As discussed last week, one way of expressing the beginning of the Christian life is to think of it as the “incoming of Christ.”
One image is a closed door being opened to admit the Savior, Who enters a believer’s life by His Spirit. The entering is with a view to Him living within. The “incoming” launches the Christian life; the “indwelling” sustains it.
The indwelling of Christ in a believer is the subject of His promise in John 14:20: “You will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” He elaborated on the promise three verses later: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (14:23).
Not only was the indwelling the subject of Christ’s promise, it was also the truth of His picture drawn with the words of John 15:5 that describe a vineyard in which He is the Vine and we are the branches. He wants us to see ourselves abiding in Him and He in us.
Occasionally someone might protest with deep sincerity, “I cannot begin the Christian life because living it out would be too difficult for me.”
That sentiment is not the whole truth. Living a Christian life is not merely difficult; it is impossible.
Think about it: Who can attain Christ’s command in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”?
Difficult? No, impossible! Who can consistently seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness?
Who can love their enemies and pray for those who use them? Who prays without ceasing? Who loves God with all their heart, mind and strength? Who is able to become angry and yet not sin?
Who can heed Jesus’ instruction in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious about nothing, but in everything give thanks”? Who can live up to the command, “Give no offense to anyone”? No one. It is impossible!
‘I can’t, but He can’
Only the indwelling of Christ makes possible that which is impossible for us. The triumphant acknowledgment of a Christian must be, “I can’t, but He can.”
In summary, we might declare with Holy Scripture that the indwelling of Christ is the subject of one of His great promises (John 14:20, 23), as well as the truth of His word picture in John 15:5 in which producing fruit requires us to be in Christ and Christ in us (John 15:5). This divine indwelling was the burden of Christ’s prayer (John 17:22–23, 26).
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