Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-12-06
CHRISTIAN ENDFAvoR.
Topic For the week Beginning Dec.
1o-Comment by Rev. :. II. Doyle.


1o-Comment by Rev. :. II. Doyle.
ToFie--TAe ipa~ei.las prgaenes.-Col- j, s1-s9;
Ca il, 3D.
The topic refers 10 the indwelliuz Of
Christ in the believers heart. This is a
truth of Scripture that Is not sufficient
ly recognized and emphasized The
atonement of Christ, by which we are
reconeIied to God, is constantly dwelt
upon, and rightly so. but too many
Christian ignore the second great and
blessed truth that Christ dwells in Us TO
keep Us faithful 10 God and to assure
Us Of our hope Of eternal glory. Christ
died 10 Justify us He lives within Us
TO sanctlfy Us. and sanCtidcation Is nee
essary to complete and perfect justlh
cation
That the Bibie teaches the doctrine
Of the indweilins of Christ al. the
Holy Spirit ia the heart If believers
cannot be denied Paul declares that
Christ dagell- IN the GUlassiaus. lie
prays that Christ may dwell Is fllih
in the hearts OF the EphesianS ami ties
tiles that he himself no longer lived
after ne had been crucifiad with Christ.
but that Christ lived III him. such Ian
gQage can mean but one thing. and
rightly understood and appreciated it
Is one Of the most precious doctrines Of
the word Ct God. 1t teaches rs that, in
addition to His saving rs by His death
Christ keeps us saved by His life in Us.
There are two phases eff the indwell-
ing of Christ that are presented to Us
in the topical references-l1) Christ in
US as our life and - Christ in Us the
hope Of glory.
l. Christ in Us as our life. Gal ii.
90. 81 am erucifed with Christ. and it
Is no longer | that live r. W. hut
Christ liyeth in me, and the life which
I now live in the flesh l live by the
faith Of tine Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me. Here is
Paul s doctrine Of the indwelling Christ
as the life of the Christian. Paul has
ceased t. 1--we. He has died with Christ,
and as a result Christ lives in him and
does through him that which he would
have him do This is the only real and
true conservation Of ourselves 10 Christ
This IS the only way in which we can
live the real Christ life after we have
been saved We must abdicate the
thrones Of our own lives and place
Chri.t upon them as our King and give
Him complete control Of our lives
Thus, and thus only. can we live a
blameless life before God and advance
toward that perfection of life. our sane
tification, which is the final goal Of
Christianity.
.. Christ in Us the hope of glory
Christ in rs the hope of glory Col
4. 81. This, SAYS Paul. is the riches
Of the glory Of the mystery among the
gentiles. And what mystery-Christ
in the hearts and lives Of gentiles, the
hope Of their glory The glory referred
to here is future. eternal glory. 1t is
future. hut il is certain. 1t can come
only through Christ. Man has come
short Of the glory Of God. Christ sup
plies the shortness and makes it posi-
BILE for man to glorify God and as re-
suit to enjoy Him forever. and this Is the
glory for which the Christian hopes, and
which will be realized in Christ.
Bible Readings. -Ex. xxx. -, 46:
Eek. xxxvi, 26, 81; Jer XXI, 33;
John vi 80; xiv. %; xvi. :; Rom. Vi,
6-12; Gal iv, 49, 20; Eph. iii. IA g.
Col iii. 16; l Thess- V, 10; Tim. iii.
16: / John ii, 1-6; ". -.