I in them, and thou in me. John 17:23. Christ liveth in me. Galatians 2:20.
Luther, on these words, says, "Christ living in me, (who is, as it were, one piece with me) there must by him be grace, righteousness, eternal life, and salvation in me; and law, sin, and death be abolished. There is such a close union between Christ and a believer, as if there were but one person, and never can be separated from one another. Faith, cleaving always to Christ, can boldly say, I am Christ; not personally, but his righteousness, victory, life, and all that he has, is my own; and Christ says again, I am this poor sinner, for having taken his sins and death upon me, they are actually mine." O happy change! Without Christ there is not a moment’s peace, but being in him, and one body with him, who can hurt me and lay any thing to my charge.
O Lord, grant that I may always truly live in thee by faith as in my element. Thou being the Son of God, hast loved and given thyself for me, I can never, never be given over to death and hell.
Why should we start, and fear to die?
What timorous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy.
And yet we dread to enter there.
Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillars are,
While on his breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there.