The Reality of the in-dwelling of Christ

5 April 2014 by Natasha Kim CM-

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)

Rev Colin Hurt recently graced City Revival Church, Subang Jaya on the 23^rd of March 2014. He has been in ministry for many years, pastored many churches around the world, and was instrumental in the pioneering some of the Assemblies of God Churches in Malaysia. Colin relocated to Malaysia due to his burden for this nation and just recently celebrated the 35^th anniversary of their arrival in Malaysia as missionaries, along with his wife. His message focused on the in-dwelling of Christ within each one of us. “It is important that we grasp the truth that is here so that you will leave really, truly and absolutely believing that Christ lives in your heart by faith and what can happen, because that’s a reality. So many Christians are living in defeat, in depression, in the dominion of many habits and living a life that is wrong because they have not appropriated by faith this wonderful truth,” shared Colin. The creator of all things, is living in you.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Colin started off his sermon by reciting the Bible verse above in Ephesians 3:16-19. He shared that when Paul prayed this particular prayer, it was for Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith. Colin read this and wondered why Paul would pray that way when Christ already dwells in the heart of all of us who are believers. “Why pray for something that they’ve already got?” he questioned. Through research, he found that there are several New Testament words for “dwell”. For example, the word “dwell” in John 1:14, states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. In this particular verse in John, “dwell” means to be a tabernacle, which means to dwell temporarily. However, he shared in terms of the word “dwell” in Paul’s prayer, it means to settle and be at home. “Christ is in every Christian but I wonder if He has settled down and feels at home. Christ does dwell in you but have you really understood that by faith? Is it a vibrant part of what you are and what you believe and the way that you live?” he said.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Colin stressed that as Christians, we need to understand the truth behind the scripture above, in Galatians 2:20. Many years ago, when he was younger, he used to hear his pastor preached to the congregation saying, “You must crucify the flesh”. “Well I tried every way I knew to crucify the flesh!” said Colin. However when reciting the verse above one day, it hit him that Paul did not say that we should crucify the flesh, but instead Paul was trying to say that, “It’s already dead”! Colin then went on to share that he would read everyone’s death certificate according to Romans 6:1-11.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life

⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1-11)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)

“Do you understand? If you have been baptized in water, that was your burial service and you do not bury living people, you bury dead people. Paul declared a wonderful truth that when Christ died, you died. Every Christian believes that they are alive unto God, but some Christians don’t believe they’re dead unto sin,” said Colin. By faith repeat, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” and receive that by faith! With everything we say according to the Bible, we must not only repeat these words but also believe it wholeheartedly. “Jesus not only died to forgive your sin, He dies to obliterate your sin! Hallelujah! When the Holy Spirit came and lived in you, Christ came and lived in you also,” said Colin. You have all of the divine trinity living in you, one who created everything, and one who is able to create something good in your life and through your life!

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17)