Abiding in Christ: by Andrew Murray

 

Abide in Me, and I in you.
—John 15:4

Jesus is set before us as a man among us doing a work here on earth and continuing that work in heaven. But many Christians never advance beyond an external Lord, in whom they trust for what He has done and is doing. They know little of the true mystery of Christ in us as an indwelling Savior.

The former and simpler view is that of the first three gospels. The more advanced view is found in the gospel of John. The former is the aspect of truth presented in the doctrine of justification. The latter is the teaching concerning the union of the believer with Christ and his continual abiding as taught in John and the epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians.

This abiding in Christ and Christ in you must be more than a truth you hold in its right place in your gospel doctrine. It must be a matter of experience that inspires your faith in Christ and relationship with God. To be in Christ, to abide in Christ, is not a matter of intellectual faith, but a spiritual reality.

The full manifestations of God and His saving love can come in no other way than by indwelling. In virtue of Christ’s divinity and power, He can, as we abide in Him, dwell in us. To the degree our hearts are given to Him in faith and our wills are given in active obedience, He comes in and abides in us. We can say, because we know, “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

If we are to live with Christ in us and we in Him, then we must be renewed and strengthened in our personal relationships with God in the morning watch. Our access to God, our expectation from God must all be in living fellowship with Christ. If you feel that you want to realize God’s presence more fully, come to God in Christ. Think how Jesus, a man on earth, drew near to the Father in deep humility and dependence, in full surrender and obedience. We must come in His spirit, in union with Jesus.

Seek to take the place before God that Christ has taken in heaven, that of redemption, victory, and of full entrance to glory. Do it by faith in His indwelling power in you here on earth. Expect your approach to God to be accepted according to your heart’s surrender and acceptance in Christ. Then you will be led on in the path in which Christ, living in you and speaking in you, will be truth and power.