Fun fact: Jordan Cooper is on the East Coast. This means he uploaded at MIDNIGHT! However, as a RUclipsr, I know what probably happened. You see, we RUclipsrs often schedule our posts to automatically post in advance, but sometimes we forget to set the time, so it defaults to 12 AM. This is likely what happened. That or Dr. Cooper is having a late night Lutheran Theosis rave
Dr Jordan, i came to faith in 2021, an incredible reality change. The precursor to that was in 2013-14 listening to Lutheran theology, yourself, Rod Rosenbladt and others specifically regarding law and gospel and need to keep them seperate, anyway God acted upon me big time in 2021, the law crushed me and Christ revealed Himself to me. Since that i cant get enough of this mystical union, oneness with God through Christ. Ive been reading alot of the theology came out of the underground chinese church, a very organic orthodox understanding of the early church minus western imperialist protestantism which kinda fled during the boxer revolution. lThe Lutheran understanding of mystical union is basically identical the huge parts of the underground church in China. My own experience was all at home on my own whilst a heroin addict and God literally set me free by revelation of His amazing salvation, saved and being saved, transformation, altogether something other, something new, partakers of Gods very nature. This was wonderful, if poss give us more. Thanks for your commitment and time. Much appreciated, thankyou.
Dr. Cooper is my favorite Protestant theologian on youtube. As a Catholic, I cant help but be in shock with how much i find that the Lutheran view of justification is so close to the Roman Catholic view. Union with Christ truly is what Justifies us. As a lay Catholic apologist, i often try to prove that the council of Trent actually teaches imputed righteousness. There is a legal, instantaneous, removal of wrath and guilt part of justification that comes from uniting to Christ through faith . Obviously , union with Christ also has an infused , healing, sanctification aspect also. Rome wants to make sure that people arent teaching antinomianism or easy believism. I dont think that Lutherans teach or practice antinomianism. I dont think that Rome in the 6th session actually anathemizes them. Neither canon 9 or 11 would anathemize Dr. Cooper and what he is saying here. We are saved by entering into and living in a relationship with Christ. This relationship forgives, heals, changes us and makes us at peace with God. Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, and the reformed all teach this. We are all more united than we think.
I’ve been in Reformed tradition for 20 years, but never been satisfied with explanation of the doctrine justification. The covenant theology and the federal vision helped a bit, but not satisfied. Till moved by God’s provision to the Lutheran Church and came a cross the Finish perspective. The Union with Christ actually became an anchoring point. Thank you for your book, which is just top notch to my personal searching for answers.
Small correction: LATER Reformed theologians only speak of Union with Christ by slapping the word "Covenant" on everything, but the 16th century Reformed like Calvin and Knox have no problem using participatory language
Yeah, I mentioned that in response to another comment on here. Calvin's language is participatory to an extent, though I'd argue that he's nearly as thoroughly mystical as Luther. This is evident, for example, in Calvin's evaluation of the Theologia Germanica as "poison." But you're certainly right that the covenantal/federal overtaking of nearly every theological category happens quite a bit later than Calvin (though the roots of this are present in Zwingli).
Hey RZ-one book I’ve found really informative about the Reformed view of union with Christ that you might enjoy is J. Stephen Yuille’s “The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety: John Flavel’s Doctrine of Mystical Union with Christ.” It’s a short but rich study of English Presbyterian minister John Flavel’s (1627-1691) doctrine of the mystical union. He also sets Flavel in the context of other 17th century Reformed divines who (like him) maintained an emphasis on the believer’s participatory union with Christ (alongside an advanced covenant theology). Just the footnotes are worth the price of the book, IMO. Robert Letham’s book, “Union with Christ: In Scripture, History, & Theology” is an excellent contemporary Reformed treatment that is consciously rooted in the traditional Reformed covenantal and participatory categories-also worth checking out.
@@reformedrambler1646 thanks for sharing this. From my reading of some of the 17th century Puritan divines and mainly the Particular Baptists of the following centuries, I have seen a good balance of holding participatory union language in tandem with covenantal language.
