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The Indwelling Christ

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 17, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 10.

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The Indwelling Christ

By Le Roy E. Froom

THE tendency is to fix the mind upon the historic Christ so that we fail to realize the indwelling Christ. No theory of the atonement can take the place of the living Saviour.
As a result of not experiencing the personal presence of Christ, many do not have that peace and joy which rightfully belong to the child of God. The story of His life is inspiring; faith in His teachings is necessary; but this can never take the place of the Christ Himself. We may learn about Him, but religion is a failure unless Christ is formed within.
No system of education or training can accomplish this. Socialism can never do it, for Socialism is based on self-preservation. Humanity must have a change of heart.
Neither can culture evolve the higher life. We can no more culture ourselves into the spiritual kingdom than we can culture a vegetable into an animal. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The nature must be changed.
All attempts to imitate the Christ end in failure. The artificial can always be detected. His life must be substituted for our life. We must be "born again" before we can grow spiritually. It is called the new birth,because it is the beginning of a new life—a life absolutely different from the old—with Christ in the heart.
We go to Him with the old thoughts and desires, out of harmony with His will. Then comes that marvelous change, a "right about face," and we begin a new life, with heart and purpose in tune with the Infinite.
In the spiritual life, victory comes through surrender, not to the enemy, but to Christ. As clay yields to the touch of the potter, so must we yield to the divine touch of the Master. He can then mold and shape our lives, and bring about that wonderful transformation which human effort can never accomplish.
Our part is the surrender of the heart. His part is the infilling and indwelling of the Christ. And if we do our part, we may rest assured that the King of love will do His part. LE ROY E. FROOM.