Christ Dwells In Us

I. EXORDIUM:

If CHRIST dwells in us, we have everything.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To prove that CHRIST dwells in us.

IV. TEXT:

John 17:23 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

V. THESIS:

CHRIST dwells in us.

VI. TITLE:

CHRIST dwells in us

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: John the Apostle, son of Zebedee and Salome, and younger brother of James.

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

B. Date and Setting:

Written between a.d. 85–90 from Ephesus, after the destruction of Jerusalem (a.d. 70) and before John’s exile to the island of Patmos

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

C. Audience:

New Christians and searching non-Christians.

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

D. Purpose:

John 20:31 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. CHRIST is in us, and GOD is in CHRIST (John 14:20, Ephesians 3:17-19, Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 1:3)

"I am in them and you are in me."

Romans 8:9 (New King James Version)

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Romans 8:11 (New King James Version)

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The whole GODhead dwells inside of us. Apart from the One who lives in us, we are all nothing. Our efforts and works are nothing.

We are the temple. The HOLY SPIRIT is not only around us or with us, but He is inside of us.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (New Century Version)

You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves,

B. This is done in unity

"May they experience such perfect unity"

1. Unity or one came from the Greek word:"hice" meaning only, one.

Some factors about church's unity:

a. Love holds us in unity. (Colossians 3:14)

Colossians 3:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

b. It is unity in mind. Mind is heart in the bible. Heart or mind is the center of everything in the human body.

2 Chronicles 30:12 (New International Version)

Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

c. Unity is a lifestyle (Psalms 133:1)

Psalms 133:1 (New International Version)

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

d. Unity has to be complete. It involves GOD, the Father, GOD, the Son and the Church. (John 17:23)

John 17:23 (New International Version)

I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

e. Unity is a spirit. We are united as we follow CHRIST. If a church is united, then it has peace not division. (Romans 15:5)

Romans 15:5 (New International Version)

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 4:3 (New International Version)

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

f. Only GOD can give unity. (Job 10:8)

- It is a work of the HOLY SPIRIT because it involves both the FATHER and the SON in His Church. (This is complete unity)

Job 10:8 (New King James Version)

'Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me.

g. Unity or Union is a personality, it can be broken. (Zechariah 11:14)

Zechariah 11:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then I took my other staff, Union, and cut it in two, showing that the bond of unity between Judah and Israel was broken.

C. The world will know:

"...that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. "

John 13:35 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”