You Cannot Live the Christian Life — Christ Lives It Through You (July 1988 Part 2)

What if the greatest breakthrough in the Christian life is realizing you cannot live it?

In this message, a profound and liberating truth is uncovered: the Christian life is not something you achieve through effort, discipline, or religious striving. It is not built on trying harder, doing more, or becoming better. In fact, the entire premise that you can live the Christian life is exposed as false.

Instead, the Christian life is rooted in something far deeper—something eternal.

Before creation, within the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Spirit, there was already a life being lived. The Son did not live independently but drew everything from the Father—life, love, and being. That same divine life is the only life capable of living what we call the Christian life today.

This message shifts the focus away from performance and places it squarely on participation. You are not called to imitate Christ externally, but to share in His life internally. The same relationship the Son had with the Father is now extended to you. What the Father was to Christ, Christ is now to you.

That changes everything.

It means the pressure lifts. The striving ends. The guilt that comes from trying—and failing—to live up to spiritual expectations begins to dissolve. The Christian life becomes less about effort and more about receiving. Less about doing, more about abiding.

You are invited into a living fellowship—a divine exchange of life, love, and communion. This is not symbolic or theoretical. It is a present, spiritual reality. The life flows from the Father, through the Son, and into you.

And from there, something remarkable happens.

You begin to live—not by your strength—but by His.

This message also expands that vision beyond the individual. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. It is shared within the body of Christ—a living, breathing fellowship where believers participate together in the life of God.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to be a better Christian, this message may bring a surprising kind of rest.

Not because the calling is lowered…
but because the source is finally revealed.

Ottawa Conference Part 2