Why do people reject the notion of God? One reason is the appearance of the Church, which claims to be the visible manifestation of God on earth. But what they see, in the western world at least, is hypocrisy, deceit, greed, extortion, confusion, envy, enmity, pride and a godlessness that is not much different to the world. The church has become a worldly manifestation of the teachings of God, rather than a spiritual manifestation.
“Be partakers of the Divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). This is what we are called to be; it is the whole message of the New Testament; God dwelling in man!
The Church focuses on everything but this; on incarnation, redemption, justification, regeneration and all of the other doctrinal words of which the Bible speaks of the work of Christ Jesus the Lord. But these are all preliminary to the one vital and crucial truth; that God, through Jesus Christ, is able to come and dwell in a man and enable him to live the life of Christ himself. Indeed, that is what Christianity truly is in its fullest effectuation; God dwelling in men!
God didn’t send His beloved Son to die so that carnal man can be excused for his sins; Christ Jesus died that man might be able to live as He lived; in obedience to the Father, doing the things that are pleasing to Him, partaking of the Divine nature, as Peter put it.
God moved out of the heart of man because of sin and He is not going to move back in except to drive out His enemies and make the place once more a suitable dwelling place for Himself.
Christ in me must be a living reality, not a theological assertion; if He is not, then I cannot claim salvation.
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