For Christ to Be in You
The sermon emphasizes the importance of Christ's presence in believers, which brings freedom, peace, joy, rest, and strength, and is the key to Christian growth and sanctification.
Major Ian Thomas emphasizes that Christian growth is fundamentally about the presence of Christ within us, which brings freedom, peace, and strength in our spiritual journey. He explains that while being in Christ secures our place in heaven, having Christ in us transforms our lives on earth, enabling us to live out our faith and fulfill our purpose. This divine presence is accessed through faith, allowing us to partake in God's nature and experience true sanctification. Thomas highlights that Christ's presence is essential for overcoming sin and living a victorious Christian life.
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Christian Growth is a Person
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:3-4
The truth of "Christ in you" is the theological fact God has most used to bring freedom, peace, joy, rest, grace, strength, etc., in my walk with him. Without the knowledge and experience of Christ's personal presence, I would have quit the ministry, given up on the church, and forsaken all hope for victory over sin. The Spirit of Christ makes Christ's hope available when I feel downcast, he assists my feeble attempts at ministry, and he is my constant knowledge of God's love. Faith is the channel by which his his presence is made known and the avenue by which his life is manifest. Christ in you and me is our righteousness (acceptance before God), sanctification (Christian growth), and redemption (blood-bought freedom from slavery) (1 Cor. 1:30).
To be in Christ-that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you-that is sanctification! To be in Christ-that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be in you -that makes you fit for earth! To be in Christ -that changes yours destination; but for Christ to be in you-that changes your destiny! The one makes heaven your home-the other makes this world His workshop.
Sermon Outline
- The Truth of 'Christ in You'
- The Benefits of Christ in You
- The Difference Between Being in Christ and Christ in You
- Redemption makes you fit for heaven
- Sanctification makes you fit for earth
- Redemption changes your destination
- Sanctification changes your destiny
Key Quotes
“To be in Christ-that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you-that is sanctification!” — Major Ian Thomas
“To be in Christ-that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be in you -that makes you fit for earth!” — Major Ian Thomas
“To be in Christ -that changes your destination; but for Christ to be in you-that changes your destiny!” — Major Ian Thomas
Application Points
- Believers can experience the presence of Christ through faith, which brings freedom, peace, joy, rest, and strength.
- Christ's presence in us is the key to Christian growth and sanctification.
- We must understand the difference between being in Christ, which makes us fit for heaven, and Christ in us, which makes us fit for earth.