Ok, not sure what kind of can of worms I'm going to open here. I'll start at the beginning. I got saved about 5 months ago, last November the 18th. My testimony is posted in the testimonial section.
About a month back I bought a book from Charles Stanley called "Discovering Your Identity". I have never liked reading books but funny how things change, right? I have read very little of the book so far.
Fast forward to March 27th of last month and I was listening to a sermon from Charles Stanley entitled "The Key to the Christian Life". I'm not necessarily endorsing Charles Stanley or anything, he's one of the preachers I listen to during a 10-hour day at work.
Let me just say, in my opinion, it's one of the best sermons I have ever heard. Well researched, well presented, well structured, well sourced, etc. I'm not saying a person has to agree with it, but I think many would agree that it's a well structured sermon.
I won't get too much into it because this is already looking like it's going to be a long post. The message was simple; Christ lives in us and through us. I will definitely not be able to explain it as well as Stanley can, so if you want to know what I'm referring to please pull up the video on YouTube and see for yourself. Not that you have to agree, but just to see what I'm referring to.
In a nutshell, this is what I'm getting to. It seems that many Christians believe that Jesus's role is limited simply to be a Mediator between us and God. The Holy Spirit comes into our heart at salvation, and He acts as a Helper. But I believe that Jesus's role is much more than to simply be a Mediator. I believe, as scriptures seem to indicate, He comes into our heart through the Holy Spirit and he lives our life in and through us:
Romans 8:10 "And IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead because of sin; But the Spirit is life because of righteousness".
Galatians 1:15-16 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME, that I might preach him among the heathen. Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood".
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME".
Galatians 4:19 "My little children, of whom I travel in birth again UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU".
Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory".
I didn't use UPPERCASE in those verses to try to prove a point, I don't know how to use different colors or anything like that. I'm not preaching here, I'm really trying to engender some information.
To finish the story, after hearing the sermon at work, I couldn't wait to get home so I could humbly get on my knees and pray about this. After pouring my heart out and submitting myself completely to the Lord, He gave me a taste, a small taste of what I was hearing from that sermon. Jesus, one part of the God head that is indeed our mediator between us and God, does indeed come to live in and through our lives. He is indeed sitting at God's right hand, but He also comes to live in the lives of his children. I'm going to have to end it there because of obligations, but I believe I posted more or less what I wanted to post. I'd love to hear any thoughts or opinions, disagreements, any thoughts at all. I probably didn't present my question very well, and probably didn't source it nearly enough. God bless.
Last thing, I believe in the Trinity, but I don't think we're talking semantics here. Each member has a distinctive role; also, after some thought, it could be that Christ comes to live in us NOT at salvation, but at a future date (as possibly in Gal 4:19).
I think there's at least 2 times we need to fully submit ourselves to the Savior; first in confession and repentance; the second some time later on when we realize that living the Christian life is harder than we thought (because of our fleshly nature). We ask God to make known to us anything holding us back from fully surrendering to Him. That's when God can really use us. Maybe that's when Jesus starts to work in and through us. Again I apologize for probably not making myself clear and for most likely rambling a little (or a lot).
About a month back I bought a book from Charles Stanley called "Discovering Your Identity". I have never liked reading books but funny how things change, right? I have read very little of the book so far.
Fast forward to March 27th of last month and I was listening to a sermon from Charles Stanley entitled "The Key to the Christian Life". I'm not necessarily endorsing Charles Stanley or anything, he's one of the preachers I listen to during a 10-hour day at work.
Let me just say, in my opinion, it's one of the best sermons I have ever heard. Well researched, well presented, well structured, well sourced, etc. I'm not saying a person has to agree with it, but I think many would agree that it's a well structured sermon.
I won't get too much into it because this is already looking like it's going to be a long post. The message was simple; Christ lives in us and through us. I will definitely not be able to explain it as well as Stanley can, so if you want to know what I'm referring to please pull up the video on YouTube and see for yourself. Not that you have to agree, but just to see what I'm referring to.
In a nutshell, this is what I'm getting to. It seems that many Christians believe that Jesus's role is limited simply to be a Mediator between us and God. The Holy Spirit comes into our heart at salvation, and He acts as a Helper. But I believe that Jesus's role is much more than to simply be a Mediator. I believe, as scriptures seem to indicate, He comes into our heart through the Holy Spirit and he lives our life in and through us:
Romans 8:10 "And IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead because of sin; But the Spirit is life because of righteousness".
Galatians 1:15-16 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME, that I might preach him among the heathen. Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood".
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME".
Galatians 4:19 "My little children, of whom I travel in birth again UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU".
Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory".
I didn't use UPPERCASE in those verses to try to prove a point, I don't know how to use different colors or anything like that. I'm not preaching here, I'm really trying to engender some information.
To finish the story, after hearing the sermon at work, I couldn't wait to get home so I could humbly get on my knees and pray about this. After pouring my heart out and submitting myself completely to the Lord, He gave me a taste, a small taste of what I was hearing from that sermon. Jesus, one part of the God head that is indeed our mediator between us and God, does indeed come to live in and through our lives. He is indeed sitting at God's right hand, but He also comes to live in the lives of his children. I'm going to have to end it there because of obligations, but I believe I posted more or less what I wanted to post. I'd love to hear any thoughts or opinions, disagreements, any thoughts at all. I probably didn't present my question very well, and probably didn't source it nearly enough. God bless.
Last thing, I believe in the Trinity, but I don't think we're talking semantics here. Each member has a distinctive role; also, after some thought, it could be that Christ comes to live in us NOT at salvation, but at a future date (as possibly in Gal 4:19).
I think there's at least 2 times we need to fully submit ourselves to the Savior; first in confession and repentance; the second some time later on when we realize that living the Christian life is harder than we thought (because of our fleshly nature). We ask God to make known to us anything holding us back from fully surrendering to Him. That's when God can really use us. Maybe that's when Jesus starts to work in and through us. Again I apologize for probably not making myself clear and for most likely rambling a little (or a lot).