Topical Bible: Faith: Produces Christ Dwells in the Heart By

◄ Faith: Produces Christ Dwells in the Heart By ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Faith, a central tenet of Christian doctrine, is the means by which believers experience the indwelling presence of Christ in their hearts. This profound spiritual truth is rooted in the teachings of the New Testament and is essential for understanding the transformative power of faith in the life of a believer.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, articulates the relationship between faith and the indwelling of Christ. Ephesians 3:17 states, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love," . This passage highlights that it is through faith that Christ takes up residence in the believer's heart, establishing a personal and intimate relationship with the Savior.

Nature of Faith

Faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see" . It is a confident trust in God and His promises, even when they are not visible to the human eye. This assurance and certainty are not based on empirical evidence but on the reliability of God's character and His Word.

Transformative Power

The indwelling of Christ through faith is not merely a theological concept but a transformative reality. When Christ dwells in the heart, the believer experiences a profound change in character and conduct. Galatians 2:20 illustrates this transformation: "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" . This verse underscores the idea that faith in Christ results in a new way of living, characterized by the presence and power of Christ within.

Faith and Love

The indwelling of Christ through faith is intrinsically linked to love. As Ephesians 3:17 suggests, being "rooted and grounded in love" is a natural outcome of Christ dwelling in the heart. This love is both a response to the love of Christ and a reflection of His love to others. It is through faith that believers are empowered to love God and their neighbors, fulfilling the greatest commandments as taught by Jesus (Matthew 22:37-39).

Faith as a Gift

Faith itself is a gift from God, as noted in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" . This passage emphasizes that faith is not a human achievement but a divine gift, enabling believers to receive Christ and experience His indwelling presence.

Conclusion

The concept of faith producing the indwelling of Christ in the heart is a profound and essential aspect of Christian theology. It underscores the transformative power of faith, the intimate relationship between the believer and Christ, and the resulting life of love and obedience. Through faith, believers are united with Christ, experiencing His presence and power in their daily lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Indwelling Christ
... you keep Him there by a faith which produces ... own love, and that, consciously received,
produces a corresponding ... Where Christ dwells in the heart, love will be ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the indwelling christ.htm

"Let not Your Heart be Troubled"
... be an apparent connection with Christ without a real union with Him by faith. ... of
the mouth of God." Matt.4:4. The life of Christ in you produces the same ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 73 let not your.htm

Creed of the Free Christian Church in Italy.
... is communicated by the Holy Spirit, who regenerates the sinner, unites him to Christ
by faith, comes and dwells in him, produces peace in his heart, giving him ...
/.../creed of the free christian.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our ... word, which is an incorruptible seed,
produces fruit similar ... he cannot gain the heart where faith dwells, he is ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

Prayer and Obedience (Continued)
... and makes us beneficiaries of the wealth of Christ, and of ... faith, but with obedience,
which is faith's foundation ... Disobedient living produces mighty poor praying ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/x prayer and obedience continued.htm

Filled with the Spirit
... is all very well to talk about faith as the ... which by reason of its familiarity produces
little effect ... we are simply trusting ourselves to Jesus Christ our Lord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/filled with the spirit.htm

Of the Nature of Regeneration, with Respect to the Change it ...
... REGENERATION, WITH RESPECT TO THE CHANGE IT PRODUCES IN MEN'S ... they are growing toward
the full assurance of faith. ... 12:32;) and the love of Christ constrains him ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/discourse iii of the nature.htm

Saving Faith
... felonious boastings, and on the other hand produces in us a ... Imitate her faith itself,
though you cannot actually copy ... walk without a guide he took Christ to be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/saving faith.htm

The Man About whom the Apostle is Here Treating, do Far as He Is ...
... predominant flesh and of sin which dwells in his ... the same Spirit sealed on the heart,
produces faith within us ... by which we are united to Christ; that, holding ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/the man about whom the.htm

What Children of Light Should Be
... No sunshine, no flowers; darkness produces thin, etiolated, whitened ... of the light
of which our faith makes us ... Christ dwells in our hearts, but we have to work ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/what children of light should.htm