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Defenders Podcast

Doctrine of Salvation (Part 7): The Mystical Union with Christ - Continued

Host: Dr. William Lane Craig
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode continues Dr. William Lane Craig’s exploration of the “mystical union” between Christ and the believer, a doctrine central to Paul’s writings. Dr. Craig systematically unpacks the multifaceted blessings and new identity believers have "in Christ," as reflected especially in the Pauline epistles. The session is structured as a progression of biblical points with illumination of key scriptures, providing theological depth and encouragement for Christians.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Significance of “In Christ” in Paul’s Letters

“In Christ” or “in Him” is Paul’s favored term, used about 164 times to sum up the believer’s new status and blessings (00:20).
Last episode’s list included: chosen, called, predestined, created to good works, sealed by the Spirit, justified, sanctified, and co-crucified with Christ.
This session continues enumerating further blessings found in union with Christ.

Further Blessings in Union with Christ

9. Adoption as Sons and Heirs of God

Scripture: Galatians 3:16, 26, 29
Paul argues the promise to Abraham's "offspring" points ultimately to Christ, and by extension, to all who are united with Him.
Craig:

“Insofar as we are united with Christ, we also are Abraham’s offspring and therefore heirs of this promise of God made to Abraham and to his offspring.” (01:00)

10. One Body in Christ

Scripture: Galatians 3:28
Barriers of ethnicity, social status, and gender are dissolved, creating unity without erasing difference.
Craig:

“All ethnic and gender and other barriers to unity are dissolved in Christ. We are one body in Christ, though we certainly have our differences.” (02:00)

11. Redemption in Christ

Scripture: Romans 3:24
Justification and redemption from sin come as a gift in Christ.
Craig:

“We have redemption from our sins, we are freed from our sins and no longer liable to punishment for them.” (02:30)

12. Eternal Life in Christ

Scripture: Romans 6:23
The contrast between sin (death) and the gift of eternal life, secured in Christ.
Craig:

“For those who are in Christ, we have eternal life.” (02:50)

13. Forgiveness in Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness is closely tied to union with Christ and His atoning work.
Craig:

“We have a divine pardon of our sins in Christ.” (03:10)

14. New Creation in Christ

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17
A radical transformation: the old is gone, the new has come.
Craig:

“When a person is in Christ, the old life, the old self is done away with. Our guilt is wiped out, our death sentence of sin abolished, and we are given a new status as adopted children and heirs of God and citizens of a heavenly kingdom.” (03:35)

15. Liberty in Christ

Scripture: Galatians 2:4
Paul defends against legalists who would impose the Law on Gentile converts.
Craig:

“Instead, Paul says that in Christ we have freedom, we have liberty from all of the demands of the law.” (04:10)

16. Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3
Enumerates the fullness of God’s blessings bestowed in union with Christ.
Craig:

“So insofar as we are united with Christ, we enjoy a multitude of spiritual blessings in virtue of being united with him.” (04:40)

17. Always Led in Triumph in Christ

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14
Triumph does not exclude suffering, but reframes adversity in light of Christ’s victory.
Craig:

“This doesn’t mean that our lives are going to be hassle free… And yet Paul is able to say Christ always leads us in triumph.” (05:00)
Triumph pertains ultimately to the purposes of God’s kingdom, rather than earthly success.
Craig:

“Even the adversities and the defeats and the failures of life ultimately redound to the purpose of the triumph of God's kingdom.” (05:40)
“As we go through the ups and downs of life and in hardship and failure, even in those valleys, we know that if we are abiding in Christ, nevertheless we have triumph in him insofar as we follow his will and his leading.” (06:00)

Memorable Quotes

On Union with Christ’s Promises:

“The promise is primarily to Abraham’s offspring, which Paul says is Christ. But insofar as we are united with Christ, we also are Abraham’s offspring and therefore heirs of this promise.” (01:00)
On New Creation:

“The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. When a person is in Christ, the old life, the old self is done away with… we are given a new status as adopted children and heirs of God and citizens of a heavenly kingdom.” (03:35)
On Triumph Amid Hardship:

“This doesn’t mean that our lives are going to be hassle free… Even the adversities and the defeats and the failures of life ultimately redound to the purpose of the triumph of God’s kingdom.” (05:00, 05:40)

Summary List of Blessings in Christ (06:30+)

Dr. Craig recaps the catalogue of blessings:

Chosen, called, predestined
Created to good works
Sealed with the Holy Spirit
Justified, sanctified
Co-crucified with Christ
Redemption from sins
Eternal life
Forgiveness
New creation
Liberty
Every spiritual blessing
Always led in triumph

Craig:

“What a tremendous encouragement this is for us as Christians as we contemplate all that we are and have in Christ.” (07:00)

Looking Ahead

Next episode will explore important New Testament metaphors used to characterize the mystical union with Christ.

