INWARD SUBSTITUTION

By: James M. Campbell

Christian thought has concerned itself almost exclusively with the idea of outward substitution; that is, the substitution of the sufferings of death of Christ for man's offenses. It has looked upon Christ as taking the sinner's place; being wounded for his transgressions, and bruised for his iniquities; but has in too large a measure overlooked the equally important doctrine of inward substitution; that is, the substitution of Christ for self, the substitution of the new man for the old man, the substitution of Christ's will for man's will, of Christ's power for man's impotence, of Christ's righteousness for man's sinfulness. With the idea of Christ taking the sinner's place ought to be connected the idea of Christ taking His place in the sinner.

Laying bare the hidden spring of action within his own breast, Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal. 2:20)

In this inward substitution a change of spiritual center is involved. When the old life-center of selfishness is destroyed, a new life-center of heaven-born love is formed. Henceforth there is within the soul a new principle of action; a new source of authority is acknowledged; a new King sits upon a throne. Self sinks out of sight, and no man is seen "save Jesus only." Said the great German reformer, "Should any one knock at my breast and say, Who lives here?' I should reply, 'Not Martin Luther, but the Lord Jesus."' Is not every Christian heart a house in which Christ lives, a house in which He is Master? Every one in whose heart Christ is Master of the house, can say, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me." His old life has become a thing of the past; no longer does he call himself his own; no longer does he seek his own ends in life; no longer does he workout from self as a center, or work in to self as a center. Christ is now the Lord of his life; every thing within him is under His control; he has no interests separate from His; he holds himself in constant readiness to carry out His slightest wish; whereas once he proudly said, "Not His will but mine be done;" now he meekly says, "Not my will but His be done." The indwelling Christ is the center from which he allows Christ's character to be worked out; the center to which he allows Christ's character to be worked into his behavior; he lives from Christ; he lives for Christ.

From: The Indwelling Christ. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company. 1895.