p. 1 | CHRIST IN HIS SAINTS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1859

CHRIST IN HIS SAINTS.

THERE is no truth more plainly revealed in the word of God than this, that Christ dwells in the hearts of his saints. With what confidence the apostle Paul exclaims, "I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me!" When enumerating the blessings for which he prayed in behalf of his Ephesian brethren, he names this, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." The deep interest of his soul towards his Galatian brethren, is thus expressed: "My little children of whom I travail in birth, until Christ be formed in you."

When writing to the church at Rome, he among other things exhorts them to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ;" and in his epistle to the Colossians, he declares that "the mystery which hath been hid for ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints," the "riches" and "glory" of which he would have made "known among the Gentiles," is this, "Christ in you the hope of glory." Of his Corinthian brethren, he with great confidence asks, "know ye not, your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

How may we attain unto this inestimable blessing—an inward Christ? In reply to the question proposed by a disciple just prior to the crucifixion, "Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Jesus says: "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." With this agree the words of John; "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." Again he says, "And this is the love of God that ye keep his commandments."

Jesus and John show that true love will be evinced by an obedience to the divine precepts, and that in the hearts of those who thus love, Christ will dwell. Jesus also says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples indeed, if ye have love one to another." John harmonizes with this when he says, "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." And now, lest we mistake the character of that love which we must have in order to insure the indwelling of God, the apostle gives us an infallible test. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments."

Obedience to the commands of God is the touchstone given by Christ and the apostle John, by which we may know whether our love be of the genuine kind or not. It is not a love based on affinities and theories, but it is a love that "is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Though one had the power to speak the language of all men, and with the eloquence of angels—though they possessed the gift of prophecy, and had the understanding of all mysteries and sciences—though by mighty faith they could remove mountains into the midst of the sea, and with the spirit of wonderful benevolence bestow all their goods to feed the poor, and nobly die a martyr's death rather than yield their principles, yet if destitute of this pure and heaven born love, all, all beside would profit them nothing. It is such, yea it is the same "love wherewith" the Father loved the Son, for says Jesus in his prayer to the Father "And I have declared unto them thy name; and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." It is "love without dissimulation," an "unfeigned love," and he who has it in his heart, will do "no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

The apostle Paul exhorts his brethren to be "rooted and grounded in love." It is the "good ground" which bringeth forth an "hundred fold." We are to "forbear one another in love," and to "speak the truth in love." Is the church to make increase of the body unto the edification of itself?" it must be "in love." Are its members to be "knit together?" it is in "love." Would we have an active faith? it "works by love." This is a love that is not "in word, neither in tongue but in deed and in truth."

If the possessor of this love "sees a brother or sister naked, and destitute of daily food," he says not "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding he giveth them not those things that are needful to the body." Love feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, lifts the heavy burden from the weary shoulder, relieves the distressed, comforts the feeble minded, and supports the weak. Such is the love which leads to obedience and secures an indwelling Christ. And such is the oneness existing between the saint and his Saviour, that an act done to the one is done to the other also. Hear the King as he sits on the throne of his glory, saying unto those upon his right hand, "Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." Yes they had fed him when hungry, given him drink when thirsty, clothed him when naked, visited him when sick, ministered unto him when in prison.

And how? By doing it even unto the least of those his brethren, for in them Christ dwelt.

Brother! sister! hast thou ever thought "O that I had lived when the Saviour was upon earth! With what delight would I have hung upon his words,—with what eager haste prepared a repast and a couch for his refreshment, when hungry and weary with fasting and long journeying. How I would have brought the cooling water with which to lave his fevered brow, and bathe his soil-worn feet. I would have applied balm to his bleeding wounds when scourged by Roman soldiers, and near his cross would I have taken my stand and mingled my tears with weeping Mary's and from the fulness of my heart told him my grief and love." Turn thine eye no longer back to Nazareth, to Gethsemane, nor Calvary, but remember that Christ is here; he yet lives and dwells "with men on earth," and while thou art bestowing kindly acts of love on his saints, thou art in verity ministering to him whom thy soul loveth.

But not only is the language, "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me," applicable to the acts of love and kindness manifested toward his saints, but it may equally apply to the acts of hatred and unkindness. Christ is even now "wounded in the house of his friends;" even now "spitfully entreated," reproached, falsely accused, rejected, "crucified afresh, and put to open shame." That unkind word—that averted eye—that passing by on the other side, is not merely an insult, a slight toward a "little one,"—a weak member of the church of Christ. That refusal to bestow the needful food and clothing upon a poor one of the flock, was not a neglect of them only. That bitter word of envy or malice—that effort to mar the reputation of one perhaps more highly esteemed than yourself, was not an injury inflicted on them merely—that barbed arrow pierced the heart of Jesus.

Think of it, oh think of it thou righteous Pharisee who regardeth with so much complacency thy robe of good works and long prayers, and lookest with scorn upon the poor trembling saint by thy side who scarcely dares look upward so overwhelmed is he with the consciousness of his own demerit,—think of it, I say. Thou despisest Christ in the person of his lowly follower. Think of it, oh think of it, thou envious one, who seekest to cast a blight upon the reputation of one who perchance has won laurels to himself by faithful devotedness to God; it is not his fair name alone thou stainest with thy black calumny, but Christ's precious name is reproached also. Beware lest the fate of those who in ancient days reviled and falsely accused, be also thine.

O, would you honor Christ? Would you feast him at your dwellings, comfort him when sad, refresh him when weary? Minister thus to his saints, even though the lowly ones of earth, and thou wilt indeed minister unto him; for Christ liveth in them.—Spl.