A Bible Study

=God’s Presence=

It is a mystery.

The secret of Victory is simply Christ himself in the heart of the believer. This truth, of Christ’s indwelling, is, and always has been, a mystery.

Romans 16:25.

Ephesians 3:9 with Colossians 1:26, 27.

Ephesians 5:30, 32 (R. V.).

Colossians 4:3.

 

Christ himself taught this truth.

John 14:20, 23; 15:1-7; 17:21-23.

Matthew 28:20.

Revelation 3:20. (See also Mark 16:20).

 

It was a vital reality to the Apostle Paul.

Romans 8:10.

1 Corinthians 6:15.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (R. V.).

2 Corinthians 5:17.

2 Corinthians 13:5.

Galatians 2:20.

Galatians 3:27.

Galatians 4:19.

Ephesians 3:17.

Philippians 1:21

1 Thessalonians 5:10.

Hebrews 3:6.

The words “in Christ,” which recur in many other passages, will have a new literalness when read in the light of the above.

 

The Apostle John had a like conception of Christ’s indwelling presence.

1 John 2:28 to 3:6, 24.

1 John 4:4, 12, 13, 16.

1 John 5:20.

 

=God’s Purpose=

As Victory is the result of Christ’s Life lived out in the believer, it is important that we see clearly that Victory, and not defeat, is God’s Purpose for his Children. The Scriptures are very decided upon this truth.

Luke 1:74, 75.

Romans 5:2.

Romans, chaps. 6 and 8.

1 Corinthians 15:57.

2 Corinthians 2:14.

2 Corinthians 10:5.

Ephesians 1:3, 4.

Colossians 4:12.

1 Thessalonians 5:23.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (R.V.).

2 Timothy 2:19.

Titus 2:12.

Hebrews 7:25.

1 Peter 1:15.

2 Peter 3:14.

1 John 2:1.

1 John 3:6, 9.

And many other passages.

That Christ came as the Saviour from the power as well as the penalty of sin we see in Matthew 1:21, with John 8:34, 36, and Titus 2:14.

 

=God’s Provision=

God knew the frailty of man, that his heart was “desperately wicked,” that even his righteousness was “as filthy rags,” that man’s only hope for victory over sin must come from the God-ward side. He, therefore, made kingly provision so rich, so sufficient, so exceeding abundant, that as we study it, we feel we have tapped a mine of wealth, too deep to fathom. Just a few suggestions of its riches:

God’s greatest provision is the gift of a part of His Own Being in the person of the Holy Spirit. The following are but some of the many things the Holy Spirit does for us, as recorded in the Word:

He begets us into the family of God.—John 3:6. He seals or marks us as God’s.—Eph. 1:13. He dwells in us.—1 Cor. 3:16.

He unites us to Christ.—1 Cor. 12:13, 27. He changes us into the likeness of Christ.—2 Cor. 3:18. He helps in prayer.—Rom. 8:26.

He comforts.—John 14:16.

He guides.—Rom. 8:14.

He strengthens with power.—Eph. 3:16.

He is the source of power and fruitfulness.—John 7:38, 39.

 

The Results

Some of the victorious results in our life, as Christ has His way in us, are shown in:

Romans 8:32, 27.

Romans 15:13.

2 Corinthians 9:8, 11.

2 Corinthians 2:14.

Ephesians 1:19.

Ephesians 3:16, 20.

Philippians 4:7, 13, 19.

Colossians 1:11.

1 Peter 1:5.

2 Timothy 3:17.

Jude 24.

John 15:7.

 

Further Study

To the seeker for further Scripture help the writer would suggest a plan that has proved a great blessing to herself.

Read the Psalms through, making careful record of all the statements of what the Lord was to the writers of the Psalms. The list will surprise you. Then on your knees go over them one by one, with the prayer that Christ may be to you what he was to David and the others.

 

Tips for More Study

Take a Cruden’s, or better still a Young’s, concordance and look up the texts under such headings as Love, Fulness, Power, Riches, Grace, etc., grouping them into usable Bible studies. As a sample, taking this last word, “grace”; the more one studies it the more wonderful does it become. Here are some of these headings:

Grace for grace.—John 1:16.

Suf?cient grace.—2 Cor. 12:9.

More Grace.—James 4:6.

All Grace.—2 Cor. 9:8.

Abundant grace.—Rom. 5:17.

Exceeding abundant grace.—1 Tim. 1:14.

Exceeding riches of His grace.—Eph. 2:17.

But let us remember that to simply know of riches will never materially bene?t us. We must make them our own. All fulness dwells in Christ. It is only as we “apprehend” (which means take hold or take in) Christ through the Holy Spirit can it be possible for these spiritual riches to become ours. The slogan of this glorious life in Christ is just “Let go and let God.”