The mystical union and participation in the divine operations is also key in understanding why we are justified by faith alone. These doctrines really are in perichoresis. Luther himself was, as you know, very influenced by mystics such as Johannes Tauler, the Theologia Germanica and Bernard of Clairvaux, along with the mystical ideas of St. Augustine. A key point in these mystics is that God is the ground of all Being, Wisdom, Goodness, etc. and that we have being, are wise, do good, etc. only to the extent that we are participating in God and his divine operations. Thus it follows for these mystics, as well as for Luther, that whatever good that we do is good only as far as it is participation in the Good - which is God - and that it is done in cooperation with God. As the Lutheran confessional text the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord says: "God in conversion changes stubborn and unwilling into willing men through the drawing of the Holy Ghost, and ... after such conversion, in the daily exercise of repentance, the regenerate will of man is not idle, but also cooperates in all the works of the Holy Ghost which He does through us..." God the Holy Spirit is understood as really dwelling in the believer and to work in and through him, while the believer cooperates with and partakes in the Holy Spirit and his good works. From all of this it follows that our good works should not be counted by ourselves as our merit, but rather we should give glory to God and praise him for offering us this participation in his divine life, in his operations and his goodness. Martin Luther thus writes in his Heidelberg Disputation that: "Therefore man knows that works which he does by such faith are not his but God’s. For this reason he does not seek to become justified or glorified through them, but seeks God. His justification by faith in Christ is sufficient to him. Christ is his wisdom, righteousness, etc., as 1 Cor 1:30 has it, that he himself may be Christ’s vessel and instrument." The grounding of sola fide, then, is not that works are unimportant, or that they are not necessary - because they are, as the Lutheran confessions say, both important or necessary, and true living faith can not exist without generating good works. But rather the insight from the mystics: that we do good only as far as we participate in the Good, and that whatever good we produce thus is not of us but of God. The good works do not, then, give us reason to boast, nor do they contribute to our justification - rather they are part of the "reward" of salvation itself, as we participate in the life and operations of God by willingly cooperating in his good works and being transformed more and more into being what he is by this participation. Our good works, in other words, do not showcase our own goodness so that God has to reward them - rather they reflect, and are, the Goodness of God. And they are thus themselves the reward, as they are participation in God; God letting us participate in him and making us like him, by uniting himself to us. We are, then, justified by the grace of God, in Luther's view, through the work and atonement of Christ, which we receive as a free gift by faith apart from works - because our works can't contribute to our justification, since they are ultimately from God and not from us. And because they are good only as far as they participate in the divine operations. This is an important part of sola fide that seems to be forgotten by a lot of Protestants, which can result in antinomianism or at least the view that works are not that important. When this is understood, that, as the Formula of Concord says, "good works should be done willingly or from a voluntary spirit by those whom the Son of God has made free," good works become central in the Christian life, as this truly is participation in the divine. Far from devaluing the importance of works, then, sola fide is actually meant - at least in the Lutheran tradition and in connection with the mystical union - to point to their importance. Not for us to "earn" our salvation, but for us to actually participate in God, which in itself is salvation.
I love this doctrine too. IMO this doctrine is one of the pillars of classical Christianity. Different traditions disagree on details and vocabulary but see the substance of this truth.
I am in Iceland from 2022. There is a national church in Iceland - Lutherans church. I am just courious is the Lutherans church same every where? I am sure there are the same roots and the same rules in all Lutherans churches, but how particular countries shape details? This is so interesting! Thank you for good lessons ❤
I can respond with what I know. I am 62 yo and a 3rd gen life-long Lutheran. The Lutheran Church has existed for just over 500 years. Yes, the roots are the same, but over time, several splits have occurred usually over minor doctrinal differences. Here is the US, the 3 largest Lutheran bodies are the ELCA, LCMS, and the WELS. I am currently WELS. When considering any Lutheran tradition you must first establish where your belief is and how you confess your faith. For myself, I hold to the truth that the Bible is the inerrant Holy and literal word of God. It comes to us in 66 books, written by many men over hundreds of years who were directly inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. This confession of my faith leads me to only follow a church body that strictly adheres to and preaches that Jesus Christ, the crucified Son of God, has paid the debt of MY sin through his death on the cross. For all other beliefs I look to the Word of God on how to live my life. I consider myself a conservative Lutheran in this aspect because to answer any question concerning this world we live in I would look to the Bible and what God says about my living in this world. Unfortunately, their are many in some Lutheran faiths , for example the ELCA, that have taken a worldly liberal stance and falsely changed God's Word to align with their political or social worldIy viewpoints. Abortion and LGB are the two greatest offenses to God, in my opinion. This just scratches the surface of what it means to be a confessional Lutheran. Dr. Cooper does an excellant job detailing the rest of our faith. I stand with Dr. Cooper and encourage you to listen to more of his work. God bless.
