Chapter 13: Being Filled with Christ

Chapter 13:

Being Filled with Christ

 

 

 

The theme we have continually reflected on throughout this book has been “emptying.”  We must empty ourselves of pride. We must empty ourselves of greed.  We must empty ourselves of hypocrisy.  We must empty ourselves of falsehood.  We must empty ourselves of hatred.  We must empty ourselves of evil thoughts.  We must empty ourselves of sexual immorality.  We must empty ourselves of resentment.  We must empty ourselves of envy.  But now, at the end, there is a question we absolutely must ask: “Why must we empty ourselves?”  And there is another question: “What must we fill the emptied space with?”  The answer is clear. The purpose of emptying is not to become empty people, but to become people filled with Christ.  It is not enough merely to empty ourselves of the sin, greed, and self-centeredness within us.

 

Emptying itself is not the purpose of the Christian faith.  The Christian life is not about becoming an empty person with no desires, no thoughts, and no emotions.  It is about emptying ourselves of the life in which we live as our own masters and allowing Jesus Christ to become the Lord of our lives.  It is emptying ourselves of the desire to exalt ourselves and living with the humility of Christ.  It is emptying ourselves of the desire to grasp things for ourselves and living with the love of Christ.  It is emptying ourselves of hatred, falsehood, resentment, and envy and living with the mind of Christ.  Therefore, the final question of emptying must always be not, “What has disappeared from within me?” but, “Who is ruling within me now?”  Christian emptying ultimately leads toward a life in which Christ lives within us.

 

It Is a Life in Which It Is No Longer I Who Live, but Christ Who Lives in Me

 

The apostle Paul describes the Christian life this way in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  This verse clearly shows us where the “emptying” discussed throughout this book should lead.  To empty oneself does not mean eliminating one’s existence. Nor does it mean eliminating one’s thoughts, emotions, individuality, or personality.  It does not mean abandoning the gifts and responsibilities God has given us.  Emptying means emptying ourselves of the self-centered desire to be the master of our own lives and allowing Christ to become the Lord of our lives.  Therefore, Paul does not say, “I have disappeared,” but confesses, “Christ lives in me.”  The center of life has now changed.  A person who once asked only, “What do I want?” begins to ask, “Lord, what do You want?”  A person who once insisted that his own thoughts were right begins to ask, “What does the Word of God say?”  A person who once thought only of his own interests begins to ask, “How would Christ love this person?”  A person who once delighted in having his own name recognized begins to ask, “How can Christ be revealed through this?”  This is the change that should appear after emptying.  The purpose of emptying is not for me to disappear, but for the center of my life to move from myself to Christ.

 

We Must Be Filled with the Mind of Christ

 

Philippians 2:5 says: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”  This verse was also the starting point of this book.  Jesus Christ, though He was in very nature God, did not insist on His rights in order to exalt Himself.  Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming like human beings.  He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross.  Therefore, being filled with Christ does not simply mean possessing a great deal of knowledge about Jesus.  It means having the mind of Jesus.  It means learning the humility of Christ.  It means learning the love of Christ.  It means learning the obedience of Christ.  It means learning the forgiveness of Christ.  It means learning the servanthood of Christ.  And it means allowing that mind to be manifested in our homes, churches, and workplaces.  We may study the Bible for many years.  We may possess extensive theological knowledge.  We may hold important positions in the church.  We may even become pastors and teach the Word.  But if that knowledge does not lead us to the mind of Christ, we must examine ourselves again.  We can know much of the Word and still be proud.  We can do much ministry and still seek human recognition.  We can serve in the church and still make life difficult for our families at home.  Therefore, what matters is not simply how much we know. What matters is how much the mind of Christ is being manifested in our lives.

