Is John MacArthur misrepresenting Catholicism?

[donadams]

In that order, abide in Christ first, so you can bear fruit. If you attempt to bear fruit first to abide in Christ, you'll achieve neither.

Oh I agree, now how do we have union with Christ? how do we put on Christ?

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

I don't understand a blessing to be a merited favor.
Although I do see merit in our relationship with God.

Never thought of this before.

Doers, not just hearers of the Lord's teachings are his true disciples, that's why, Matt. 12:48-50.

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Oh I agree, now how do we have union with Christ? how do we put on Christ?

Be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Conform to his image.

 

[Johann!@#]

Be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Conform to his image.

Occurrences of "Put On" in the Pauline Epistles:
Romans 13:12 -

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

ἐνδυσώμεθα (endusōmetha) - Aorist middle subjunctive, suggesting a deliberate and personal decision to clothe oneself.

Romans 13:14 -

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh..."

ἐνδύσασθε (endysasthe) - Aorist middle imperative, indicating a command to take on the character and life of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:53–54 -

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

ἐνδύσασθαι (endysasthai) - Aorist middle infinitive, referring to a future transformation at the resurrection.

Galatians 3:27 -

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

ἐνεδύσασθε (enedysasthe) - Aorist middle indicative, indicating a completed action of being clothed with Christ through baptism.

Ephesians 4:24 -

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

ἐνδύσασθαι (endysasthai) - Aorist middle infinitive, emphasizing adopting the new nature.

Ephesians 6:11 -

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

ἐνδύσασθε (endysasthe) - Aorist middle imperative, a command to be spiritually equipped.

Colossians 3:10 -

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

ἐνδυσάμενοι (endysamenoi) - Aorist middle participle, indicating the ongoing result of the act of putting on the new nature.

Colossians 3:12 -

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

ἐνδύσασθε (endysasthe) - Aorist middle imperative, calling for the adoption of virtuous qualities.

Other New Testament Occurrences:
Luke 15:22 (parable of the prodigal son) -

"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him..."

ἐνδύσατε (endysate) - Aorist active imperative, describing a literal clothing.

2 Corinthians 5:2–4 -

"...we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven."

ἐπενδύσασθαι (ependysasthai) - Aorist middle infinitive, reflecting the desire to be clothed with immortality.


The verb ἐνδύω (endyō) appears approximately 14 times in the Pauline epistles. Paul uses this metaphor of "putting on" both in the sense of adopting a new, Christ-like nature (moral and spiritual transformation) and in eschatological contexts (resurrection and immortality). The metaphor shows a transformation that is both initiated by faith and maintained through a deliberate commitment to live according to the new identity in Christ.

Johann.

 

[Johann!@#]

Oh I agree, now how do we have union with Christ? how do we put on Christ?

donadams

The concept of "union with Christ" is central to Paul's theology, but the term "union" itself does not appear explicitly as a single word in the Greek New Testament. Instead, Paul uses several phrases and words that convey this concept indirectly. These terms and phrases revolve around being "in Christ," being "with Christ," and being joined or united to Him.

1. Key Terms and Synonyms Expressing Union with Christ
Paul uses various Greek prepositions and verbs to convey the concept of union:

a. ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christō) - "In Christ"
This phrase is the most frequent and foundational way Paul expresses union with Christ. It emphasizes being spiritually incorporated into Christ and participating in His life, death, and resurrection.

Appears approximately 73 times in the Pauline epistles.

Examples-

Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..."

Ephesians 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father... who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

b. σύν Χριστῷ (syn Christō) - "With Christ"
This phrase highlights co-participation in Christ’s experiences, particularly His death and resurrection.

Appears around 11 times in Paul's letters.

Examples-

Romans 6:8 - "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ..."

Colossians 2:20 - "If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world..."

c. ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (en Christō Iēsou) - "In Christ Jesus"
A variation that more explicitly names Jesus as the one in whom believers are united.

Appears around 43 times in the Pauline corpus.

Examples-

Philippians 2:5 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..."

Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

d. ἐν Κυρίῳ (en Kyriō) - "In the Lord"
Expresses a similar sense of union but emphasizes the lordship aspect of Christ.

Appears around 45 times in Paul's letters.

Examples-

1 Corinthians 15:58 - "...knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Ephesians 6:1 - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord..."

e. συνάγω (synagō) - "To gather together"
Although not directly synonymous with union, this verb sometimes indicates gathering into one body or unity in Christ.

Example-

Ephesians 1:10 - "...that He might gather together in one all things in Christ..."

f. ἑνότης (henotēs) - "Unity"
Used to describe the oneness of believers in Christ.

Example-

Ephesians 4:3 - "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Ephesians 4:13 - "...till we all come to the unity of the faith..."

g. κοινωνία (koinōnia) - "Fellowship" or "Partnership"
Describes sharing in Christ’s life and mission.

Example-

1 Corinthians 1:9 - "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

2. Broader New Testament Usage-
The concept of union is not limited to Paul. Other NT writers also use similar phrases:

John 15:4 - Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine: "Abide in Me, and I in you..."

1 John 4:13 - "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us..."

The word "abide" (μένω - menō) captures the essence of remaining in union with Christ.


Paul expresses the concept of union with Christ primarily through phrases involving "in Christ," "with Christ," "in the Lord," and terms related to unity and fellowship. These phrases appear well over 170 times collectively in Paul’s writings, indicating the profound emphasis on believers’ intimate and transformative relationship with Christ. The idea permeates Paul’s theological vision and pastoral exhortation, shaping the Christian identity and calling.

If you would like the εἰς, ἐν, σύν compounds from these passages, I'd be happy to share them.

Johann.