This union is a vital one, in distinction from any union of mere juxtaposition or external influence. Christ does not work upon us from without, as one separated from us, but from within, as the very heart from which the life‐blood of our spirits flows. See _Gal. 2:20_—“_it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me;_” _Col 3:3, 4_—“_For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory._” Christ’s life is not corrupted by the corruption of his members, any more than the ray of light is defiled by the filth with which it comes in contact. We may be unconscious of this union with Christ, as we often are of the circulation of the blood, yet it may be the very source and condition of our life. (_c_) A spiritual union,—that is, a union whose source and author is the Holy Spirit. By a spiritual union we mean a union not of body but of spirit,—a union, therefore, which only the Holy Spirit originates and maintains. _Rom. 8:9, 10_—“_ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness._” The indwelling of Christ involves a continual exercise of efficient power. In _Eph. 3:16, 17_, “_strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man_” is immediately followed by “_that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith_.” (_d_) An indissoluble union,—that is, a union which, consistently with Christ’s promise and grace, can never be dissolved. _Mat. 28:20_—“_lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world_”; _John 10:28_—“_they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand_”; _Rom. 8:35, 39_—“_Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord_”; _1 Thess. 4:14, 17_—“_them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him ... then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord._”