 

The Emptied Space Must Be Filled with the Character of Christ

 

In the preceding chapters, we examined one by one the things within us that must be emptied.   There is no need to explain all of them at length again.  What matters now is what appears in the space that has been emptied.  If we have emptied ourselves of pride, humility should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of greed, contentment and generosity should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of hypocrisy, a life of honesty before God should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of falsehood, truth should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of hatred, love and forgiveness should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of evil thoughts, good and pure thoughts should grow.  If we have emptied ourselves of sexual immorality, holiness and faithfulness should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of resentment, faith and gratitude should appear.  If we have emptied ourselves of envy, love that rejoices in the grace God has given to others should appear.  But we must not think of these things as separate from one another.  Humility, truthfulness, love, holiness, and gratitude are all manifestations of the character of Christ within us.  Therefore, we should not merely ask, “Am I free from pride?”  We should ask, “Is the humility of Christ being manifested in me?”  We should not stop with, “Did I avoid lying?” We should ask, “Is the truthfulness of Christ being manifested in my life?”  We should not stop with, “Do I hate anyone?”  We should ask, “Am I loving people with the love of Christ?”  Emptying is not a passive faith. Nor is it a faith that stops at merely refraining from sin.  Emptying means making room for the life and character of Christ to be increasingly manifested within us.

 

We Must Be Filled with the Word of Christ

 

Then how can we be filled with Christ?  First, the Word of Christ must dwell richly within us.  Paul says in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”  Our hearts are filled with countless words: the words of people, the values of the world, countless thoughts entering through the internet and social media, our own fears and desires, and wounds and memories from the past.  But when the Word of Christ begins to dwell richly within us, our thoughts and judgments begin to change.  The Word sheds light on our thoughts.  It reveals wrong desires.  It exposes hidden pride.  It makes us aware of hatred and envy.  And at the same time, it teaches us what kind of heart we should live with.  Therefore, we must not stop at simply reading the Word.  We must hold the Word in our hearts.  We must meditate on it.  And we must obey it.  “What is God saying to me through this Word today?”  “What must I empty from myself?”  “What must I obey?”  “How can I live out this Word today in my home, church, and workplace?”  We must place ourselves before the Word in this way.  Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt. 11:29).  A person filled with Christ is a person who continually learns from Jesus.

 

The Character of Christ Must Be Manifested Through the Help of the Holy Spirit

 

However, simply knowing the Word and making resolutions does not enable us to become like Christ by our own strength.  We need the help of the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 says: “Be filled with the Spirit.”  And Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  These fruits are not religious appearances that we force ourselves to produce.  They are the fruit of life that appears when the Holy Spirit works within us.  Therefore, we must not rely only on our own strength.  When hatred rises within us, we should not stop at resolving, “I need to love.” We should pray, “Holy Spirit, please help me love this person.”  When resentment rises within us, we should not simply grit our teeth and say, “I must not complain.” We should ask, “Holy Spirit, help me remember God’s grace and give thanks.”  When envy rises within us, we should not stop at rebuking ourselves, saying, “I must not be envious.”  We should pray, “Holy Spirit, give me a heart that can rejoice in the grace You have given to that person.”  A life filled with Christ is not a life spent trying by our own willpower to look like Christ.  It is a life in which we abide in the Word, depend on the Holy Spirit, and offer ourselves to God so that the character of Christ may bear fruit within us.

 

A Person Filled with Christ Serves

 

In Chapter 3 of this book, we examined the life of emptying oneself and serving one’s neighbor as a servant. Now we return once again to that place, because a life filled with Christ is ultimately revealed in relationships.  Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.  He personally wrapped a towel around Himself and descended to the place of a servant.  The mind of Christ was not a mind that exalted itself, but a mind that served.  Therefore, a person filled with Christ asks: Instead of, “Who will recognize me?” — “Whom can I serve today?”  Instead of, “What will I receive?” — “What can I share?”  Instead of, “Why does no one serve me?” — “Whose feet can I wash first?”  We must begin at home.  Treat the family members closest to you with the mind of Christ.  Rather than husbands and wives insisting only on their own positions, listen first.  When you are wrong, apologize.  Do not teach your children faith only with words.  Let them see parents who repent, forgive, and serve.  The same is true in the church.  Instead of seeking a position, look for a place to serve.  Do not do only the things for which people will recognize you.  Do what needs to be done even when no one notices.  Manifest the mind of Christ in the workplace as well.  Do not think only of your own interests; consider the interests of others.  Work honestly.  Do not take advantage of the weak.

