“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17).
This was Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians – that Christ would dwell in their hearts. What did this mean for them? What does it mean for us today?
In many ways, this is similar to the question about how the Holy Spirit dwells in us. If we understand one, we will understand the other. Does Jesus dwell in us literally, directly, and personally? Many affirm this for the Holy Spirit. Yet as we will see, Christ dwells in us in the same way the Spirit does.
It is important to note that Paul was writing to Christians. He addressed this letter to “the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). His prayer for these Christians was for Christ to dwell in their hearts. This is very different from the denominational concept of one inviting Jesus into his heart. If this concept was valid, we should expect Paul to write to non-Christians about his desire for Christ to dwell in their hearts. Instead, he wrote this to Christians. Christians were to let Christ dwell in their hearts. How? It would be “through faith.”
When Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, he told the brethren, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). This would produce certain actions on their part:
- They would sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16).
- Wives would be subject to their husbands (Colossians 3:18).
- Husbands would love their wives (Colossians 3:19).
- Children would be obedient to their parents (Colossians 3:20).
- Fathers would not provoke their children (Colossians 3:21).
- Slaves would be obedient to their masters (Colossians 3:22-25).
- Masters would treat their slaves fairly (Colossians 4:1).
In a parallel passage, Paul explained how being “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) would produce the same actions on the part of Christians:
- They would sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).
- Wives would be subject to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24).
- Husbands would love their wives (Ephesians 5:25-28).
- Children would be obedient to their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).
- Fathers would not provoke their children (Ephesians 6:4).
- Slaves would be obedient to their masters (Ephesians 6:5-8).
- Masters would treat their slaves fairly (Ephesians 6:9).
The comparison is obvious. We are “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) – meaning we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us – as the “word of Christ…[dwells] within [us]” (Colossians 3:16). The Holy Spirit does not dwell in the Christian literally, directly, or personally. Rather, the Holy Spirit dwells in us through the word.
How does this relate to our consideration of how Christ dwells in our hearts? It is key that we remember that Christ dwells in our hearts “through faith” (Ephesians 3:17).
Under the new covenant – which we are currently under – the law of God would be written on the hearts of His people (Hebrews 8:10). This word that is written on our hearts is the source of faith. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The message preached by the apostles – and that we must continue to preach today – is “the word of faith” (Romans 10:8).
Notice again what Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17). How would Christ dwell in their hearts? He would do so through faith (Ephesians 3:17). What is the source of faith? Faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17). Where would the word of God be written? It would be written on their hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Therefore, as we put everything together, we can conclude that as the word of God is in our hearts, Christ dwells in our hearts as well.
If we want Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith, we must accept His word in faith and allow His word to guide us through life.
