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The Saving Life of Christ: You Can Have a Dynamic Faith and Victorious Spiritual Life
"This book is simply written and will be of much help to new converts and defeated Christians in starting them off to a victorious spiritual life." -- Bibliotheca Sacra "Major Thomas points out how many dedicated people, ministers, Sunday school teachers, and the like, have come out of the old life but never gone on to the full, joyous life in Christ. He writes with fresh insight into many Bible passages, and challenges Christians to walk on and take the victory that is already won." -- Faith at Work ". . . a very inspiring and helpful book." -- Baptist Standard "This is one of the most helpful treatments of a neglected subject which has come to this reviewer's attention." --The Baptist Bulletin ". . . the author evidences keen insight into the definition and activity of the two natures of the believer and the path to victory. This path is explained with refreshing theological objectivity." --The Sunday School Times "A deeply spiritual study of the doctrine of the indwelling Christ. . . . Complete surrender is our need that Christ may live through us. We found the book helpful and enriching." -- The Southern Baptist S.S. Board
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
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510 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 17, 2012
This book is revolutionary. It shouldn't be. It's all right there -- in scripture. But I have forgotten that "we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5:10)
We shall be saved by his life!
His death paid for our sins, yes. But eternal life doesn't begin someday. His resurrection made it possible for Him to now live in us continually and for us to experience Him.
Major Ian Thomas reminded me that "Christ did not die simply that [I] might be saved from a bad conscience... but to 'clear the decks' for divine action."
One of my favorite quotes from the book: "We have begun to see that victorious Christian living is not a method or technique; it is an entirely different, revolutionary principle of life. It is the principle of an exchanged life -- '...not I, but Christ liveth in me' (Gal. 2:20).
I would like to explore with you what is the true spiritual content of our Gospel--not just heaven one day, but Christ right now!"
Thomas explains that the best Bible commentary is the Bible itself, so he gives a wonderful example about the children of Isreal leaving Egypt, only to wander in the wilderness for 40 years before they were able to enter into Canaan. Just because they left Egypt, doesn't mean they entered the new life that was prepared for them!
He goes on to unfold their journey out of Egypt, including crossing over the Red Sea, was a picture of death. "We may understand again, therefore, from this picture, that God's purpose in the cross of Jesus Christ was two-fold: first that we might be forgiven, being saved from sin's penalty because Christ died for us, and secondly, that we might be delivered from sin's power, because this old sinful nature, called the flesh, died with Him.
We shall be saved by his life!
His death paid for our sins, yes. But eternal life doesn't begin someday. His resurrection made it possible for Him to now live in us continually and for us to experience Him.
Major Ian Thomas reminded me that "Christ did not die simply that [I] might be saved from a bad conscience... but to 'clear the decks' for divine action."
One of my favorite quotes from the book: "We have begun to see that victorious Christian living is not a method or technique; it is an entirely different, revolutionary principle of life. It is the principle of an exchanged life -- '...not I, but Christ liveth in me' (Gal. 2:20).
I would like to explore with you what is the true spiritual content of our Gospel--not just heaven one day, but Christ right now!"
Thomas explains that the best Bible commentary is the Bible itself, so he gives a wonderful example about the children of Isreal leaving Egypt, only to wander in the wilderness for 40 years before they were able to enter into Canaan. Just because they left Egypt, doesn't mean they entered the new life that was prepared for them!
He goes on to unfold their journey out of Egypt, including crossing over the Red Sea, was a picture of death. "We may understand again, therefore, from this picture, that God's purpose in the cross of Jesus Christ was two-fold: first that we might be forgiven, being saved from sin's penalty because Christ died for us, and secondly, that we might be delivered from sin's power, because this old sinful nature, called the flesh, died with Him.
November 25, 2010
This book has seriously revolutionized my life. My relationship with God, people, and myself has radically changed. I highly recommend it to all Christians, old and new. SOOOOO GOOOOOD.
December 21, 2025
This book expanded my view of what the Holy Spirit has to teach us through the Old Testament, and it expanded my understanding of what eternal Life is—Jesus Himself indwelling us and living His Life through us.
February 23, 2015
Major Thomas illustrates the gospel through the exodus. He exalted Christ and encouraged readers to not just be saved by Christ but to have life in Christ.
April 9, 2025
This book gets you amped up. When you truly give your life to Christ you get that same power that rose him from the dead. Get out of the “wilderness” and into the “saving life.” W. Ian Thomas beautifully explains the life, purpose, and saving power of Jesus that is offered to us.
Definitely a deep read, but well worth the time. 10/10 would recommend to any Christian wanting to get jazzed up about the Gospel and lean into a more purposeful life!
