CHRIST LIVETH IN ME

 

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." 

Galatians 2:20

Our lovely song "Christ Liveth In Me" reminds us of our walk with Christ. A walk that must be walked by faith so that Christ may live in us. There is great joy when we are crucified with Christ and allow Him to live in us. We have light when Christ lives in us. 

Our sins separate us from God and make us distant from Him. We were once far from God and dead in our trespasses and sins. When we were disobedient to God and living in darkness, our hearts did not have the light of God.

 "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."  (1 Jn. 1:5-6)  

Because of our disobedience, we were children of wrath. 

As a result, we were separated from Christ and the Father and without hope. But Christ's blood drew us closer to God and reconciled us to Him.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."  (Eph. 2:1-3, 11-13)

However, when we come to Christ and surrender to Him, we find the light we need through God's Word.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

We have life and love when Christ lives in us, for it comes from Him. 

God made the sun to give us light during the day (Genesis 1:14-18). God has provided light to help the flowers and the grass to grow (Matt. 6:28-30). Because of Christ, God gives us life and love, for Christ is the Light of the world.

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)

We have the Spirit of Christ when we crucify our flesh and allow Him to live in us. 

His Spirit dwells in us through His revealed Word.

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)

"By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit."  (1 John 4:13)

In the seed lives that power that produces a new flower, plants, or trees after its own kind.

"And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.' And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.'" (Genesis 1:11-12)

"You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body."  (1 Cor. 15:36-38)

"His Son dwelleth in me."  

When Christ dwells in us by faith, ruling our hearts, we are filled with all the fullness of God and His glory.

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  (Eph. 3:17-19)

For Christ to dwell in us, we must long to be transformed and shaped into His image, for this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)

Therefore, we must dwell on this wondrous thought that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, worthy of praise, and excellent.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  (Phil. 4:8)

Christ lives in those who are His faithful children. 

Christ lives in us when we surrender to His will with complete obedience. Christ will lead our souls into all righteousness and salvation when He lives in us and rules our hearts. Therefore, I will rejoice because  "Christ liveth in me."

I hope this beautiful hymn may stir your soul the way it stirred mine.

Once far from God and dead in sin, No light my heart could see, 

But in God’s word the light I found–Now Christ liveth in me.

As rays of light from yonder sun, The flowers of earth set free,

So life and light and love came forth From Christ living in me.

As lives the flower within the seed, As in the cone the tree,

So, praise the God of truth and grace, His Spirit dwelleth in me.

With longing all my heart is filled That like Him I may be,

As on the wondrous thought I dwell, That Christ liveth in me.

The chorus,

Christ liveth in me, Christ liveth in me;

O what a salvation this–That Christ liveth in me.

Luci