In Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God, Rankin Wilbourne explains that believers have true union with Jesus Christ, and this union provides the believer with significant power to face anything Satan presents him or her with in this present world. Wilbourne desires for Christians to appreciate, understand, and enjoy their union with Christ. Unbelievers, however, are encouraged to experience the wholeness that comes from such satisfying fellowship with Jesus. For the author, receiving the Gospel of grace into one’s heart produces a oneness with the Lord, our Savior, our Messiah, Jesus Christ. The text explains that people will struggle with their identity and experiences when they fail to comprehend their union with Jesus that emerges when salvation is received.

American churches are suffering from too much religion and not even Jesus. Wilbourne’s book is an important intervention for the spiritual deficit and crisis of a largely absent Jesus in many churches. While numerous churches claim to offer and experience Jesus, too often they are more interested in offering rules, regulations, condemnation, guilt, shame, all stemming from teaching and preaching centered on the Mosaic Law, especially in pentecostal and apostolic churches. When one reads this book, he or she will learn to concentrate more on a relationship with Christ and stray from religion.

If you are exhausted with religion and want to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus, then I highly recommend that you purchase this book. Also, I recommend that this book be used in your church’s Bible Study sessions. This book is an excellent read.

In exchange for my honest review, a copy of this book was given to me by Litfuse.

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison