Lesson 4: Christ Liveth in Me

OBJECTIVES cont’d Examine Galatians 2:20 as a summary of the full operation of salvation—from death to life in Christ. Students should break down the given scripture verse to determine the steps involved in salvation (a) dying with Christ (b) being raised in the newness of life, and (c ) now living as a vessel for His life on earth. Encourage personal application by identifying ways believers must maintain purity and surrender to allow Christ to live through them.

Students should list practical actions and attitudes that help them stay surrendered and allow Christ to live freely through their bodies.

PREPARATION ACTIVITY

4.1 For each statement below, indicate your level of agreement by choosing one of the options:

Reflection Statement 1 2 3 4 5

Isaiah 53:10 mentions key words like pleasure, prolong, prosper, and seed.

Jesus’ days are prolonged on earth through the lives of believers. (Isaiah 53:10; Galatians 2:20)

The last part of salvation is when God raises the body and fills it with Christ. (Romans 8:11;

Colossians 2:12)

Jesus’ days were prolonged mainly because He rose from the dead to live forever. (Romans 6:9)

The second coming of Jesus only means the rapture, not Him living in us now. (John 14:18-20;

Hebrews 9:28)

When we resist the devil, it shows Jesus has power over all flesh. (James 4:7; John 17:2)

Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all believers. (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; John 3:16)

1 Strongly Disagree 2 Disagree 3 Not Sure 4 Agree 5 Strongly Agree Then, refer to the key Scriptures provided to support or clarify your response.

As we continue to unfold the revelation that the new man is a manifestation of Christ in the earth, let us take a moment to ensure we understand the true goal of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

It is significant that, after Jesus died, He then sees His seed, and His days are prolonged. This is noteworthy because death is typically final, allowing no continuance of life. However, though Christ died, He conquered death, being raised to life, indicating a true prolonging of His days.

PROLONGING THE DAYS OF CHRIST

Yet, the prolonging of His days extends even beyond His resurrection, a concept further explored in John 17.

John 17:1&5

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

…

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Here, shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prays that through His death and resurrection, God will glorify Him with the glory He had before the world existed. What was that glory?

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was the Word of God—an omnipresent Spirit not bound by the constraints of time and space. As this omnipresent Spirit, He would be able to dwell in multiple people simultaneously. However, verse two (John 17:2) provides even greater insight into why He desired to be glorified in this manner.

A Birth Certificate for the Body of Christ

1. Imagine that you are creating a spiritual birth certificate not for yourself but for Christ living in you.
2. Using the template below, fill out the certificate to reflect your understanding of what it means for Jesus’ days to be prolonged through your life.

Name of the One Living in This Body Date of New Birth

(Spiritual Birth)

*Purpose for Life on Earth Location of Birth (Where You Received Salvation)

Assigned Body

(Your Name)

Scripture that Confirms This New Life

(Hint: Use Galatians 2:20, Isaiah 53:10, etc.)

4.2

31 1 Corinthians 6:20 and Ephesians 1:14 both indicate that the body—as well as the soul and conscience—were purchased. The precious blood of Jesus was the price used to redeem all flesh to God.

POWER OVER ALL FLESH

John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Initially, when God created body, soul, and spirit, He gave the soul authority to control the flesh. However, when Adam sinned, that authority was transferred to Satan. Through His death on the cross and by paying the penalty for sin, Jesus reclaimed this authority. 31 Now, Jesus has the power to give life to those who were once bound by sin and death.

Romans 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

On the cross, by taking on the sins of the world, Jesus’ body became like all others—a body of sin. The crucifixion of His body symbolized the crucifixion of all sinful flesh. The penalty that should have fallen on our flesh instead fell on His. According to divine law, “the soul that sinneth shall die.” Yet, Jesus, who had never sinned, died, meaning the life He could have lived was cut short. Because His soul was sinless, it could not remain in death. Since the sins of our flesh caused His death, He gained the right to use all flesh for His own purpose. This allows Him to choose to continue living through the vessels He deems fit—thus prolonging His days through them. As this omnipresent Spirit, He would be able to dwell in multiple people simultaneously. However, verse two (John 17:2) provides even greater insight into why He desired to be glorified in this manner.

Reflecting Christ’s Power Over the Flesh Reflect:

How do the following Scriptures show that Christ has power over the flesh—and how is that power seen in your own life?

• Romans 6:12–13 – “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body... Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin…”
• 1 Peter 2:11 – “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

4.3 Reflection on the content of each verse Reflection on how this truth is lived out in your daily walk

32 Page of Introduction to Salvation

33 This is why Isaiah 53:10 states that Jesus will see His seed before mentioning that His days would be prolonged—because His days are prolonged through His seed, the Church.

34This is confirmed by the verses that follow in Hebrews 10, which explain that Jesus needed to come a second time because the law could not bring about the perfection God desired. The chapter then demonstrates how salvation accomplishes in humanity what the law could not. Nowhere in this context does it refer to Bible prophecy.

That He should give eternal life In Course 1, we learned that death is separation from God; 32 therefore, life is fellowship with God. John 17:3 confirms this truth, stating, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Thus, eternal life is more than merely living forever—it is fellowship with God. 1 John 5:11 reveals how one partakes in this eternal life, saying, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Therefore, to partake in eternal life, the soul must be in the Son.