Rejoice in the success of others.  Emptying manifests itself in service.  In a person filled with Christ, the servanthood of Christ appears as the fruit of life.

 

Being Filled with Christ Is a Daily, Continuing Life

 

We cannot empty ourselves of all pride through a single decision.  Nor does greed never return simply because we repented once.  Emptying ourselves of hatred today does not mean that we will never be hurt again tomorrow.  Not complaining today does not mean that gratitude will automatically arise tomorrow.  Therefore, emptying is not a one-time event but a daily, continuing process of discipleship.  Every day we must examine our hearts before God.  “What is occupying my heart the most today?”  “What am I holding on to right now?”  “Is there an area in which I am trying to be the master?”  “Have pride, greed, hatred, or resentment entered again?”  Whenever we discover these things, we must bring them before God.  We must repent.  We must empty ourselves again.  And we must be filled with Christ again.  We cannot live today solely on yesterday’s grace.  Today again, we must stand before the Word.  Today again, we must depend on the Holy Spirit.  Today again, we must have the mind of Christ.  Today again, we must love.  Today again, we must forgive.  Today again, we must serve.  Christian emptying is not something completed once and for all. It is a life of following Christ day by day.

 

“He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease”

 

Looking at Jesus, John the Baptist confessed: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30).  These words contain the heart of someone who does not want himself to be at the center but desires Christ to be revealed.  This is also the direction of emptying.  It is for the name of Christ to be revealed rather than my name.  It is rejoicing that God’s will is accomplished rather than my will.  It is rejoicing that Christ is exalted rather than that I am recognized.  Therefore, emptying is not defeat.  Nor does it make my existence worthless.  Rather, it restores the person God created me to the proper place.  When I step down from the place of master and receive Christ as Lord, I can finally live as the person God desires me to be.  The more I try to hold on to myself, the more fearful I become.  The more I try to exalt my own name, the more I compete with others.  The more I try to accomplish my own will, the more I resent things when they do not go my way.  But when I entrust myself to Christ, I become free.  It is all right if someone else rises higher than I do.  It is all right if people do not recognize me.  Even if everything does not happen according to my plans, I can trust God.  Because I am not the lord of my life.  Christ is.  Ultimately, emptying is not losing Christ; it is gaining Christ.

 

Empty Yourself and Be Filled with Christ

 

Now we must ask ourselves again: “What must I empty?”  But do not stop there.  Ask the more important question: “What am I filled with right now?”  Is my heart filled with worry?  Is it filled with the desire for human recognition?  Is it filled with desires for money and success?  Is it filled with wounds and hatred?  Is it filled with comparison and envy?  Or is it filled with the Word and love of Christ?  Our goal is not to become empty people.  Our goal is to become people filled with Christ.  Let the Word of Christ dwell richly within you.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Have the mind of Christ.  Love people with the love of Christ.  Forgive with the forgiveness of Christ.  Serve with the humility of Christ.  And let Christ be revealed through our lives.  Reveal Christ in your home.  Reveal Christ in the church.  Reveal Christ in your workplace.  When people meet us, let them see the love of Christ rather than our boasting.  Let them see Christ in our words.  Let them see Christ in our choices.  Let them see Christ in our service.  Let our entire lives make this confession: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principles and Practical Guidelines for

“Being Filled with Christ”

 

 

 

The purpose of emptying is not to become an empty person, but to be filled with Christ.  Therefore, the Christian life must not remain focused only on the question, “What will I not do?”  We must ask, “How will I allow Christ to live in me today?”

 

1.      Examine Daily Who Is the Lord of Your Life

 

The first question of a life filled with Christ is this: “Who is the Lord of my life right now?”  When making an important decision, do not stop with, “What do I want?”  Ask: “What does the Lord want?”  At home, in church, and at work, do not allow your own thoughts and emotions to become the final standard.  As you begin your day, pray: “Lord, do not let me try to become the master of my own life today.  Help me follow Your Word rather than my thoughts, and seek Your will rather than my own.”

