Christ's Presence in Us

“Rooted and built up in HIM, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”  Colossians 2:7

Lately, I have been pondering about how many “positions” of doctrines/theological views/teachings I have heard or been exposed to through the years.  And while “pondering,” I also thought of different situations where a particular “view” caused certain people (sometimes myself) to be “lopsided” in their walk or over emphasis on that view.

An example would be:  Rapture, pre/mid/post tribulation; Worship day on Saturday, Sunday; Baptized before your salvation is complete; Law or grace or both; Millennial, Amillennial.  And…the list goes on.

Yet in the midst of all those things, I rejoice in the fact that God’s Spirit is up to His task as long as He is here and why He was sent:  To guide us into ALL truth – to show us the LIVING, resurrected Son of God – the work that has been done through Him and Him alone.

Paul was about this.  He even states he was not taught the Gospel by and through man, but through the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

The prayers he pens in some of his letters, reflect that knowing Christ, being established in HIM, understanding spiritually of CHRIST HIMSELF in us our hope of glory, is the ABSOLUTE goal of our salvation and fruitfulness.

He stresses that flesh and blood is NOT the source of our growth, but that the LIFE of the Son of God in our spirits is the SOURCE of our growth – that our ABIDING in the VINE (JESUS) is the way of God.

Therefore, it means more to me than ever, to go from simply conversing about “positions” (although the true doctrines of the faith are important), to ACKNOWLEDGING Christ’s PRESENCE in these jars of clay.

His Presence in us is to bring about daily, our relationship and fellowship with Him – with Him as the Living Person that He is.

It is truly God’s Spirit in us WHO seeks to ESTABLISH us only in Christ – the LIVING CHRIST!  He roots us and grounds us in His love, grace, peace, fruit to a mature son and daughter.

There are other things I know which God teaches us.  We are ever growing, ever knowing.

But here are a few things what I would call practical thoughts that we could say are “steps” in being established in the TRUE FAITH of Him:

1)      Acknowledge DAILY, His presence in us.  This keeps us out of the trap of relying on self and being independent of Christ in us, of being led by His Spirit.  “Those who are led by the Spirit are the true sons of God.”

2)      Expand our prayer/conversation time with our Lord with the Scriptures open as the TRUTH BOOK, the LIFE BOOK, the ALL in ALL BOOK God uses because it is HIS BOOK.

3)      Follow through with questions until your spirit (inner man) knows divine realities from His Word concerning those positions (as much as we are able to understand where we are), and concerning ALL TRUTH and the LIFE OF JESUS in us.

Oh, going from “positions” to PRESENCE is what I believe Paul was passionate about.

The Scriptures describe every problem we could possibly have when we fall away from abiding in Christ, the ROOT/VINE of Life and Salvation we are called to.

So…we still always have to bring everything back to Christ Himself – after all, He is the HEAD of HIS own body – whether it is a “position” we are getting all “twisted” over, or problems in our walk, trials, etc.

If we truly edify one another with Truth of Christ in you, Christ in me, we can be of great encouragement to order our lives as to His Presence in us.  He is able to straighten out goofy doctrines and/or positions.  This is His goal for us:  To lead and guide us into ALL Truth.

But let us not miss the reason as to why we can enjoy His Presence in us in relationship and fellowship:  Because he died, paid the price and is Risen on our behalf, so we can do so.

“In your presence Lord, is fullness of joy – and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Ps. 16:11

Sue Gaither