Definitely a deep read, but well worth the time. 10/10 would recommend to any Christian wanting to get jazzed up about the Gospel and lean into a more purposeful life!
January 14, 2016
There are statements and points in this book that I agree wholeheartedly with, especially those that point to our need to experience God's power to live out the Christian life. However, the framework (a Keswick view of sanctification), the almost total reliance on allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures, and a very overrealized vision of how much "victory" Christians may have in this life, all combined to make this an unhelpful book.
March 9, 2022
I found several helpful points in this book. Some statements gave good food for thought. I had a difficult time moving past the overall view of the author's view of sanctification. It has a heavy slant to what I would term Keswick theology, which includes the thought one can profess to be a Christian and not bear fruit. Some of his 'wilderness' writing seemed allegorical. The authors' sprinkling of new birth meaning and Christ is a Christian's strength is encouraging, but the overshadowing of the two-tier sanctification process affected my view of the book in its entirety.
August 11, 2014
I happened upon this unassuming looking little book recently, yellowed with age but packed with timeless spiritual wisdom for any generation—at least as pertinent now as when it was written.
Mr. Thomas is passionate that Christians discover the empowerment for life and ministry that God intended in sending Jesus not only to die for them but to live in them. He is concerned with evangelistic efforts that produce converts oblivious to the source of their new life. His words are challenging:
“Ignoring what they say, and what they sing, and what they pray, countless Christians live as though God were dead—and the Church of Jesus Christ needs above everything else to re-discover the fact God is alive, and to act as though He were!
“Suppose that God were to die tonight! Would it really make any difference to the way you live your Christian life tomorrow? For all you really count upon Him as you go about your daily business…”(124)
The author’s own experience as a young believer was one of fiery zeal to do things for God but lacking in any real ‘fruit’. Only when he had burned out did he come to understand that Christ intends to live His life through the believer in a very literal sense—“Christ [who is] your life…”(Col.3:4). His ministry was transformed. Jesus Himself said, “Without me you can do nothing.” (Jn.15:5) and with his wry sense of humor Thomas amplifies: “How much can you do without Him? Nothing! So what is everything you do without Him? Nothing! It is amazing how busy you can be doing nothing!” (142)
What I found most fascinating about this book is Thomas’ ability to illustrate New Testament truths with Old Testament types and stories. For instance, using the Bible as its own commentary he traces the use of salt to heal a barren land (a type of the carnal Christian) (II Kings 2), to make meat offerings acceptable to God (Ezek.43:24), to be provided without limit for the service of the temple (Ezra 7) and to represent the believer’s impact on the world as he is filled with the true Salt— “the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus imparted to the true believer by the presence of the Holy Spirit.”(29)
The stories of the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings and conquests in Canaan are replete with lessons for the believer. Thomas sees the ‘carnal Christian’ as one who has been saved from ‘Egypt’ but has failed to be filled with the Holy Spirit and enjoy the fruits of life in Canaan. He suggests that the MANNA represents the work of the Holy Spirit. It has the ‘taste of fresh oil’ (Num.11:8) typifying the Spirit’s witness to the believer that he is God’s child, and the taste of honey (Ex.16:31), a picture of the Spirit whetting the believer’s appetite for what’s to come— ‘the land flowing with milk and honey’, as typifying the fullness of the Spirit every believer is called to enjoy.
Three excellent chapters discuss the enemy nation, Amalek, as a type of the sin nature in the believer and why it’s important to “Remember Amalek”. A practical discussion is included of what it means to “walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal.5:16) It is NOT a matter of trying not to ‘fulfill the lusts of the flesh’ so that I am rewarded by a walk in the Spirit. For this will keep me quite preoccupied with myself instead of with Christ. “There is nothing quite so nauseating or pathetic as the flesh trying to be holy!” This is self-righteousness and full of self-praise or self-pity, but either way preoccupied with the energy of the flesh, not the Spirit. Thomas suggests instead that to ‘walk in the Spirit’ is to maintain ‘an attitude of total dependence on God, exposing everything to Him’, and that as a consequence you will not fulfill the ‘lusts of the flesh—for you will be enjoying through Him the victory that Christ has already won.’ To walk in the Spirit is the means to enjoy the Saving Life of Christ! (82)
This is not a long or difficult book to read but it is a book that you will want to read in increments (with a pencil in hand if you’re like me!) to fully appreciate and apply what is taught about the saving life of Christ. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” –(Romans 5:10)
------------------------
Major Ian Thomas is the founder of Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers (CMFT), more recently known as Torchbearers International, an evangelical Christian educational organization with Bible schools throughout the world.
