounding context (esp. vv. 6, 7) the latter nuance is probably correct. Christ Jesus is the sphere of Gods new creation, just as divine election (1:4) is in him. At the same time it is theologically correct to state that the new creation has been inaugurated by God through him. As a consequence it may be unnecessary to choose between these alternatives. God has created us anew in Christ and through Christ.This new creation has already begun in history in the lives of men and women. Believers are Gods workmanship. We have already been created in Christ Jesus for good works. The new heaven and the new earth, spoken of in Isaiah 65:17; 66:22, have already come into existence in this new order that is created in Gods Son (cf. 2Cor. 5:17). But, as we have already seen in Ephesians, there is an interplay between the already and the not yet, not simply a one-sided emphasis on the former, as so many exegetes claim. The stress may fall on what has already been achieved in Christ Jesus. But the future dimension is not omitted; here the divine intention in this new creation, which will be consummated on the final day with the summing up of all things in Christ (1:9–10), is that we should perform the good works God has prepared for us to walk in.
Hope that helps stir some good thinking. The cosmic view is much bigger than the selfish approach of, "Oh, look at all this stuff I've got in Christ."
I have found that Augustus Strong has the most extensive work on Union with Christ , at least in my library. Strongs, philosophy and religion also references union with Christ. Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ is suppose to be a pretty extensive work, but I personally have not read it to comment on it. Calvin also speaks about union with Christ in ICR. Also J. M. Campbell, The Indwelling Christ has what I believe you are looking for.
God Bless
Just finished a very good book by John MacArthur intitled "Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ" Unfortunately it is not in Logos format yet.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I now have a place to begin my study. Blessings, Steven
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