Deeper by Dane C. Ortlund
Week 4: Chapter 3 — Union
Read Chapter 3 of Deeper by Dane Ortlund. Key passages: John 17:20–23; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 6:17.
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Ortlund builds the doctrinal foundation of the whole book in this chapter, arguing that union with Christ is the deepest reality of the Christian life and the most underappreciated resource for growth.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Ortlund describes union with Christ as the "skeleton" of the Christian life — everything else hangs on it. Before reading this chapter, how prominent was the doctrine of union with Christ in your understanding of your faith? Was it a central reality or a theological footnote?
2.Ortlund draws on the analogy of marriage to illuminate union with Christ. What does this analogy capture about the nature of our connection to Jesus? What are its limits? How does it help you understand sanctification differently?
3.Galatians 2:20 is pivotal: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Ortlund insists this is not mystical poetry but actual ontological reality — the risen Christ truly lives in the believer. What difference does it make to treat this as literal rather than metaphorical?
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