THE INDWELLING LIFE OF CHRIST
by Major W Ian Thomas
Month of review, May 2020
How do we live as christians? Many times, we tried to improve ourselves, but change won’t last. Other times, we tried to know God, read God’s word, and even pray, still, not too much change. The author tells us that the secret of Christian life is to constantly die to ourselves and live to God. we need to be united in Christ in his death and resurrection. it is a painful realization that without Him, we cannot do anything, and we cannot become and grow to be a mature Christian without Christ.
This book uses lots of metaphors and parables to illustrate the point. This is its strength. If the author can include more real and recent examples, it would be even better.
Still, it is an excellent book to read and we need to constantly remind ourselves that without Christ, we can not be a Christian. the only way is to let Him.
Question | Answer | Reference |
Can we find God on earth? | Suppose aliens come to earth with a mission to find God, but most of what they see are brokenness, evil doing, and etc. Truth is that we were made in the image of God, but we all fall short of God’s glory. | Chapter 1 |
Why does a human being need God to be functional? | Because we were made that way. Man cannot produce righteousness on his own Holy spirit to man is like oil to a lamp | Chapter 3 |
What is Righteousness? | Righteousness is doing right in God’s eyes | Chapter 6 |
What is death? What life did Adam lose that day? | The death is the absence of God. Adam lost the life of God on the day he disobeyed. On that day, Adam lost trust on God, choose to be independent, and not obey. | Chapter 8 |
Who is your parent? devil or God | He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning Whoever has been born of God does not sin. | Chapter 9 |
Do you try to live your life with your own strength? | Are you foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? | Chapter 10 |
What really is sin? | Sin is anything which falls short of His perfection. | Chapter 12 |
What is eternal life? | And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true and real God, and to know Him, Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. | Chapter 15 |
What is real spirituality? | Jesus said, I always do those things that please Him. John 8:29 | Chapter 19 |
What is Nicodemus’ conclusion about Jesus? | For no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. John 3:2 Jesus is exceptional and he is THE exception. | Chapter 21 |
When should we tell others about Jesus? | Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead” I think a common mistake that Christians make is that we usually tell people too early and too incomplete when we ourselves have not known Christ enough and we thought we know, but really we do not know. That is actually a danger. | Chapter 25 |
Are you trying to do the impossbile with your flesh? | The answer is yes if you rely on flesh. The character does not change for the better by “improving the flesh”, but only by allowing it to be replaced by the Holy Spirit. | Chapter 26 |
What is the true rest? | To “let go and to let God” is not INACTIVITY, but Christ -activity – God in action accomplishing divine purposes through human personality. | Chapter 29 |
What does faith mean? | Faith means letting him. You will never let him until you are prepared to admit that you cannot and only God can. O Lord my God, in you I put my trust. Psalm 7:1 | Chapter 32 |
In which 2 ways we have been united with Christ? | For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. | Chapter 36 |
How does Christ and me interact with each other? | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me | Chapter 37 |
What is the price you must pay if you want to be raised from the dead to live. | The willingness to die to your old self. | Chapter 39 |
What is so unique about men, compared to other creations? | It is that men has the capacity to choose Him | Chapter 40 |
How can we benefit from the word of God? | The answer is “faith”. But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it | Chapter 41 |
Do you follow conscience of convenience or a conscience of conviction? | A conscience of conviction determines what is morally right or wrong. Repent; turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord | Chapter 45 |
When can you say you become a Christian? | In chapter 9 of the book of John, a blind man gradually came to know him, until at last, he said, “Lord, I believe!” | Chapter 46 |
How can we enable others to meet Jesus through us? | It must become patently obvious to people around you that the kind of life you are living is not only commendable, but beyond all human explanation The love of Chriist compels us. 2 Corinthians 5:14 | Chapter 47 |
How could we do evangelism? | We should offer ourselves to God so that the light can shine in the darkness just as moon offer himself to the sun to reflect the sunlight | Chapter 48 |
What is the reputation of the early believers? | Incorrigibly happy, utterly unafraid, and nearly always in trouble. | Chapter 49 |
Final decision? | Arise and go, when called by Jesus. | Chapter 50 |