Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Paul has been tracing the origins of the extraordinary change wrought in his life whereby he no longer lived unto himself but unto Christ Who died for him and rose again. It was a revelation of Christ, an apprehension of His love and glory, which wrought this change in him.

In the verse 17 Paul is saying that the change that took place in him must take place in all who experience the same illumination of soul by the Holy Spirit. The grace of God in Christ produces the NEW CREATURE. And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man, 1 Samuel 10:6. Not physically or outwardly, but inwardly and spiritually BELIEVERS ARE UNITED TO CHRISTI.

BELIEVERS ARE UNITED TO CHRIST

What does it mean to be united to Christ?

This a union that has a number of strands.

1. We are in Christ in the covenant of grace. The child of God was given to Christ by the Father in eternity past and Christ undertook to redeem the elect by His sacrifice. John 6:37, 39; 10:26-29; 17:6,11; Ephesians 1:4; Rev 13:8; 17:8. Here are clear references to the election of a people unto salvation by God.

2. We are in Christ by the operation of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:13; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30. It is a union likened unto grafting, John 15:5. We partake of the life of God, 2 Pet 1:4.

3. We are in Him by the obedience of faith. 2 Thess 2:13. Here are the three strands of union.