IF CHRIST BE IN YOU
Brother James, OIC
Rom 8:5 -10 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Did you know sin and the carnal mind are two different things? Sin is separation from God by missing His Mark and encompasses a whole array of fallen nature problems all of which do not lead to death.. The Carnal mind looks fully to the Worlds False Solutions mixes them with Christianity and calls it God when its actually hatred toward God, it is the iniquity (sin unto death) that, if not repented of to the acknowledging of the Truth, Jesus will condemn in the end. The Carnal Mind and Sin do work together but there is something (in spite of the sin that will always remain in your flesh) Living and Spiritual that wants to take your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ which is trusting Gods Promises for your life’s solutions and that is the Word of God.
Christ in you is your only Hope of Glory:
Col 1:27-29 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The first thing to know about the Spirit of Christ in you is that it is Power:
1Co 1:23-29 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Christ is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God because it is the Anointing that INDWELLS the CALLED of God:
Christos Greek:bkhris-tos'; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.
Paul the Apostle understood that Christ had to formed within each believer to secure their conversion, he wrote to the Church of Galatia:
Gal 1:6 -8 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 3:1-5 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 4:19-20 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
If you read the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 you will discover it is the Seed of Gods Word that you receive in understanding that produces Fruit. It is this Seed (Greek -Spermos) that causes the Spirit of Christ to be Birthed or Formed within you., as only Spirit births Spirit.
Joh 6:63-65 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
1Pe 1:22-23 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
How do we obey the Truth? Through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren. Read 1st Cor 13 to understand this love.
Love is a fruit of the Spirit, God Himself is Love and this Love is evidence of Christ in you the Hope of Glory and this Love is matured only by the Word of God kept in your hearts:
1Jn 2:4 -5 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18-23 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
If Christ be in you your body is dead BECAUSE OF SIN but you, the new you is alive in Christ and it will be evidenced by your fruit; LOVE.
Do you walk in Light of Truth Loving as Christ Loved? If so The Spirit of Christ dwells in you and you are Gods.