-----------------------------
Quotes not to be missed:
“Relate everything, moment by moment as it arises, to the adequacy of what He is in you, and assume that His adequacy will be operative.” (16)
“Pray without ceasing”(I Thess. 5:17)… here the word to pray does not mean to beg or to plead as if God were unwilling to give—but simply to expose by faith every situation as it arises, to the all-sufficiency of the One who indwells you by His life.” (16)
“…if you do not walk in the power of God the Holy Spirit, if your life is not abandoned to the indwelling sovereignty of Jesus Christ, then all the promises of victory in the Bible, all the promises of power by the Holy Spirit and of divine vocation will simply be texts, printed on so much paper, impersonal and irrelevant! Your mind will be filled only with memories of that which has been true to your experience in the bitterness of defeat.” (51)
“The challenge we hear so often today in the name of consecration is ‘Do more! Give more! Be more! Go! Go! Go!’ But God says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’! In other words, quit the panic! Just let God be God!”(59)
“It is comparatively easy to be sorry for what you have done and to recognize the sinfulness of sins committed, but we are by nature loathe to concede the natural depravity of what we are and the total spiritual bankruptcy of man without God. We fall again and again into the error of estimating ourselves without due regard to the ultimate origin of righteousness and the ultimate origin of sinfulness.” (99)
“…we have become accustomed to the elaborate machinery of the church, as an organizational enterprise in which carnal activity on the part of Christians is not only tolerated, but solicited—often in sublime sincerity…”(101)
“When you come to know Jesus Christ in the power of His resurrection, you receive absolutely nothing new from God; you simply discover and begin to enjoy experientially what you received from God the day that you were redeemed; the tragedy is that you can live for ten, twenty, or fifty years or more, having all that God can give you in Jesus Christ, and yet living in self-imposed poverty…”(116)
“…every spiritual awakening and every mighty movement of God has been the consequence of a return to the basic teachings of the Bible, and inevitably, in reverse, such a genuine spiritual awakening has always produced Bible-believing Christians.” (120)
“Spirituality in man is his availability to God for his divine action, and the form of this activity is irrelevant. if it pleases you, always and only, to do what pleases God—you can do as you please!” (134)
“That is the why and the how of all spiritual activity, and this is all you need to know.
Why? God told me to.
How? The God who told me to is with me.” (120)
Mr. Thomas is passionate that Christians discover the empowerment for life and ministry that God intended in sending Jesus not only to die for them but to live in them. He is concerned with evangelistic efforts that produce converts oblivious to the source of their new life. His words are challenging:
“Ignoring what they say, and what they sing, and what they pray, countless Christians live as though God were dead—and the Church of Jesus Christ needs above everything else to re-discover the fact God is alive, and to act as though He were!
“Suppose that God were to die tonight! Would it really make any difference to the way you live your Christian life tomorrow? For all you really count upon Him as you go about your daily business…”(124)
The author’s own experience as a young believer was one of fiery zeal to do things for God but lacking in any real ‘fruit’. Only when he had burned out did he come to understand that Christ intends to live His life through the believer in a very literal sense—“Christ [who is] your life…”(Col.3:4). His ministry was transformed. Jesus Himself said, “Without me you can do nothing.” (Jn.15:5) and with his wry sense of humor Thomas amplifies: “How much can you do without Him? Nothing! So what is everything you do without Him? Nothing! It is amazing how busy you can be doing nothing!” (142)
What I found most fascinating about this book is Thomas’ ability to illustrate New Testament truths with Old Testament types and stories. For instance, using the Bible as its own commentary he traces the use of salt to heal a barren land (a type of the carnal Christian) (II Kings 2), to make meat offerings acceptable to God (Ezek.43:24), to be provided without limit for the service of the temple (Ezra 7) and to represent the believer’s impact on the world as he is filled with the true Salt— “the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus imparted to the true believer by the presence of the Holy Spirit.”(29)
The stories of the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings and conquests in Canaan are replete with lessons for the believer. Thomas sees the ‘carnal Christian’ as one who has been saved from ‘Egypt’ but has failed to be filled with the Holy Spirit and enjoy the fruits of life in Canaan. He suggests that the MANNA represents the work of the Holy Spirit. It has the ‘taste of fresh oil’ (Num.11:8) typifying the Spirit’s witness to the believer that he is God’s child, and the taste of honey (Ex.16:31), a picture of the Spirit whetting the believer’s appetite for what’s to come— ‘the land flowing with milk and honey’, as typifying the fullness of the Spirit every believer is called to enjoy.
