“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
(1 John 4:10)
What cause for thanksgiving can compare to this—that Christ, the Son of God, dwells in the believer! That the eternal, almighty, holy God, through His Son, takes up residence within sinners made righteous by grace. And yet, how often do we forget such a reality? How easily do we grow accustomed to this most astonishing truth? “Now all grace is made ready to our hands, and is only the work of Jesus Christ in us, who worketh all our works for us.”[1]
Jesus Christ, who is the radiance of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person, is the very One who indwells us by His Spirit. He is the One “by whom all things were made,” the One upholding all things by the word of His power, and the One who, in due time, took on flesh and dwelt among us (1 Tim. 3:16). And He, being ascended and glorified, now resides not in a temple made with hands, but in the hearts of His people.
When we received Him, we did not merely receive help, we received Him… and with Him the fullness of God. His righteousness was imputed to us, for “he hath made him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). His perfect obedience to the law was credited to our account. We stand before the holy God accepted and justified by His merit alone. For He is, as Jeremiah prophesied, “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer. 23:6).
The love of God that is in Christ is also ours because Christ, the embodiment of God’s love, now abides in us, and we are privileged to walk in that love and know it intimately.
The mercy of God in Christ is also ours. And so, those who are in Christ have that mercy in abundance. John Flavel noted rightly that mercy is found nowhere but in Christ, and apart from Him, the sinner must expect nothing but judgment. But with Christ, mercy flows like a river—unceasing, sufficient, and strong enough to overcome the greatest guilt. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6), and this, because Christ, in whom mercy dwells, is in me.
Moreover, all the saving power of God resides in Christ. Salvation is found in no other, and those who possess Christ possess salvation. He is the door, and faith is the key. If one does not receive Him as He is offered in the Gospel, he remains outside, without God and without hope. But to those who do receive Him, to them He gives the right to become sons of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. In such souls, the light of God’s glory shines, and they are made temples of the living God.
This indwelling Christ is the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily, and His Spirit communicates to us all spiritual blessings. He is the Lord of righteousness, the wellspring of love, the fount of mercy, and the power of salvation—all residing within us. We ought not live as beggars when such a treasure has been given to us. We ought to walk in thankfulness, live in holiness, and press forward in faith.
The believer is never alone for the Almighty dwells within. The Spirit bears witness to this truth. The promises of God confirm it. The Word of God instructs us in it. And the cross of Christ makes it possible. Oh, what thanks we owe to God for the gift of Christ, not only for us, but in us.
Contemplations:
- Christ, My Righteousness. I give thanks, Lord, that Your Son’s righteousness is mine in Him. You have clothed me with the perfect garments of Christ’s obedience. I could never earn such a standing, much less maintain it. But He has secured it eternally. Let me never forget that I am accepted not because of what I’ve done, but because of who Christ is… and that He lives in me.
- Indwelt by Love. I marvel that the love of God has taken up residence in me through Christ. Your love pursued me while I was yet a sinner. That love sent Christ to the cross, and that love now abides within me. What security, what joy, what purpose I find in knowing that divine love dwells in me, not merely to comfort, but to change me from the inside out.
- Mercy Found in Christ Alone. I thank You, Father, that You have not hidden mercy behind rituals or human striving, but have made it fully available in Christ. Outside of Him, there is no mercy. But in Him, mercy overflows.
- The Gift of Fullness. Lord, You did not give me a portion of salvation nor a taste of blessing. You gave me Christ. And in Him dwells all righteousness, love, mercy, and power. I lack nothing, for He lives in me. Let me not live as if I am poor when I am rich. Let me not seek from the world what I already possess in Him. Let my heart be thankful every hour for such a treasure.
Prayer (Thanksgiving):
Gracious and eternal Father, with full hearts we thank You for the unspeakable gift of Christ in us. It is not enough that Christ came to dwell among men; because of Your mercy He now dwells within us. The very God of heaven, through Your Son, lives within all who believe.
Thank You, Lord, that You did not wait for us to love You. In our rebellion, blindness, and ruin, You loved us first. You gave Your Son, not only to walk among men, but to die as the propitiation for our sins. He satisfied justice, fulfilled the Law, bore our curse, and by His blood made peace.
We praise You that when we received Christ, we received more than forgiveness; we received the fullness of God in Him. His righteousness became ours. His love surrounded us; His mercy met our need. His power broke our chains. And now, His presence sanctifies our souls. Thank You, Father, for giving us such a complete salvation.
We thank You that our justification rests not in our performance, but in Christ’s perfection. We thank You that Your love does not grow weary. We thank You that Your mercy reaches down into our lowest estate. And we thank You that the power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work in us.
May our lives be songs of gratitude. Help us not let a day go by in which we forget this mercy. Let our thoughts, our prayers, our words, and our actions reflect the wonder of Christ in us. Make us mindful that we are not our own, for we are indwelt by the Holy One. Let us live as those who are bought with a price.
Finally, Lord, thank You for not leaving us to navigate this life alone. Christ, our Shepherd, leads us. Christ, our King, reigns in us. Christ, our High Priest, intercedes for us. And Christ, our very Life, lives within us. For such grace, we offer our deepest thanks.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 1 John 4:10:
Rom. 5:8; 1 John 2:2; Rom. 3:25; 2 Cor. 5:19; Deut. 7:7; 2 Cor. 5:18.
[1] Christopher Love, Grace: The Truth and Growth and Different Degrees Thereof, (London: printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell, at Sun and Fountain in Paul’s Church-yard, 1652), 188.
