As we live by Christ, His body and blood enter us. Everlasting life enters us. There is no condemnation upon us because we are part of Him. The individual who lives as part of Jesus is always passing from death to life.

Eternal life, which is the goal of the Christian redemption, is Christ. He is the Resurrection and the Life. As we by faith eat His flesh and drink His blood we dwell in Him and He in us. Dwelling in Jesus and He in us is the final result of all the works and actions we have discussed previously.

Resisting sin, heeding the Scriptures, being consecrated and obedient to God, not neglecting our salvation, praying, giving, ministering, receiving ministry, using our talents in the Kingdom, exercising our will, our faith, and our patient and cheerful confidence in the Lord—all have as their goal our dwelling in Jesus and He in us.

Peter sums up the Divine redemption, referring to the indwelling of Jesus as the Day Star that arises in our heart.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy [the Scriptures]; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (II Peter 1:19)

It is as we do what Jesus said, as we obey the commandments He gave to us through His Apostles, that the Father and the Son find Their eternal rest in us.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)

Notice the progression of events:

A man loves Christ.

He keeps Christ's Words: he does what Jesus has commanded be done.

The Father loves His obedient son.

The Father and Jesus come to the faithful servant and make Their eternal dwelling with him.

These are the steps to true eternal life. John 14:23, which reveals the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), portrays what Paul meant by arriving at the first resurrection from among the dead. The experience of John 14:23 is the prerequisite for participation in and the beginning of entrance into the out-resurrection.

All the necessary works we practice are for the purpose of bringing us to the indwelling of the Father and the Son. The careless, disobedient "believer" knows little or nothing of such inner preparation. God has not found him worthy because he has not faithfully kept the Words of Christ. The Father and the Son enter no man until the necessary inner preparations have been made.

All the elements of the Christian pilgrimage, including our tribulations in the world and the various graces and efforts involved in our discipleship, are for the purpose of preparing our inner nature for the abiding of the Father and the Son in us. We are being created the eternal habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22).

To be continued.