In Christ

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15: 4.

All instruction proceeds from the outward to the inward. When some knowledge has been obtained of the actual, in words or deeds, in nature or history, the mind is prepared to seek for the inner meaning hidden in them. It is even so with the teaching of scripture concerning Jesus Christ. He is set before us a man among us, before us, above us, doing work for us here on earth, continuing that work for us still in heaven.

Many Christians never advance beyond this, an external exalted Lord, in whom they trust for what He has done and is doing for them and in them. They know and enjoy but little of the power of the true mystery of Christ in us, of His inward presence, as an indwelling Saviour. The former and simpler view is that of the first three Gospels; the latter marks the Gospel of St John. The former is the aspect of truth presented in the Scripture doctrine of justification. The latter is the teaching concerning the union of the believer with Christ and his continual abiding, as specially taught in St. John and the Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians.

To the Christians for whom this book is written and who all ought to be preparing to carry Christ to their fellowmen, I cannot say too earnestly: See that this abiding in Christ and Christ in you be not only a truth you hold in its right place in your scheme of Gospel doctrine but that, as a matter of life and experience, it animates all your faith in Christ and oneness with God. To be in a room means to have all that there is in it at your disposal, its furniture, its comforts, its lights, its air, its shelter. To be in Christ, to abide in Christ, and to know what this means. It is not a matter of intellectual faith or conception, but a spiritual reality.

Think about who and what Christ is. Consider Him in the five states or stages that mark and reveal His nature and work. He is the incarnate one, in whom we see how God’s Omnipotence united perfectly the Divine and human nature. Living in Him we are partaking of the Divine nature, and of eternal life. He is the Obedient One, living a life of entire surrender to God and perfect dependence on Him. Living in Him our life becomes one of complete subjection to God’s will, and continual waiting upon His guidance. He is the Crucified One, who died for sin and to sin that He might take it away. Living in Him we are free from its curse and dominion, and we live, like Him, in death to the world and our own will. He is the Risen One, who lives forevermore.

Living in Him we share His resurrection power and walk-in newness of life, a life that has triumphed over sin and death.

He is the Exalted One, sitting on the throne and carrying on His work for the salvation of men. Living in Him His love possesses us, and we give ourselves to Him to use in winning the world back to God. Being in Christ, abiding in Him, means nothing less than that the soul is placed by God Himself in the midst of this wonderful environment of the life of Christ at once human and Divine, utterly given up to God, in obedience and sacrifice, wholly filled with God in resurrection life and glory. The nature and character of Jesus Christ- His dispositions and affections, His power and glory-these are the elements in which we live, the air we breathe, the life in which our life exists and grows.

The full manifestation of God and His saving love can come in no other way than by indwelling. In virtue of Christ’s Divinity and Divine power, He can, just so far as we abide in Him, dwell in us. As far as the heart with its love is given to Him in faith, and the will in active obedience, He comes in and makes abode in us. We can say because we know- Christ lives in me.

And now, to come to our main purpose, if this life, Christ in us and we in Him, is to be our real working-day life, its spirit must be renewed and strengthened in the personal oneness with God with which we begin the day in the morning watch.

Our access to God, our sacrifice to God, and our expectation from God must all be in Christ, in the living fellowship with Him.

If ever you feel that you want to get nearer to God, to realize His presence or power, or love, or will, or working, more fully, in one word to have more of God-come to God in Christ. Think of how, as a man on earth, He drew nigh to the Father in deep humility and dependence, in full surrender and entire obedience, and come in His Spirit and disposition, in union with Him. Seek to take the very place before God that Christ has taken in heaven that of accomplished redemption, of a perfect victory, of the full entrance to God’s glory.

Take the very place before God that Christ took on earth on His way to victory and glory. Do it in the faith of His indwelling and enabling power in you here on earth; count confidently on your approach being accepted not according to your attainment, but according to the uprightness of your heart’s surrender, and the completeness of your acceptance in Christ, and you will be led on in the path in which, Christ living in you and speaking in you, will be truth and power.