J. Todd Billings - Union with Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church

2011 by J. Todd Billings

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

Ebook edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3454-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

What does the doctrine of adoption have to say to a moralistic, therapeutic, deistic teenager? How does the Reformed understanding of sin actually underscore human freedom? Are we getting too loose in our talk about incarnational ministry? Can we talk about a relationship with Christ without descending into sentimentalism? How does Christs work for us connect with his work in us by his Word and Spirit? Only after reading this book will you see just how related are all of these themes. And the integrating framework is union with Christ. In this fresh, winsome, learned yet down-to-earth exploration, Billings displays the research of a scholar and the heart of a pastor. This is one of the best books available on the heart of the gospel and its relevance for our lives.

Michael Horton , Westminster Seminary California

The beautiful, mystical, and biblical idea of Christs union with the body of Christconsidered both ecclesially and individuallyhad nearly evaporated from the religious consciousness of evangelical and Reformed Christians for a while. That is no longer the case with Billingss new book. The doctrines of adoption and incarnation receive a fresh treatment in this book to open up the wide vista of application for the Christian life. Billings has done a wonderful job of weaving together a robust presentation of the heart of the gospel and the corresponding ecclesial praxis.

Paul C. H. Lim , Vanderbilt University

Drawing upon the likes of Augustine, Calvin, Bavinck, and others, Todd Billings ably demonstrates why the biblical truth of union and communion with God has had such historical and theological significance. Thankfully, he doesnt leave us out of the story. Along the way he highlights why union with Christ continues to matter for our understanding of the Christian life, making insightful connections between adoption and participation, incomprehensibility and accommodation, justice and Eucharist, grace and action. Let Billings take you into a deeper appreciation of what it means to be united to Christyou wont regret it.

Kelly M. Kapic , Covenant College

Billings has been at the forefront of academic debates over the concept of union with Christ. With this book he shows all of us why union with Christ matters for our Christian lives and ministries and worship. Drawing on contexts as diverse as sixteenth-century Europe and contemporary Africa, Billings explores a theme that takes us to the heart of the gospel in a way that enriches and corrects our faith, our understanding, and our practices.

Suzanne McDonald , Calvin College

In Union with Christ , Todd Billings expounds upon an important New Testament doctrine by exploring its contemporary ramifications in light of careful historical and exegetical reflection. This is a thought-provoking book that will ignite fresh conversations about the nature of our participation in Christ.

Trevin Wax , coauthor of Counterfeit Gospels and Holy Subversion

To my students
at Western Theological Seminary,
who helped show me the life-changing nature
of union with Christ

It would be ironic for a book about union with Christ to be the product of a solitary individual. For in union with Christ, we are united not only to Jesus Christ but to his body, a community of faith brought into fellowship by the Spirit. While I hold final responsibility for the material in this book, it reflects many gifts of fellowshipthe wise input of many friends and interlocutors over the course of several years.

Numerous scholars, pastors, and students gave me helpful feedback on earlier drafts of chapters. Special thanks for providing specific feedback goes to Drs. John Bolt, James Brownson, Jason Byassee, R. Scott Clark, Matt Floding, Michael Horton, Kristen Johnson, Trygve Johnson, Kelly Kapic, Suzanne McDonald, Richard Muller, and John Witvliet. I also received helpful input on chapter material from pastors and students, including Jill Carattini, Dan Claus, Ann Conklin, Brannon Ellis, Travis Else, David Feiser, Brian Keepers, Dustyn Keepers, Stephen Schaffer, Chris Theule-Van Dam, and Tim Truesdell. At each stage of the writing process, I have received exceptionally competent help from my research assistant, Andrew Mead. To all of these conversation partners, I am deeply grateful.

In addition to these specific readers, others offered assistance that helped make this book possible. I am grateful to the Templeton Foundation and the University of Heidelberg for providing the Templeton Award for Theological Promise. After my first book won this award in 2009, funding was provided for further lectures; those lectures served as the initial raw material that was expanded into this book.

Thus I am grateful to the schools that hosted these Templeton lectures and the audiences who offered valuable feedback on earlier drafts of these chapters. My thanks goes to Dirkie Smit and the faculty at the University of Stellenbosch and to Ernst M. Conradie and the faculty at the University of West Cape for their feedback on my lecture on the Lords Supper and justice, which was revised and expanded into chapter 4. For their insightful input on chapter 3, I am grateful to John Webster and the faculty at the University of Aberdeen; Paul Nimmo and the faculty at the University of Edinburgh; Alan Torrance, Steve Holmes, and Julie Canlis at the University of St. Andrews; and Scott Manetsch and the faculty at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. At all of these schools, I benefited greatly from the opportunity to present earlier drafts of the material in this book to faculty and students.

In addition, I am thankful for the invitation to give a series of three lectures on the contemporary significance of Reformed theology at Western Theological Seminaryan event that was enhanced by respondents from Hope College, Calvin College, and Calvin Theological Seminary. The series, in honor of Eugene Osterhaven, served as an opportunity to put together lectures in coherent form, which contributed significantly to the development of this book. I am grateful to more people than can be named for participating in that event and for bringing salient insights that I hope are reflected at points throughout.