@@klara1 Hello. I attend a large LCMS church in the US. The way I understand it, the LCMS is supposed to be the conservative mainline version of Lutheranism, but the one I attend is a bit of an anomaly because its worship services have swung in the evangelical direction, consisting of praise choruses, an expository sermon, the Lord’s Prayer, communion and a benediction. But that’s alright with me, because I’m some kind of a mix of Reformed, Lutheran, and evangelical anyway. I really enjoy listening to Jordan Cooper to learn more about classic Lutheranism and see where I line up with it, and where I don’t. I particularly like his proposal of a Lutheran doctrine of theosis or divination (as he does in this video), because I have some family members who have joined the Eastern Orthodox church.
@@TharMan9 O man... Thank you! This is so big subject... my English is still just not enough, but I believe my intentions sound clear. Yes, I was sure that Lutherans are evangelicals in the same way! So confused 🤭 I saw few movies on this youtube chanel. Realy good. So I am sure there are lot off differences between east orthodox church and west orthodox church. I prefer west congregation of all churches 😉We can enjoy the orthodox way in Lutherans church, I know that. I hope not with these all glidet devotionals around. Jesus is so close... without any magic rituals... but deep teologian diging is needed. God bless 🙌
@@klara1 Sorry, “evangelical” can be a confusing term! Usually it has to do with the preaching of the gospel, but I was referring to a low church (i.e., non-ritualistic) form of worship in the US that isn’t typically found in Lutheran churches.
Mystical Union/Salvation/Enlightenment; "What a man loves, he is. If he loves a stone he is that stone, if he loves a person he is that person, if he loves God - nay, I durst not say more; were I to say, he is God, he might stone me. I do but teach you the scriptures." - Meister Eckhart
Pretty good, Dr. Cooper, though I'd dispute one thing. The Reformed have typically identified the covenantal union with the mystical union--I don't think Jonathan Edwards is a one off. For instance, John Calvin explicitly roots justification in the mystical union in III.X.10. Christ becoming ours in the mystical union is the reason we share his benefits--his benefits are aspects of that union.
@@DrJordanBCooperGerman Lutheran scholastic philosopher. He coined the term "ontology" and made several other contributions (like in the field of psychology for instance).
@peccatorjustificatus777 oh! Thanks for the recommendation. Not sure why I haven't come across the name (or I likely have but it didn't stick). Will do some reading.
@DrJordanBCooper you should also try Lars Levi Laestadius theological treatise called" The lunatic" ... I understand he may be pietistic a bit but I would highly recommend as he covers the psychological, physiological, philosophical and spiritual aspects of the doctrine of reconciliation, he also has a lot to say to the enlightenment era philosophers.
They certainly are relevant to both the concept and provide a guide to living it out in a life of prayer - especially “mental prayer “. The little Carmelite booklet “Little Catechism of the Life of Prayer “ by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene O.C.D. is highly recommended .
@@toddvoss52I’ve found their writings really helpful in my growth. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to read it. It’s difficult to know what to read in the genre of Christian mysticism. There are gems like The interior life and Ascent to Mt Carmel but there are also questionable books that I end up feeling like I’ve wasted my time reading like the spiritual exercises. It’s difficult as a Lutheran to sift through what’s profitable.
I used to think that mature Christians were so happy because they were mentally or emotionally stronger than me. I later realized that I was worshipping a Kantian/Stoic God that used Christian terms. But how in the world do you get an unbeliever to understand that You + God's Story = the You you didn't know you were always supposed to be! ?
Until what year did Lutheran theologians write in Latin? And what about Reformed theologians? Is there any dictionary for latim theological lutheran therms? Do you recommend any source to learn lutheran antropology?
Yes, I think a pretty solid argument can be made for participation in Calvin to a limited degree. Not as clear as Luther, and after Calvin it's not as prominent among the Reformed.
