How to Become United with Christ - Saint Symeon the New Theologian

According to Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Jesus promises us a union with Him

“The union which he has by nature with the Father He promises that we may have with Him by grace, if we desire, and that we may be in the same relation with respect to Him, if we keep His commandments.

Jesus says,

Even as You, Father, are in me, and I and you, that these also may be one in Us. (Jn 17:21)
The glory which You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfectly one. (Jn 17:22-23)
Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me. (Jn 17:24)
That the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (Jn 17:26)

We are destined to receive His glory

The glory the Father gave the Son is given to us by Jesus. 

What is necessary to receive this Glory

If we believe in Him and do what He teaches, He will be in us and we will be in Him thru His grace. We will receive the same love as the Father has for the Son. This means we can participate in His divinity.

We will become one Body in Christ

Above all, the divinity imparted to us through this communion cannot be broken down into parts, is indivisible, and thus all of us who partake of it in truth must necessarily and in sure probably be one body with Christ in the one spirit."

 

St Symeon the New Theologian