How Union with Christ Gives Hope in the Fight Against Sin | Saved to Sin No More Book Review
- Amber Thiessen
- Jun 17
- 7 min read
Most Christians understand that salvation changes our eternity. We know we're forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God through faith in Christ. Yet many of us struggle to understand how the gospel speaks to Wednesday morning temptations, recurring sins, discouragements, and doubts.
We believe Christ saved us, but we often live as though growth in holiness depends primarily on our own effort. When we fail, we become discouraged. When we succeed, we become self-reliant. We know the facts of the gospel, yet sometimes feel disconnected from their daily implications.
This is where the doctrine of union with Christ becomes so precious. Throughout the New Testament, believers are repeatedly described as being "in Christ." These two small words carry enormous significance, shaping not only how we understand our salvation, but also how we fight sin, pursue holiness, endure suffering, and persevere in faith.
In Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness, Brad Wetherell explores this biblical doctrine through the lens of Romans 5–6. He shows us union with Christ is not an abstract theological concept reserved for seminary classrooms. Rather, it is a life-giving reality that helps believers understand who we are, how we're called to live, and why we can have confidence in God's ongoing work of sanctification.
How Union with Christ Gives Hope in the Fight Against Sin | Saved to Sin No More Book Review
Content
Content
Purpose of the Book
This book is written to help us understand our union with Christ and how this truth feeds our joy, gives us courage to persevere in holiness and strengthen our assurance of faith.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Saved to Die
Chapter 2: Saved to Rise
Chapter 3: Saved to Remember
Chapter 4: Saved to Fight
Chapter 5: Saved to Grow
Chapter 6: Saved to Know
Chapter 7: Saved Together
Conclusion
Summary
I wonder how many of us have really sat down with the doctrine of union with Christ?
We read past so many Scriptures that teach us the importance and blessing of being in Christ, that it’s probably easy to glance over and nod, accepting these truths, but maybe missing the value and encouragement of the true meaning.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”(2 Cor 5:17)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom.8:1)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10)
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30)
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Gal. 3:26)
(and these are a handful from well over 100 mentions in the New Testament)
Wetherell writes in the introduction:
"As I’ve studied this doctrine, I’ve found that everyone seems to agree on two things. First, union with Christ is very important. Second, union with Christ is very difficult to define."
Then, he explains the doctrine this way:
"Union with Christ refers to the believer’s position in Christ established at conversion, experienced in all of life, and enjoyed forever."
Leaning into Romans 5-6 he guides us through these three aspects of union with Christ: our position in Christ, how we experience union with Christ in all of life, and how union with Christ is enjoyed forever.
When it comes to our position in Christ, first, we are saved to die.
As believers, our life is no longer ours, we are enveloped into Christ’s own, so much so that His story becomes our story. From God’s persepective, undeserving and unworthy as we are, He sees the penalty for our sin already paid and ourselves now clothed with the righteousness of Christ. The death we died is to sin and it no longer rules over us. (Praise be to God!)
But we all know the daily realities of sin and temptation. Perhaps we feel frustrated or stuck, wondering how this wonderful truth could possibly be while we still wrestle with sin.
Wetherell uses the example of Eustace, from The Dawn Treader, after the lion rescued him, that he “began to be a different boy. He had relapses. There were still many days when he could be very tiresome. But…the cure had begun.”
The cure has begun.
We’re also saved to rise.
Because we are in Christ, God’s mercy extends to us pardon instead of condemnation. His grace offers us life everlasting with Him. Just as Christ ascended to heaven, upon His return we we will rise with Him. This is the hope of our salvation, the promise of our unity with Christ.
This is our position as those justified in Christ.
The next few chapters examine how we experience our unity in Christ in our day-to-day, particularly in our fight against sin.
“The first command in Paul’s letter is the command to consider—to reflect, ponder, and think. Paul commands us to think about our union with Christ, because the more we do so, the more confidence we will find as we wage war against sin and run hard after holiness.”
And so we’re saved to remember, to meditate on all that Christ has done for us, how he saved us, how his grace sets us free! These truths bolster our gumption when temptation flies in our face. We are not labeled sinners, we’re called saints. Our calling is to live out our new identity in Christ, and that is to be holy. We must remember who we are.
We’re also saved to fight.
This daily battle with sin and temptation is what we all experience.
-sin is not inevitable, it has lost authority over us, we will resist.
-sin will entice us, but we will look to Christ
-sin has its own way to lure us in, don’t feed it
-we want freedom and independence, but we first submit to the authority of God
-when sin’s lying in wait, remember your story
-think more about serving God and others
And the danger of hyperfixating on sin, is that we’ll become so preoccupied with the negative, we’ll stop pursuing the positive. We’re saved to grow.
"The guys’ accountability group needs to shift the conversation from the lust they want to fight to the purity they want to foster. The woman in recovery needs to fill her mind wiht a positive vision of a sober life, not just the fear of falling off the wagon."
Our union with Christ gives us new purpose, new desires and new commitment to pursue righteousness and obedience to God. It’s a hope and vision for us to persevere toward. And Scripture guides and instructs us.
We’re also saved to know, with confidence and assurance in our faith, that though we are weak, have human limitations and stumble with sin, we can be free of doubt and insecurity. Wetherell pointedly reminds us that if we could lose our salvation, we would. But this is why it’s such good news that our salvation is not in our hands, it is in the Lord’s. He promises to equip us and sustain us in our pursuit of holiness; we’re not left abandoned, uncertain or alone. And this gives us courage to persevere, in spite of ourselves, God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. He is steadfast and faithful.
And lastly, though our union with Christ is very personal, we are also saved together, united in our fellowship with Christ. Just as His story becomes our story, it’s “our” story together. We gather for worship each week to remember and rehearse the good news of the gospel. And despite the individuality we may be most prone to, we’re united as the body of Christ.
My Take
If you've read my stuff before or know me in real life, you'll be well acquainted with my situation as a recovering perfectionist. The last month when I was studying biblical peace as part of the fruit of the Spirit, the alarm bells of weakness, human limitations and sinfulness sound out loudly and discouragement creeps in.
These wrestlings are part of our ongoing sanctification, and what I find myself preaching over and over is, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).
Isn't it a wonder that God knows out struggles, that Christ is interceding for us, that the Spirit convicts and empowers us. The Trinity at work in our lives.
The doctrine of union with Christ is somehting I "know" but want to know more, seeking to understand it from my head into my heart. Because I don't want to live my life stagnant or satisfied, as much as I can with the life and breathe He gives me, to grow deeper in Him, where the fruit of the Spirit is found in its perfection.
I won't attain that on this side of eternity, but by His grace I'll walk in His presence more and more everyday.
My Recommendation
Sometimes we find ourselves discouraged with or stuck in a pattern of sin. We hear about our union with Christ and might doubt whether it’s true for us, given our struggle. But this would be a great time to lean into the biblical truth of your identity in Christ.
This book would also be helpful if you’re interested in learning more about the doctrine of our union with Christ and how it applies to and encourages us, theologically and practically.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 160 pages
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
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From the Author
Here's a short clip from the publisher, the author sharing about how our union with Christ help us in our battle with sin.
Scriptures About Sinning No More
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:11)
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:11)
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17)
Want More Books?
**A big thanks to Crossway for the complimentary ebook and for the opportunity to post an honest review!
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