The hardcover of Union With Christ is in fact out on Amazon. I'm resisting the urge to buy it so my wife can get it for me for Christmas. Although I'm actually in the middle of the Ordo Salutis chapters in Jacobs' Summary of a Christian Faith. The chapter on mystical union is three pages😂
What is the protestant method to unite with God in this life? To me this sounds very conceptual and it stays in the conceptual realm because i don't hear any testified method to do anything. Is it just rational speculation? The Eastern orthodox have the hesychast method for theosis. It actually works. Is there any method for the protestant or is there not? Otherwise this religion of protestantism just seems like a giant waste.
You’re approaching Union with Christ like 10 simple steps to see the beatific vision. So how does one deepen in their union with Christ: Word and Sacrament. It’s by Grace Alone. That doesn’t mean it’s always passive, but I think the way the original question is framed is misguided. I hope that made sense. God Bless
The New Covenant, see Heb 8:8 ff. "I will give My laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts, and I will be a God to them, and they shall be a people to me..."
I'm a simple man. Dr. Cooper posts a video, I watch it.
Fun fact: Jordan Cooper is on the East Coast. This means he uploaded at MIDNIGHT!
However, as a RUclipsr, I know what probably happened. You see, we RUclipsrs often schedule our posts to automatically post in advance, but sometimes we forget to set the time, so it defaults to 12 AM. This is likely what happened.
That or Dr. Cooper is having a late night Lutheran Theosis rave
Cool observation. Thankfully it’s not that late in Central time yet
@@Weavileiscool Only one hour earlier 🥲
Dr Jordan, i came to faith in 2021, an incredible reality change. The precursor to that was in 2013-14 listening to Lutheran theology, yourself, Rod Rosenbladt and others specifically regarding law and gospel and need to keep them seperate, anyway God acted upon me big time in 2021, the law crushed me and Christ revealed Himself to me. Since that i cant get enough of this mystical union, oneness with God through Christ. Ive been reading alot of the theology came out of the underground chinese church, a very organic orthodox understanding of the early church minus western imperialist protestantism which kinda fled during the boxer revolution. lThe Lutheran understanding of mystical union is basically identical the huge parts of the underground church in China. My own experience was all at home on my own whilst a heroin addict and God literally set me free by revelation of His amazing salvation, saved and being saved, transformation, altogether something other, something new, partakers of Gods very nature. This was wonderful, if poss give us more. Thanks for your commitment and time. Much appreciated, thankyou.
Congrats to 60 k subs!
Dr. Cooper is my favorite Protestant theologian on youtube. As a Catholic, I cant help but be in shock with how much i find that the Lutheran view of justification is so close to the Roman Catholic view. Union with Christ truly is what Justifies us. As a lay Catholic apologist, i often try to prove that the council of Trent actually teaches imputed righteousness. There is a legal, instantaneous, removal of wrath and guilt part of justification that comes from uniting to Christ through faith . Obviously , union with Christ also has an infused , healing, sanctification aspect also. Rome wants to make sure that people arent teaching antinomianism or easy believism. I dont think that Lutherans teach or practice antinomianism. I dont think that Rome in the 6th session actually anathemizes them. Neither canon 9 or 11 would anathemize Dr. Cooper and what he is saying here. We are saved by entering into and living in a relationship with Christ. This relationship forgives, heals, changes us and makes us at peace with God. Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, and the reformed all teach this. We are all more united than we think.
I’ve been in Reformed tradition for 20 years, but never been satisfied with explanation of the doctrine justification. The covenant theology and the federal vision helped a bit, but not satisfied. Till moved by God’s provision to the Lutheran Church and came a cross the Finish perspective. The Union with Christ actually became an anchoring point. Thank you for your book, which is just top notch to my personal searching for answers.
Union with Christ is a fire book, 10/10 for autistic theology nerds
What I strive for.
this video being dropped almost made me faint
mystical union, but HOLLAZ on mystical union
you are the GOAT
Small correction: LATER Reformed theologians only speak of Union with Christ by slapping the word "Covenant" on everything, but the 16th century Reformed like Calvin and Knox have no problem using participatory language
Yeah, I mentioned that in response to another comment on here. Calvin's language is participatory to an extent, though I'd argue that he's nearly as thoroughly mystical as Luther. This is evident, for example, in Calvin's evaluation of the Theologia Germanica as "poison." But you're certainly right that the covenantal/federal overtaking of nearly every theological category happens quite a bit later than Calvin (though the roots of this are present in Zwingli).