For more resources, visit reasonablefaith.org.

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[00:03]
A
Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig today the Doctrine of Salvation, Part 7 For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to
[00:14]
B
reasonablefaith.org We've been talking about the mystical union between Jesus Christ and His Church, between the individual regenerate believer and Christ. And last time we saw that the expression in Christ or in him is one of Paul's favorites. Some 164 times in his Epistles, Paul uses this expression to describe all that we are and have in Christ. We saw last time that in Christ we are chosen, called foreordained or predestined, created to good works, sealed by the Holy Spirit, justified, sanctified, and co crucified with Christ. Today let's continue that list by looking at some of the other blessings that we have insofar as we are united with with Christ. Number nine Then we have adoption as sons and heirs of God. Galatians 3, verses 16, 26 and 29 Paul says, Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say and to offsprings referring to many, but referring to one and to your offspring, which is Christ. In other words, Paul says this promise is primarily to Abraham's singular offspring, Jesus Christ. He goes on to say, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring. Heirs according to promise so the promise is primarily to Abraham's offspring, which Paul says is Christ. But insofar as we are united with Christ, we we also are Abraham's offspring and therefore heirs of this promise of God made to Abraham and to his offspring. This is a wonderful illustration of the union that we have with Christ, and in virtue of that union, our sharing in a promise made according to Paul first and foremost to Jesus Christ. 10 we are one body in Christ Galatians 3:28 the verse that I just skipped, Paul says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. All ethnic and gender and other barriers to unity are dissolved in Christ. We are one body in Christ, though we certainly have our differences. Nevertheless, there's a deeper commonality that we all share in virtue of being members of the one body of Christ. 11 In Christ we have redemption. Romans, chapter 3 and verse 24 Paul says they are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. So insofar as we are in Christ we we have redemption from our sins we are freed from our sins and no longer liable to punishment for them. 12 similarly, in Christ we have eternal life. That's stated in Romans 6:23. Paul says, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So for those who are in Christ we have eternal life. 13 we have forgiveness in Christ, Ephesians 1:7 in him that is in Christ in we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, so we have a divine pardon of our sins in Christ. 14 as we are in Christ, we are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul writes, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away behold, the new has come. When a person is in Christ, the old life, the old self is done away with. Our guilt is wiped out our death sentence of sin and is abolished, and we are given a new status as adopted children and heirs of God and citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We thus become new creations insofar as we are in Christ and united with him. 15 In Christ we have liberty. Galatians 2:4 Here Paul is speaking of Judaizers who were threatening the freedom of the Gospel by forcing Gentile converts to submit to Jewish law. And Paul says, because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom which which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. And then the sentence continues, these Judaizers wanted to deny the liberty which Christians enjoy from all of the demands of the Jewish law, such as circumcision, food laws, and so on and so forth. Instead Paul says that in Christ we have freedom, we have liberty from all of the demands of the law. 16 in sum, we have every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. So insofar as we are united with Christ, we enjoy a multitude of spiritual blessings in virtue of being united with him. 17 the last blessing that I want to mention is that as we are in Christ, we we always have triumph. In 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14 Paul says, But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. Now this doesn't mean that our lives are going to be hassle free and that we won't be subject to failure and defeat and hardship in earthly things. Keep in mind that that sentence was, after all, written by a man who suffered enormous adversity because of his commitment to Christ and who was finally martyred for his faith. And yet Paul is able to say Christ always leads us in triumph. He is assuring us that insofar as we are abiding in Christ and walking in his will, even the adversities and the defeats and the failures of life ultimately redound to the purpose of the triumph of God's kingdom. So he can say, as he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ and everywhere that, I think, is a tremendous comfort and encouragement as we go through the ups and downs of life and in hardship and failure, even in those valleys, we know that if we are abiding in Christ, nevertheless we have triumph in him insofar as we follow his will and his leading. To sum up, just look at all the things that Paul says we have in Christ. In Christ we are chosen, called predestined, created to good works, sealed with the Holy Spirit, justified, sanctified, co crucified with Christ, have redemption from our sins and have eternal life, have forgiveness, are a new creation in Christ, are set at liberty, have all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, and are always led in triumph. What a tremendous encouragement this is for us as Christians as we contemplate all that we are and have in Christ. Next time we'll look at a couple of important metaphors used in the New Testament to characterize our mystical union with Christ. Until then, may God lead you this week in triumph as you seek to know and to serve him. Sa.