 

2.      Abide in Christ Through the Word and Prayer

 

The Word of Christ must dwell richly within us.  Read the Word.  Meditate on it.  Pray.  And obey.  After reading the Word, ask: “What is God showing me through this Word today?”  “What must I empty?”  “What must I obey?”  “To whom must I live out this Word today?”  The Word must not merely be material for accumulating knowledge. It must be the Word of God that governs our thoughts and our lives.

 

3.      Seek the Help of the Holy Spirit Every Day

 

We cannot produce the character of Christ by our own strength.  When you need love, ask the Holy Spirit for love.  When you need patience, ask the Holy Spirit for help.  When resentment rises, ask for gratitude.  When envy rises, ask for a heart that rejoices with others.  When hatred rises, ask for strength to forgive.  When you are tempted, ask for a way of escape and the strength of self-control.  A life filled with Christ is not a life that boasts in its own strength, but a life that depends on the Holy Spirit

4.      Treat Those Closest to You with the Mind of Christ

 

Whether the mind of Christ is truly within us is revealed in how we treat those closest to us.  Begin at home.  Listen to your spouse.  If you have done wrong, apologize.  If you became angry with your children, do not hide behind parental authority; acknowledge your wrongdoing.  In the church, do not use people; serve them.  At work, choose honesty over profit.  Respect those who are weaker than you.  Do not quickly judge those who think differently from you.  The mind of Christ must not merely be confessed with words; it must be manifested in relationships.

 

5.      Practice Small Acts of Service Every Day

 

As you begin your day, ask: “Whom can I serve today?”  It does not have to be something grand.  Listening to a family member, contacting someone who is struggling, helping someone in need, joyfully doing work no one notices, congratulating someone else on their success, and praying for someone you find difficult to forgive are all acts of service.  A person filled with Christ desires the love of Christ to flow through them more than they desire to leave behind their own name.

 

6.      At the End of Each Day, Examine What Filled Your Life

 

At the end of the day, spend a moment before God.  “What occupied my heart the most today?”  “Were there moments today when I tried to live as the master?”  “Was the mind of Christ manifested in my words and actions?”  “Whom did I love and serve today?”  “Have pride, greed, hatred, resentment, or envy entered again?”  “What grace did God give me today?”  If you see sin, do not hide it.  Repent.  If you see grace, give thanks.  And look again to Christ.  But there is something we must remember before all these practices.  Being filled with Christ is not an attempt to make ourselves better people through our own effort.  Everything begins with the grace of God.  God is the One who first loved us.  Christ is the One who saved us.  The Holy Spirit is the One who works within us.   Therefore, we do not boast in our own strength.  We seek grace.  We depend on the Holy Spirit.  And every day we offer ourselves to Christ.  We can pray: “Lord, today again, empty me of the desire to occupy the place of master, and fill me with Christ. Help me follow Your Word rather than my thoughts, and seek Your will rather than my own.  Let the Word of Christ dwell richly within me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit.  Let the humility, love, truthfulness, and holiness of Christ be manifested in my life.  In my home, church, and workplace, let me reveal Christ rather than myself, and let me rejoice more in Christ being exalted than in my own exaltation.  Let me live a life in which it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.”

The purpose of emptying is not to become an empty person.  It is to become a person filled with Christ.  Emptying is not hating myself.  It is emptying myself of the desire to be the master and receiving Christ as Lord.  Emptying is not a life of doing nothing.  It is a life of loving and serving with the mind of Christ.  Therefore, empty yourself every day.  Be filled with the Word every day.  Depend on the Holy Spirit every day.  Have the mind of Christ every day.  And serve people with the love of Christ.  A life in which my desire to be the master is emptied and Christ is increasingly and clearly revealed as the Lord of my life.  A life in which it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  This is the path of “emptying” that we are called to walk.