Hey RZ-one book I’ve found really informative about the Reformed view of union with Christ that you might enjoy is J. Stephen Yuille’s “The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety: John Flavel’s Doctrine of Mystical Union with Christ.” It’s a short but rich study of English Presbyterian minister John Flavel’s (1627-1691) doctrine of the mystical union. He also sets Flavel in the context of other 17th century Reformed divines who (like him) maintained an emphasis on the believer’s participatory union with Christ (alongside an advanced covenant theology). Just the footnotes are worth the price of the book, IMO.
Robert Letham’s book, “Union with Christ: In Scripture, History, & Theology” is an excellent contemporary Reformed treatment that is consciously rooted in the traditional Reformed covenantal and participatory categories-also worth checking out.
@@reformedrambler1646 thanks for sharing this. From my reading of some of the 17th century Puritan divines and mainly the Particular Baptists of the following centuries, I have seen a good balance of holding participatory union language in tandem with covenantal language.
John Skepp's Divine Energy is a good example of this.
i am using the figerstyle guitar intro of your videos - a mighty fotress is our God 🎶, as my phone ringtone. Thank you Dr. Jordan Cooper.
I truly appreciate you Pastor Copper,!❤ Slowly becoming a Lutheran lol. I bought your book today on this subject. 😊
The mystical union and participation in the divine operations is also key in understanding why we are justified by faith alone. These doctrines really are in perichoresis.
Luther himself was, as you know, very influenced by mystics such as Johannes Tauler, the Theologia Germanica and Bernard of Clairvaux, along with the mystical ideas of St. Augustine. A key point in these mystics is that God is the ground of all Being, Wisdom, Goodness, etc. and that we have being, are wise, do good, etc. only to the extent that we are participating in God and his divine operations.
Thus it follows for these mystics, as well as for Luther, that whatever good that we do is good only as far as it is participation in the Good - which is God - and that it is done in cooperation with God. As the Lutheran confessional text the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord says:
"God in conversion changes stubborn and unwilling into willing men through the drawing of the Holy Ghost, and ... after such conversion, in the daily exercise of repentance, the regenerate will of man is not idle, but also cooperates in all the works of the Holy Ghost which He does through us..."
God the Holy Spirit is understood as really dwelling in the believer and to work in and through him, while the believer cooperates with and partakes in the Holy Spirit and his good works.
From all of this it follows that our good works should not be counted by ourselves as our merit, but rather we should give glory to God and praise him for offering us this participation in his divine life, in his operations and his goodness.
Martin Luther thus writes in his Heidelberg Disputation that:
"Therefore man knows that works which he does by such faith are not his but God’s. For this reason he does not seek to become justified or glorified through them, but seeks God. His justification by faith in Christ is sufficient to him. Christ is his wisdom, righteousness, etc., as 1 Cor 1:30 has it, that he himself may be Christ’s vessel and instrument."
The grounding of sola fide, then, is not that works are unimportant, or that they are not necessary - because they are, as the Lutheran confessions say, both important or necessary, and true living faith can not exist without generating good works. But rather the insight from the mystics: that we do good only as far as we participate in the Good, and that whatever good we produce thus is not of us but of God.
The good works do not, then, give us reason to boast, nor do they contribute to our justification - rather they are part of the "reward" of salvation itself, as we participate in the life and operations of God by willingly cooperating in his good works and being transformed more and more into being what he is by this participation. Our good works, in other words, do not showcase our own goodness so that God has to reward them - rather they reflect, and are, the Goodness of God. And they are thus themselves the reward, as they are participation in God; God letting us participate in him and making us like him, by uniting himself to us.
We are, then, justified by the grace of God, in Luther's view, through the work and atonement of Christ, which we receive as a free gift by faith apart from works - because our works can't contribute to our justification, since they are ultimately from God and not from us. And because they are good only as far as they participate in the divine operations.
