Indwelling Life of Christ, The

What is the indwelling life of Christ?

Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

You can try to steer clear of sin. Avoid temptation. Refuse to steal, lie, or use drugs and alcohol. You can indeed try to be sinless. But that is still you. And you are still trying.

Jesus Christ was not holy because He focused His efforts on avoiding sin. Instead, "He refused to allow there to be any possible explanation for the quality of His life but the Father, as God, dwelling in Him, as Man," writes Major W. Ian Thomas.

So whom do you want dwelling in you? More of you? Or all of Christ? The Indwelling Life of Christ illustrates the stark difference between a Christian powered by the Life of Christ and someone trying to live as a Christian under their own strength. And once you've glimpsed the adventure that awaits a vessel of the indwelling Christ, you won't settle for anything less!

"Do you know what it is to live purposefully? Or are you simply engaged in the struggle for existence and survival? If so, there is good news awaiting you, good news about a treasury of purpose and truth and wisdom to be found in the person of Christ, for living purposefully means trading our poverty for Christ's wealth…our weakness for Christ's strength. We exchange the bankruptcy of the fallen Adam for all the fullness of the Life of Christ, and we discover the sheer adventure of allowing Jesus Christ to be God in our own experience, for God He is!"
W. Ian Thomas, The Indwelling Life of Christ