“At that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me and I in you.” John 14:20.
One of the unique features of Christian life is that we do not just believe Christ and follow Him, but He lives within us. It is the indwelling of Christ through the Spirit that makes all the difference in a believer’s life. Here in this text, while referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them, He makes a promise that they will know their union with Christ in a very personal as well as experimental manner. This mystical joining together with The Lord Jesus Christ is very important and its implication is far-reaching. Awareness of it and subsequent appropriation of this truth is essential for a victorious Christian life.
Two aspects
a. Collectively – as the body as well as bride of Christ. cf.
1Cor12: 27:- “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
Eph. 5:30:- “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”
Here the reference is to our union with Christ as the Church which is His body. Knowledge of this relationship helps us to make our church life more effective and productive. Cf. 1Cor. 12: 12 – 27
b. Personally – as individual believers united together with Christ.
Notice few scripture portions and see this truth more closely.
1Cori 6: 15:- “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”
1Cori 6: 17:- “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
Colo 1: 27c:- “Christ in you the hope of glory.”
These verses clearly speak of our personal union with Jesus Christ. He lives with in us, and we in Him. How did it happen? In Rom 6: 4 Paul speaks of our death and new life with Jesus Christ. When Christ died we too died and today not only we possess a new life, Christ lives in and through us. Further in Colossians Paul says our life is hidden with Christ in God. Cf. Gal 2: 20; Colo 3: 3; Rom 6: 4; 2Cori 5: 14.
Abiding fact
Remember this union is already there for every born again believer. In other words, we do not need to do something special to experience that abiding of Christ today. It’s a true fact as far as every born again believer is concerned. However; we need to be aware of it and live accordingly. There should a constant close relationship with the Lord, experiencing His life and power in our day to day life.
Practical
Notice how this union affects us in practical Christian life.
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Our fruit bearing and prayer life. Jn 15: 4, 5, 7. Without His enablement from within we can do nothing.
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Victory over flesh and sin. Rom 8: 9 – 11; 1John 3: 6
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To be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph 1: 19
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Our unworldly attitude. Colo 3: 1 – 3: On this basis Paul exhorts believers to seek and think heavenly matters.
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Our Christ-like walk. 1Jn 2: 6
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Our confidence. 1Jn 2: 28
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Our testimony. 1Jn 3: 24. Our union with Christ is proved by obedience which is seen by others.
See how extensive is the outcome of our abiding in Christ – He in us and we in Him.
Do we really give importance to this truth? Let us repeatedly acknowledge this fact that we are dead and it is The Lord Jesus Christ who lives with in us. Our words and deeds must be of Him who made us new and lives with in. We should allow Him not only to work in us but to work through us as well. Let us be happy to be hidden in Christ till we shall appear with Him. Till then let us confess that we are dead and the life is veiled with Christ in God. That is the beginning of a true and growing Christian life.
Abiding in the Trench
During the First World War much of the fighting took place along what is known as the Western front. Large systems of trenches ran from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland. Between the trenches was a section of land known as “no man’s land.” Often the key to survival was remaining in the trenches, lifting your head out of curiosity would run the risk of getting a bullet in the brain.
The reason why they needed to remain in the trench was because there was an enemy who was out to destroy them, no matter how quiet the enemy got, no matter how safe it may have seemed. To get out from their secure position of abiding in the trench was to risk destruction by the enemy.
