63 - Thomas – “How do I know the Spirit of Christ is in me?”
“Dear Michael, I’m stuck on day four of the John 7:17 challenge and I don’t feel I can go on until I understand your statement on page 27 of the book where you write, “The Spirit of Christ in me is stronger than my sin nature, and I access that power, grace, through daily humble dependence on God. As a result, I am able to no longer do what I, my earthly or sin nature, wants to do.”
Michael, for years I have struggled with sexual and financial sin. It’s only of recent that I’m starting to understand that we need God’s help to overcome the flesh, the faith, or Spirit of Jesus. I have invited Him into my life, but I don’t understand how to access this grace of God. What does this grace really feel like? Does it change your desire? Does it give you more power? How do I perceive this grace? And what do you mean exactly by humble dependence?
I admit, I cannot overcome. I have confessed to the Lord, I cannot overcome. Is this the humility that you’re talking about? And another thing, you said, quote, “The Spirit of Christ in me is stronger than my sin nature.” Michael, how do I know the Spirit of Christ is in me? The furthest I have gone is to just invite Him to come into my life, and I was told that I am to accept by faith, not by feeling or fleshy evidence that He has come in. But I don’t experience or discern anything in me that is stronger than my sin nature. Am I to wait for the witness?”
The Inner Witness: Experiencing God's Grace of Salvation by Faith
Have you ever felt like you're going through the motions of your Christian faith but not truly experiencing God's power? Have you even wondered, like Thomas in today’s recording, how you can know if the Spirit of Jesus Christ is really in you? Tragically, it is so easy today to have the Bible intellectually, while our hearts remain unchanged, and our souls unsaved. The key to unlocking salvation and the abundant life Jesus promised lies in understanding and embracing God's grace through faith, not through simply embracing and assimilating into Christianity.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:16, tells us "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit, that we are God’s children." This inner witness is not a feeling or emotion, but a deep-seated assurance, an inner knowing of God's presence and power working within us, in accord with God’s word. It's the realization that the Spirit of Christ in us is stronger than our sin nature (Romans 8:9).
But how do we access this grace? It's not through our learning or good works, but through humble dependence on God, through faith. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them" (John 6:44). We must acknowledge our inability to overcome sin on our own and cry out to God for help. This humility opens the door for God's grace to flood our lives.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, wrestled with this very issue. Despite his religious zeal and good works, he lacked the inner witness and peace of salvation. It wasn't until he heard Martin Luther's commentary on Romans, emphasizing salvation by faith alone, that the light of God's grace flashed in his heart. He realized that true faith is not merely intellectual assent, but a heart-level trust in Jesus Christ.
Like Wesley, we must move beyond simply knowing about God to truly knowing Him. This comes through receiving the gift of faith, surrendering our lives to Jesus as Lord, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. As we walk in humble dependence on God, we will begin to experience the incredible joy, peace, and power of His grace. This is not an easy path, but it is the path to true life in Christ.
