Christ in You: The Hope of Glory Incarnate

Benjamin Beddome, M.A., identified three dimensions of Christos en humin—Christ dwelling within us. First, Christ in us is the foundation of our hope, elected before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:3–4; 1 Timothy 1:9). Second, Christ in us nourishes that hope: "Greater is He that is in you" (1 John 4:4). Third, Christ in us serves as the pledge and earnest of glory—the distinction between charis, the life of grace we possess now, and the doxa, the hope of glory we shall inherit.

Isaac Pitt, facing death from rheumatic gout, demonstrated this truth when physicians declared, "There is no hope." Yet Pitt replied: "I should like you to do all you can; but if not successful, I have hope. A ransom has been provided, a Saviour has been sent: I accept the ransom, I believe in the Saviour." When earthly medicine fails, the hope of glory anchors the soul.

David Hume, the skeptical historian, challenged his servant John: "If Christ be in heaven, how can He be in you? He cannot be in two places at once." John responded with Hume's own History of England, recalling how "Bloody Mary" said on her deathbed, "When I die, take out my heart, and you will find Calais written on it." John concluded: "What is Calais written on Mary's heart, than Christ on mine? Take out my heart, and you will find Christ written on it."