(tm) One in Christ in God
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The change in personality of which we have been speaking to this point might be termed the maturing of the born-again experience. We have referred also to the dwelling in us of the fullness of God; but our main point of emphasis has been the change in us in preparation for the coming of the Lord to abide in us.
We have spoken of the power of the blood of Christ to make an atonement, the initial spiritual resurrection of the believer, the planting of the Word of God in our heart, bringing our daily conduct under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the Word of God in us, putting to death the deeds of our body, and the maturing of the Word of God in us. Through the processes of God in redemption we are becoming a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17).
But all the above are changes in us—our personal transformation of spirit, soul, and body. The coming of the Persons of the Godhead to abide in us is yet another matter. God comes into us at the moment of our receiving Christ. But He desires to come to us in a much greater way as soon as we have been made ready for such glory.
The new covenant is the creating of the image of Christ in the mind and heart of the believer (Hebrews 8:10). It is an inner work. Christ in us is the hope of glory. As the likeness of Christ begins to appear in our personality, the Glory of God can take up residence in us to an increasingly greater extent. Peter admonishes us to take heed to the Scripture until the Day of the Lord dawns in us.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy [the Scriptures]; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (II Peter 1:19)
The Lord Jesus told us the same thing:
Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)
After we receive Christ and are baptized in water we are to study the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. As the Holy Spirit makes clear to us the directives and the promises, we are to look to the Spirit for the wisdom and strength to do the will of God.
We are to make use of every resource the Lord has provided for us, including studying and meditating in the Scriptures, prayer, assembling with fervent believers as possible, and the Communion service. We must practice diligently the good works set before us, such as giving, working in the local church, receiving and operating the gifts of the Spirit, and assisting the work of Christ wherever possible. We do the will of God, by His help, "building our house on the rock."
As we take heed to the things of Christ, a wonderful transformation occurs in us. Christ is formed in us. As Christ is formed in us the Father and the Son come to dwell in us. They make their abode with us.
Our task is to keep the words of Jesus and to open the door of our heart to Him.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
God’s plan is described as follows:
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Before the Father and the Son can take up residence in us we must be strengthened in the inner man. We must be converted in the depths of our character, not just in our mind.
The prayer of Paul for the saints at Ephesus was that they would be "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." He prayed that Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith—the faith that comes as a result of the strengthening of the inner man by the Spirit of God.
The increase of Christ in the heart means an increase in our possession of the love of Christ. Being established in the love of Christ makes it possible for the saint to grasp the riches of God’s Glory. As we grasp the riches of the Glory of God we grow closer to the place where we can be filled with all the fullness of God. We become the eternal dwelling place of the Godhead. God finds His rest in us. We find our rest in God.
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