Spirit Union and Soul Rest

"He who is joined to the Lord (Jesus Christ) is one spirit with Him." I Cor. 6:17

In his wonderful book Spirit Union Soul-Rest author James Fowler does a masterful job of affirming this wonderful truth:

"If you are a Christian, you have a spirit-union with the living Lord Jesus."

The implications of this simple statement are life changing and behavior altering. If I see myself and other believers as one spirit with Jesus, I cannot help but see myself and others in a new way.

Everything about every Christian is made equal at the spirit level by this foundational truth. The living Spirit of Christ has made an eternal connection with my spirit and it is this Spirit Union which makes me spiritually one with all in whom Jesus' Spirit also dwells.

The Spirit-Union every believer enjoys is meant to be immediately recognized among believers and must be the basis of how we spiritually see each other and behave toward each other.

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Col. 3:9-11

Whenever I meet a Christian, my first thought should not be what separates us. My first thought should be the Spirit-Union with Jesus' Spirit that unites us. I must not see male or female, bond or free, Jew or Gentile and then adjust my behavior to each person as culture dictates I should. I must see this Spirit Union and adjust to Jesus in them. This Spirit Union is the starting place for believers to discuss all other issues that need to be resolved between them.

Why is this so critical? James Fowler goes on to say "'Union with Christ is the essence of Christianity." He is right. Without this Spirit Union there is no Christian life in man.

"If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Romans 8:9

The next time you are in a stressful conversation with another believer, check to see if you both started at Spirit Union when you started discussing your differences. Even in marriage we should start as spiritual equals in Christ before we try to tackle issues of masculinity, femininity, leadership or submission. This is what is called "mutual submission."

Be careful how you treat people who are spiritually connected to Jesus. If you offend them, you also offend Jesus in them. In the end you hurt yourself as you hurt them.