"Not I, but Christ" - A. B. Simpson

Days of Heaven on Earth

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Bible has always held out two great promises respecting Christ. First, He will come to us. Second, He will come into us.

For four thousand years the world looked forward to the fulfillment of the first promise. The other is the secret which Paul says hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints, which is Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). This is just as great a revelation of God as the incarnation of Jesus, for it makes us like Christ, as free from sin as He is.

If Christ is in us, what will be the consequences? Why, He will put us aside entirely. The I in us will go. We will say, "Not I, but Christ." Christ undertakes our battles for us. Christ becomes purity and grace and strength in us.

We do not try to attain these things; we have obtained them in Jesus. This brings glorious rest with the Master. Jesus does not say, "Now we must bring forth fruit, we must pray much, we must do this or that." There is no constraint about it, except that we must abide in Him. That is the center of all joy and help.

Scripture

We will come unto him, and make our abode with him””John 14:23

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

I wish I could understand even more of what these things mean! They are too wonderful for me!

Brother, Watchman Nee wrote much on the subject of how to live the Christian life.

One of the best books that I have read by him on this subject which deals with the fundamental principles of living the Christian life is "The Secret of Christian Living." Also "The Normal Christian Life" is a wonderful book that covers our identification with Christ.

Another one of my favorite authors on this subject is Andrew Murray. "Abide in Christ" is a tremendous book.

Hudson Taylor, T. Austin Sparks, and A. B. Simpson also have some good books on this subject. Much of their writings can be accessed online.

Mike