Finally, in John 17:2 we see that Jesus will use His power over all flesh to place His Spirit within anyone who believes in Him, enabling them to have fellowship with God. However, at the moment He was praying, He was in a human body, bound by its constraints. This is why He prayed for the glory He had from the beginning. As the Word of God, He has the ability to place His Spirit in multiple bodies simultaneously. This was the ultimate goal—He desired to multiply. Thus, the prolonging of the days of Christ refers to His continued life through the bodies of believers. 33

JESUS RETURNS AS THE HOLY GHOST

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The Scripture above, though often misunderstood, explains a key aspect of salvation. From it, the phrase “the second coming of Christ” has been coined, typically understood as Christ’s return from heaven to earth on a white horse to establish His kingdom and rule for a thousand years. However, this Scripture actually refers to the moment one receives the Holy Ghost.

Jesus died on the cross and paid for sins, and now, for those who seek His Spirit, He will return to them by entering their lives in the form of the Holy Spirit. 34 This is confirmed in Acts 3:19-20, where it is stated that Jesus Christ will be sent to those who repent.

Acts 3:19-20

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

35 Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Thus, the pouring out of the Holy Ghost is a return of Christ to live on earth through the bodies of believers. This is the Mystery of Christ—Christ Jesus is present within the believers!35

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. I am crucified with Christ: At salvation we died. Our souls were removed from the body of sin, and both were sanctified with the circumcision of Christ.

Nevertheless I live: The soul was placed in the Holy Ghost, creating a new creature, bringing it alive and changing its nature.

Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: The final step in the operation of salvation is the resurrection of the sanctified body. It is brought to life by the entrance of Christ into it.

DIED WITH CHRIST RESURRECTED NEW AND IN CHRIST CHRIST LIVES IN A HOLY FLESH AGAIN

Now, by being in our flesh, Christ once again has access to the earth. Our bodies are members of His—they are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. Jesus will use them to express Himself and to continue His ministry on earth. If we allow Him to live through us, we will qualify to be glorified with Him when He returns. Let us keep ourselves pure and live a surrendered life that allows Christ to live through us. Here are some encouraging scripture verses for you to apply for Christ to be revealed through you every day: (a) Romans 12: 1 (b) 1 Timothy 5:22 (c.) Galatians 5:16; (d) Luke 9:23

Maintaining a Life Where Christ Can Live Freely

Use The Bible Teacher App along with the scripture verses below to identify four encouraging ways believers can maintain purity and live a surrendered life that allows Christ to live through them as He desires.

Scripture References:

(a) Romans 12:1 (b) 1 Timothy 5:22 (c) Galatians 5:16 (d) Luke 9:23

Note, for each scripture verse:

• Write the instruction or principle it gives.
• State how it helps a believer maintain purity and surrender to Christ.

4.4

CONCLUSION

The final lesson brings it all together with the powerful truth that Christ liveth in me. His death paid the penalty for our sin, and His life—now inside our bodies—gives us the ability to walk in true holiness. This is the fulfillment of Isaiah 53: His days are prolonged through His Church, and His ministry continues through vessels made ready by salvation.

We are no longer our own. The same Christ who walked the shores of Galilee, healed the sick, and conquered the grave now lives in us to finish His work. We are not merely believers—we are the visible, living evidence of the risen Christ. Let us carry this truth with sobriety, joy, and devotion, allowing Him to express His life through us until we are glorified with Him forever.

Here are some key points from this lesson that you should remember:

• Christ’s Days Are Prolonged Through Us – The resurrected life of Jesus continues through the bodies of believers.
• Jesus Has Power Over All Flesh – He uses this authority to inhabit and live through human bodies to fulfill God’s pleasure.
• The Second Coming in Salvation – Receiving the Holy Ghost is the return of Christ into the earth in Spirit form.
• Christ Lives in the Believer – The believer is now a vessel of His life, ministry, and nature and has power over sin.
• The Goal: Glorification with Christ – If Christ lives through us now, we will also be glorified with Him in the future.

The self-evaluation serves as a tool for you to examine how you have been applying that which is taught in the lesson for your own life and/or to further probe your knowledge of the lesson. Please answer honestly and thoroughly.

SELF-EVALUATION

1. Why do I believe that Christ is literally living through me right now?
2. How do I see the connection between Christ’s resurrection and His ongoing life in the Church?
3. How easy is it for me to explain how Jesus’ days are prolonged through His indwelling presence in believers?
4. What does it mean for me to truly live “by the faith of the Son of God”?
5. How do I know I am allowing Christ to use my body, voice, and life to continue His ministry in the earth?

EXTENDED STUDY

Task 1

A Challenge on Christ Liveth in Me

Test yourself to see how quickly you can answer the questions below. Aim to complete all the questions in 10 minutes without any support.

1. What does Isaiah 53:10 mean when it says, “He shall prolong His days”?
2. What does Jesus’ authority over all flesh allow Him to do according to John 17:2?
3. What is the meaning of Christ’s “second appearance” in the life of the believer?
4. According to Galatians 2:20, what happens when someone is saved?
5. How can believers allow Christ to live through them each day?
6. Which Scripture shows that Christ lives in the believer through faith?
7. What does it mean that the body is quickened by the Spirit according to Romans 8:11?
8. Why is it important for the believer to maintain purity and surrender?

Task 2

The Challenger on Christ Liveth in Me

(a) Create a table and use it to record the scripture verses used in the lesson.
(b) Analyse the scripture verses identified and extract and record the key concepts or truths from each of them.
(c) Choose at least three of the following strategies to help you remember any four (4) of these scripture verses:

• Create a visual or image
• Make up a song or melody
• Connect the verse to a physical object or location in your home
• Practice meditation on the verse
• Use the verse in prayer

(d) Reflect on and share your experience with others. What helped you remember? How did it deepen your understanding?

Task 3

(a) Review Preparation Activity 4.1 for this lesson and respond to each statement as a True/False item,
(b) If any of the statements is incorrect, modify it to make it true.