This is an important part of sola fide that seems to be forgotten by a lot of Protestants, which can result in antinomianism or at least the view that works are not that important. When this is understood, that, as the Formula of Concord says, "good works should be done willingly or from a voluntary spirit by those whom the Son of God has made free," good works become central in the Christian life, as this truly is participation in the divine.
Far from devaluing the importance of works, then, sola fide is actually meant - at least in the Lutheran tradition and in connection with the mystical union - to point to their importance. Not for us to "earn" our salvation, but for us to actually participate in God, which in itself is salvation.
Is it possible that slides used in your videos could be shareable?
That's what I came to the comments to ask.
Interesting topic, I look forward to watching this!
This is great stuff. I need to read up more on these Finnish theologians.
I love this doctrine too. IMO this doctrine is one of the pillars of classical Christianity. Different traditions disagree on details and vocabulary but see the substance of this truth.
Wake up honey, the G.O.A.T. just posted
I agree with you regarding 20th century theology!
I am in Iceland from 2022. There is a national church in Iceland - Lutherans church. I am just courious is the Lutherans church same every where?
I am sure there are the same roots and the same rules in all Lutherans churches, but how particular countries shape details? This is so interesting!
Thank you for good lessons ❤
I can respond with what I know. I am 62 yo and a 3rd gen life-long Lutheran. The Lutheran Church has existed for just over 500 years. Yes, the roots are the same, but over time, several splits have occurred usually over minor doctrinal differences. Here is the US, the 3 largest Lutheran bodies are the ELCA, LCMS, and the WELS. I am currently WELS. When considering any Lutheran tradition you must first establish where your belief is and how you confess your faith.
For myself, I hold to the truth that the Bible is the inerrant Holy and literal word of God. It comes to us in 66 books, written by many men over hundreds of years who were directly inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. This confession of my faith leads me to only follow a church body that strictly adheres to and preaches that Jesus Christ, the crucified Son of God, has paid the debt of MY sin through his death on the cross. For all other beliefs I look to the Word of God on how to live my life. I consider myself a conservative Lutheran in this aspect because to answer any question concerning this world we live in I would look to the Bible and what God says about my living in this world. Unfortunately, their are many in some Lutheran faiths , for example the ELCA, that have taken a worldly liberal stance and falsely changed God's Word to align with their political or social worldIy viewpoints.
Abortion and LGB are the two greatest offenses to God, in my opinion.
This just scratches the surface of what it means to be a confessional Lutheran. Dr. Cooper does an excellant job detailing the rest of our faith. I stand with Dr. Cooper and encourage you to listen to more of his work. God bless.
@robertrutter4056 thank you! It seems to be a huge work to do 😉🥰
@@klara1 Hello. I attend a large LCMS church in the US. The way I understand it, the LCMS is supposed to be the conservative mainline version of Lutheranism, but the one I attend is a bit of an anomaly because its worship services have swung in the evangelical direction, consisting of praise choruses, an expository sermon, the Lord’s Prayer, communion and a benediction. But that’s alright with me, because I’m some kind of a mix of Reformed, Lutheran, and evangelical anyway. I really enjoy listening to Jordan Cooper to learn more about classic Lutheranism and see where I line up with it, and where I don’t. I particularly like his proposal of a Lutheran doctrine of theosis or divination (as he does in this video), because I have some family members who have joined the Eastern Orthodox church.
@@TharMan9 O man... Thank you! This is so big subject... my English is still just not enough, but I believe my intentions sound clear. Yes, I was sure that Lutherans are evangelicals in the same way! So confused 🤭
I saw few movies on this youtube chanel. Realy good. So I am sure there are lot off differences between east orthodox church and west orthodox church. I prefer west congregation of all churches 😉We can enjoy the orthodox way in Lutherans church, I know that. I hope not with these all glidet devotionals around. Jesus is so close... without any magic rituals... but deep teologian diging is needed. God bless 🙌
@@klara1 Sorry, “evangelical” can be a confusing term! Usually it has to do with the preaching of the gospel, but I was referring to a low church (i.e., non-ritualistic) form of worship in the US that isn’t typically found in Lutheran churches.
Hollaz posting!!
