The Holy Spirit is the Life of Christ
In John 15:4-5, Jesus said the following:
'ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: HE THAT ABIDETH IN ME, AND I IN HIM, THE SAME BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT: FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.’
Now look at what the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians:
Galatians 5:22-23 …’The FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’
So if we abide in CHRIST, we will bear much FRUIT as Jesus confirmed. And Paul tells us what the FRUIT of the SPIRIT is. Do you see the connection? By abiding in Christ we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the LIFE OF CHRIST in the soul of the believer. It is the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us, bringing forth the fruit, and Paul understood this, which is why he wrote the following:
Ephesians 3:17 …’That CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love….’
Galatians 2:20 …’I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.’
Romans 8:10-11 …’And if CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU.’
2 Corinthians 3:17 …’Now THE LORD IS THAT SPIRIT: and where THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD is, there is liberty.’
Do you see why “abiding in Christ” will bring forth the “fruit of the Spirit”? Because the Spirit we receive is the very divine LIFE of Christ Himself – His Spirit in us.
"The influence of the Holy Spirit IS THE LIFE OF CHRIST in the soul. We do not now see Christ and speak to Him, but HIS HOLY SPIRIT is just as near us in one place as another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. THOSE WHO KNOW THE INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT REVEAL THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT,-'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." Bible Echo, June 17, 1901 par. 6
Do you know the “indwelling of the Spirit”? Do you know it is the very DIVINE LIFE OF CHRIST that dwells in us, not some “other third being” or “spirit”? This is so important to understand. It is only by abiding in Christ and receiving HIS DIVINE LIFE that we can overcome in this world.
Christ wrought out in human flesh a perfect, sinless life through suffering and complete dependence upon God the Father. When He went back to heaven, He received the Holy Spirit FROM the Father to give to us (Acts 2:32-33), so that CHRIST HIMSELF, IN THE SPIRIT, can help us overcome all sin. This is why it is so important to understand this truth. The divine Spirit of Christ comes to us with that HUMAN EXPERIENCE and victory, to give us POWER to overcome the world and sin. And thus through ABIDING IN HIM, we bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. This is all part of the righteousness of Christ message.
Paul said in Galatians 4:6 that God would “send forth the SPIRIT OF HIS SON” into our hearts. Why? Because we need that divine life of Christ, mixed with His perfect human life to enable us to overcome. This is why water and blood poured out from Christ on the cross. His divine life and Spirit (water) mixed with His human life (blood).
Philippians 1:19 ...'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and THE SUPPLY OF THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST.'
"CHRIST declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,- THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. WITH HIS SPIRIT CHRIST SENDS a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin." The Review and Herald, May 19, 1904 par. 1
JESUS is the one standing at the door of our hearts, knocking and asking us to let HIM in … “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear MY VOICE, and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.” Revelation 3:20
This is the message to the Laodicean church – to LET JESUS IN, not some “other spirit”.
"Live with Him, brethren; live with Him; live with Him; that is what He wants. Why, He is raised from the dead, and we are raised up with Him that we may live with Him. Rom. 6:8. HIS PERSONAL PRESENCE is to be with us. THAT IS WHAT THE LAODICEAN MESSAGE IS TO DO FOR US; IT BRINGS THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST TO LIVE IN US." A.T.Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p.300
Many will never overcome this world or their sinful flesh, because they are not looking in the right place. They think the Holy Spirit is someone or something else, and Satan is ready and waiting to “fill them.” This is why there is NO POWER in the churches today. Because they have NOT the SPIRIT OF CHRIST. They have “another spirit.” But to all those who BELIEVE the TRUTH and allow Christ to dwell in them through faith (Ephesians 3:17), He will impart to them His divine life, mixed with His perfect human life, giving them VICTORY and TRUE FREEDOM!
Will you come to Jesus now and DRINK of that well of LIFE only He can provide?
John 7:37 ...'In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED, saying, if any man thirst, LET HIM COME UNTO ME, AND DRINK.’
“Abide in Me, and I in you.” Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character. (DA 677.1)