THE INDWELLING CHRIST

     Does Jesus abide in the regenerate heart? The popular idea is that He visits it, and then because of doubts and sins has to leave, but after the soul is sanctified He then abides within. Frequently we read and hear of souls receiving Christ as their "Indwelling Savior," meaning, of course, that they were sanctified. What does inspiration have to say?

     "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." This takes place when a soul is converted. The kingdom of God is set up in that heart. Now where there is a kingdom there must be a king. Jesus is this king in the regenerated heart, and He reigns supremely (though not without a rival) until every unruly subject is cast out in the work of entire sanctification.

     There are unruly, disloyal subjects in every kingdom, but the king remains king just the same, and has power to execute all such, and often does, when they cease to recognize his authority.

     In like manner when Jesus sets up His kingdom in a heart, and comes in as king He subdues all enemies under His feet, and although they may clamor and find fault with His administration, He has power to suppress and hind every one of them. "No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." This is just what Jesus does when He enters the penitent, believing heart. He binds the "old man." Then Christ not only lays siege to spoil his "goods," but in making more room for His new kingdom He proceeds to "spoil his house," and eventually this means to leave him homeless. "What saith the Scriptures? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."

     As soon as Jesus comes into a heart, there begins a war. "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other." But what of it! He has come to conquer and drive out every inhabitant, and will surely do so, if He can keep the constant cooperation of the will.

     "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" (John 14:23).

     "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His" (Rom. 8:9).

     "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16).

     "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6).

     "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not."

     "And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us by the Spirit which He hath given us" (1 John 3:24).

     "Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us because He hath given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:13).

     These passages certainly show that justified souls have the Spirit, are temples of the Holy Ghost, and that Christ is crowned and acknowledged Lord of lords and King of kings in their hearts.

     However, the difference is that in regeneration Christ is crowned and consequently reigns within, while in entire sanctification He reigns without a rival; all enemies are gone.