Nobody in 2020:

Me: The whole "union with Christ" as a doctrinal solve-all is overblown. Of course it is true! But, pastorally, it's not necessarily more useful to emphasize than any of the benefits of redemption. 1/5

Yes, all the benefits hold together under the banner of Union with Christ. But to repeat the phrase over and over as some sort of mantra is not usually that helpful. Often, what a person needs to hear about are the benefits themselves. 2/5

Jesus brings us: justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification. That's how Westminster (and one dare might say, Romans) is organized. There's a reason for that.

Again, I am *not* arguing against the wonders and grace of Union with Christ. Please don't misunderstand. 3/5

Lemme put it like this. We can look at a building & talk about its structure - its frame - and say that's what we need to stress.

Or we can look at the decor & furnishings & purpose of each of the building's rooms & say that's the whole point of the structure - study those! 4/5

We need both. We need to know there is a sturdy structure (the doctrine of Union with Christ) and we need to know what is "inside" the structure (its many benefits).

Don't just shout "union" all the time when folks sometimes need to hear of their adoption or pending glory. FIN