Mystical Union/Salvation/Enlightenment;
"What a man loves, he is. If he loves a stone he is that stone, if he loves a person he is that person, if he loves God - nay, I durst not say more; were I to say, he is God, he might stone me. I do but teach you the scriptures." - Meister Eckhart
Pretty good, Dr. Cooper, though I'd dispute one thing. The Reformed have typically identified the covenantal union with the mystical union--I don't think Jonathan Edwards is a one off. For instance, John Calvin explicitly roots justification in the mystical union in III.X.10. Christ becoming ours in the mystical union is the reason we share his benefits--his benefits are aspects of that union.
Since you are more invested in philosophy now, please make a video about Rudolph Goclenius.
I think you just made that name up!
Who on earth is that?
@@DrJordanBCooperGerman Lutheran scholastic philosopher. He coined the term "ontology" and made several other contributions (like in the field of psychology for instance).
@peccatorjustificatus777 oh! Thanks for the recommendation. Not sure why I haven't come across the name (or I likely have but it didn't stick). Will do some reading.
@DrJordanBCooper you should also try Lars Levi Laestadius theological treatise called" The lunatic" ... I understand he may be pietistic a bit but I would highly recommend as he covers the psychological, physiological, philosophical and spiritual aspects of the doctrine of reconciliation, he also has a lot to say to the enlightenment era philosophers.
Well given that really didn't feel like an hour of listening I'd say Jordan should speak about this as much he wants...
The doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone is the only proper ground and defense of union with Christ.
Do you have any thoughts about John of the Cross or Teresa of Avila?
They certainly are relevant to both the concept and provide a guide to living it out in a life of prayer - especially “mental prayer “. The little Carmelite booklet “Little Catechism of the Life of Prayer “ by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene O.C.D. is highly recommended .
@@toddvoss52I’ve found their writings really helpful in my growth. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to read it. It’s difficult to know what to read in the genre of Christian mysticism. There are gems like The interior life and Ascent to Mt Carmel but there are also questionable books that I end up feeling like I’ve wasted my time reading like the spiritual exercises. It’s difficult as a Lutheran to sift through what’s profitable.
I haven't spent much time in either of them, honestly.
I used to think that mature Christians were so happy because they were mentally or emotionally stronger than me. I later realized that I was worshipping a Kantian/Stoic God that used Christian terms. But how in the world do you get an unbeliever to understand that You + God's Story = the You you didn't know you were always supposed to be! ?
Until what year did Lutheran theologians write in Latin? And what about Reformed theologians? Is there any dictionary for latim theological lutheran therms? Do you recommend any source to learn lutheran antropology?
Excellent video Dr. Cooper! Any opinion on some of the scholarship indicating Calvin had an emphasis on participation in his theology?
Yes, I think a pretty solid argument can be made for participation in Calvin to a limited degree. Not as clear as Luther, and after Calvin it's not as prominent among the Reformed.
@@DrJordanBCooper fair enough. Thank you!
The hardcover of Union With Christ is in fact out on Amazon. I'm resisting the urge to buy it so my wife can get it for me for Christmas. Although I'm actually in the middle of the Ordo Salutis chapters in Jacobs' Summary of a Christian Faith. The chapter on mystical union is three pages😂
Mcafee says that the link to your periodical is suspicious.
Avast also warns that the link is dangerous.
Communion and union with Jesus Christ means I go to confession and then I receive holy communion real body and blood of Jesus Christ
Or perish
What is the protestant method to unite with God in this life? To me this sounds very conceptual and it stays in the conceptual realm because i don't hear any testified method to do anything. Is it just rational speculation?
The Eastern orthodox have the hesychast method for theosis. It actually works. Is there any method for the protestant or is there not? Otherwise this religion of protestantism just seems like a giant waste.
A life of daily prayer
You’re approaching Union with Christ like 10 simple steps to see the beatific vision. So how does one deepen in their union with Christ: Word and Sacrament. It’s by Grace Alone. That doesn’t mean it’s always passive, but I think the way the original question is framed is misguided.
I hope that made sense. God Bless
The New Covenant, see Heb 8:8 ff.
"I will give My laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts, and I will be a God to them, and they shall be a people to me..."
1 Cor 11:25, "...This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in my remembrance."
John 8:31-32 "...If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."