In our last discussion of the family, we saw that the apostle Paul compares the bond between Christ and the church to the oneness shared between husband and wife (Ephesians 5:31-32).

In our next study, we proceed to examine an even deeper and more mysterious aspect of this bond: namely, that it is experienced not only within marriage and the body of Christ, but also on an intimate, personal level by the individual believer. God of the universe has come to make His dwelling both with us and in us.

We will go trough an impressive array of scriptural passages and biblical images to illustrate both facets of this glorious truth.

On the corporate side, we’ll speak about:

• The importance of "abiding" in Him (John 15:5); the high priestly prayer of John 17, in which Christ speaks again and again of the oneness shared between the Father, the Son, and the body of believers ("I in them and You in Me");
• The importance of unity in the church and the mutual edification of the various members of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 2:19-22, 4:11-16; Galatians 3:28-29);
• And the many "one another" commandments with which Jesus and the apostles set forth their vision for our common life as Christians (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:16, and 1 Peter 1:22)

On the personal, individual side, the following aspects are discussed:

• Jesus' statement to Nicodemus about being "born again" (John 3:7);
• His promise of the indwelling Spirit (John 14:16-17);
• Paul's declaration that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17);
• and the apostle's astounding claim that "Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

The overall message is the idea that oneness with God represents the heart of the Christian Gospel. 

In other words, that Christianity is not primarily a moral, philosophical, or religious system, but rather a deep, intimate, and living relationship with a personal Creator.

This, to return to a point made in Lesson 4, is the essence of "eternal life" – i.e., knowing God just as intimately as Adam knew Eve. This is the point at which the transformational aspect of this tour will come home to participants most tellingly.