Deepening Intimacy with Jesus Christ through Spiritual Practices
Intimacy with Jesus Christ is a central theme in Christian spirituality, often described as a "union with Christ" that encompasses various aspects of a believer's life [2, 13]. This intimacy is not merely an intellectual understanding but an experiential knowledge of Christ [10].
The concept of union with Christ is rooted in biblical teaching. Jesus himself prayed "that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John 17:21) [11]. This union is described as Christ being in believers and believers being in Christ [2]. It includes union with the Father and is initiated by God [2]. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this intimacy, witnessing to the union and serving as the means of quickening, guiding, and fruit-bearing in believers [2, 3]. The Spirit also enables a profound spiritual intimacy with the Father and the Son, transforming believers [6].
Spiritual practices are understood as means through which this intimacy is maintained and deepened. These practices include:
- Faith: Faith is presented as a primary means of maintaining union with Christ [2].
- Abiding in Christ and His Word: Jesus emphasized the importance of abiding in Him and allowing His word to abide in believers (John 15:4, 7) [2].
- Feeding on Him: This refers to a spiritual nourishment derived from Christ (John 6:56) [2].
- Obedience: Obeying Christ's commands is also a way to maintain this union (1 John 3:24) [2].
- Prayer: Prayer is a significant spiritual practice for fostering intimacy with God [4]. Believers are exhorted to strive together in prayers [1]. The Holy Spirit is understood to influence and empower prayer, making it effective [12]. After Jesus' resurrection, the Spirit brought intimacy, allowing disciples to directly ask the Father for their needs [7]. Access to God in prayer is granted through Christ and by the Holy Spirit [5].
- Meditation: Saints are said to have communion with God in meditation [4].
- The Lord's Supper: Partaking in the Lord's Supper is identified as a way saints have communion with God [4].
This intimacy is not without its challenges. Following Jesus "entails being willing to forgo life’s normal comforts" [8]. However, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a promise to saints, enabling them to enjoy this spiritual presence [3]. The Spirit's indwelling is a proof of being Christ's and a sign of adoption [3].
Communion with God, which is synonymous with this intimacy, is communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [4]. Reconciliation with God must precede this communion, and holiness is essential for it [4]. The promise of communion is given to the obedient [4]. The love that the Holy Spirit diffuses among believers also contributes to this shared experience of Christ's work [9]. The union believers share with Christ is modeled on the oneness of the Father and the Son, and this unity among believers reflects the credibility of Christ to the world [6].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 15:30 (YLT) — And I call upon you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me unto God,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, The — In his Church, as his temple -- 1Co 3:16. In the body of saints, as his temple -- 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16. Promised to saints -- Eze 36:27. Saints enjoy -- Isa 63:11; 2Ti 1:14. Saints full of -- Ac 6:5; Eph 5:18. Is the means of Quickening. -- Ro 8:11. Guiding. -- Joh 16:13; Ga 5:18. Fruit bearing. -- Ga 5:22. A proof of being Christ's -- Ro 8:9; 1Jo 4:13. A proof of adoption -- Ro 8:15; Ga 4:5. Is abiding -- 1Jo 2:27. Those who have not Are sensual. -- Jude 1:19. Are without Christ. -- Ro 8:9. Opposed by the carnal nature -- Ga 5:17.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Is communion with the Father -- 1Jo 1:3. Is communion with the Son -- 1Co 1:9; 1Jo 1:3; Re 3:20. Is communion with the Holy Spirit -- 1Co 12:13; 2Co 13:14; Php 2:1. Reconciliation must precede -- Am 3:3. Holiness essential to -- 2Co 6:14-16. Promised to the obedient -- Joh 14:23. Saints Desire. -- Ps 42:1; Php 1:23. Have, in meditation. -- Ps 63:5,6. Have, in prayer. -- Php 4:6; Heb 4:16. Have, in the Lord's supper. -- 1Co 10:16. Should always enjoy. -- Ps 16:8; Joh 14:16-18. Exemplified Enoch. -- Ge 5:24. Noah. -- Ge 6:9. Abraham. -- Ge 18:33. J”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 17:21: 17:21 For believers, becoming one with one another is an outgrowth of the union they enjoy with Jesus himself, a union modeled on the oneness of the Father and the Son. • may they be in us: Through the power of the Spirit, believers would experience a profound spiritual intimacy with the Father and the Son and be transformed (14:20, 23; 1 Jn 4:13). • Disciples of Jesus represent him, so their conduct and relationships with each other reflect the credibility of Christ in the world. When there is disunity, infighting, and intolerance, their testimony to the world is ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 16:26: 16:26-27 After Jesus’ resurrection, the Spirit brought intimacy, allowing individual disciples to ask the Father to meet their needs. (14:23).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:20: 8:20 Following Jesus is not easy; it involves more than intellectual mastery. Following Jesus entails being willing to forgo life’s normal comforts.”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:30: Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit--or, "by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit"--not the love which the Spirit bears to us, but that love which He kindles in the hearts of believers towards each other; that is "By that Saviour whose name is alike dear to all of us and whose unsearchable riches I live only to proclaim, and by that love one to another which the blessed Spirit diffuses through all the brotherhood, making the labors of Christ's servants a matter of common interes”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 17:21: that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us--The indwelling Spirit of the Father and the Son is the one perfect bond of union, knitting up into a living unity, first all believers amongst themselves; next, this unity into one still higher, with the Father and the Son. (Observe, that Christ never mixes Himself up with His disciples as He associates Himself with the Father, but says I in THEM and THEY in US). that the world may believe that thou hast sent me--sentest me. So the grand impression upon th”
- Jude (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Jude 1:20: Building up yourselves - Having the most holy faith - the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and the writings of his apostles, for your foundation; founding all your expectations on these, and seeking from the Christ who is their sum and substance; all the grace and glory ye need. Praying in the Holy Ghost - Holding fast the Divine influence which ye have received, and under that influence making prayer and supplication to God. The prayer that is not sent up through the influence of the Holy Ghost is never likely to reach heaven.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”