How Christ Abides in Our Homes
by Drew M.
1. Who is Jesus?
John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. In other words, he is God’s Word in bodily form. He is God’s Word worked out in practical life.
2. What does it mean to have Christ living in me?
John 6:56, 57: “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. ”
3. What does it mean to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus?
John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. “ Jesus explained that if we “eat and drink” his words, assimilating them into our lives just as food becomes our tissues, then we will have everlasting life. Physical food gives us physical life, and spiritual food (Christ’s Words) gives us spiritual life and eventually a literal eternal life.
4. Is this explanation (above) what the disciples understood Jesus to mean?
John 6:67, 68:“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
5. Did Jesus teach this truth anywhere else in the Bible?
John 15:4-8: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 14:23: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
Summary
The success of every family depends on and begins with every member submitted to Christ. As each person chooses daily, hourly, to cherish and carry out His Words and example in their own lives, they will have Christ formed within, because the Word once again will be made flesh. Thus, Jesus will literally be in our homes. He will literally be abiding in each of us. His very thoughts will be inside of us! The mind of God will be working in us. Our duty then is to carry out God’s Word in our lives every moment, and resist and push away any thought that is out of harmony with God’s Word. Thus, the scripture will be fulfilled, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6. The Christian warfare, the “fight of faith” that we all wrestle against is not a physical battle, but a battle in our minds. It is against evil thoughts and imaginations that lead to disobedience. We are to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ, so that He may abide in us and be formed within us. Thus the fruits of our lives will be righteousness and peace.