Three excellent chapters discuss the enemy nation, Amalek, as a type of the sin nature in the believer and why it’s important to “Remember Amalek”. A practical discussion is included of what it means to “walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal.5:16) It is NOT a matter of trying not to ‘fulfill the lusts of the flesh’ so that I am rewarded by a walk in the Spirit. For this will keep me quite preoccupied with myself instead of with Christ. “There is nothing quite so nauseating or pathetic as the flesh trying to be holy!” This is self-righteousness and full of self-praise or self-pity, but either way preoccupied with the energy of the flesh, not the Spirit. Thomas suggests instead that to ‘walk in the Spirit’ is to maintain ‘an attitude of total dependence on God, exposing everything to Him’, and that as a consequence you will not fulfill the ‘lusts of the flesh—for you will be enjoying through Him the victory that Christ has already won.’ To walk in the Spirit is the means to enjoy the Saving Life of Christ! (82)
This is not a long or difficult book to read but it is a book that you will want to read in increments (with a pencil in hand if you’re like me!) to fully appreciate and apply what is taught about the saving life of Christ. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” –(Romans 5:10)
------------------------
Major Ian Thomas is the founder of Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers (CMFT), more recently known as Torchbearers International, an evangelical Christian educational organization with Bible schools throughout the world.
-----------------------------
Quotes not to be missed:
“Relate everything, moment by moment as it arises, to the adequacy of what He is in you, and assume that His adequacy will be operative.” (16)
“Pray without ceasing”(I Thess. 5:17)… here the word to pray does not mean to beg or to plead as if God were unwilling to give—but simply to expose by faith every situation as it arises, to the all-sufficiency of the One who indwells you by His life.” (16)
“…if you do not walk in the power of God the Holy Spirit, if your life is not abandoned to the indwelling sovereignty of Jesus Christ, then all the promises of victory in the Bible, all the promises of power by the Holy Spirit and of divine vocation will simply be texts, printed on so much paper, impersonal and irrelevant! Your mind will be filled only with memories of that which has been true to your experience in the bitterness of defeat.” (51)
“The challenge we hear so often today in the name of consecration is ‘Do more! Give more! Be more! Go! Go! Go!’ But God says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’! In other words, quit the panic! Just let God be God!”(59)
“It is comparatively easy to be sorry for what you have done and to recognize the sinfulness of sins committed, but we are by nature loathe to concede the natural depravity of what we are and the total spiritual bankruptcy of man without God. We fall again and again into the error of estimating ourselves without due regard to the ultimate origin of righteousness and the ultimate origin of sinfulness.” (99)
“…we have become accustomed to the elaborate machinery of the church, as an organizational enterprise in which carnal activity on the part of Christians is not only tolerated, but solicited—often in sublime sincerity…”(101)
“When you come to know Jesus Christ in the power of His resurrection, you receive absolutely nothing new from God; you simply discover and begin to enjoy experientially what you received from God the day that you were redeemed; the tragedy is that you can live for ten, twenty, or fifty years or more, having all that God can give you in Jesus Christ, and yet living in self-imposed poverty…”(116)
“…every spiritual awakening and every mighty movement of God has been the consequence of a return to the basic teachings of the Bible, and inevitably, in reverse, such a genuine spiritual awakening has always produced Bible-believing Christians.” (120)
“Spirituality in man is his availability to God for his divine action, and the form of this activity is irrelevant. if it pleases you, always and only, to do what pleases God—you can do as you please!” (134)
“That is the why and the how of all spiritual activity, and this is all you need to know.
Why? God told me to.
How? The God who told me to is with me.” (120)
December 29, 2018
A great reminder that all of our work and efforts is worthless apart from Christ. Even Christians get caught up in trying to do much work thinking they have to show thankfulness for the cross. Yet still our efforts are worthless and God does not want that. It is not how man sets up a ministry or plans it out this still does not bear any fruit mans ministry leaves the sheep hungry and left in the wilderness (weak spiritually with no fruit). It is Gods Spirit and Christ in us that causes us to do righteousness works and this only comes by abiding in Christ (the Word) and letting him I dwell us.
October 30, 2023
This is the final book (going backward in time) in my personal records of completed books. Since I read this almost 24 years ago, I don't remember anything about it, including how and why I obtained it. Three stars since the book seems to have stood the test of time and, based on a quick inspection, looks like a good book, and because I simply don't remember anything negative about my perceptions or anything noteworthy or remarkable.
(My copy's ISBN, 0310332621, gives this incorrect cover image and page count.)
(My copy's ISBN, 0310332621, gives this incorrect cover image and page count.)
July 21, 2024
The Saving Life of Christ. A deep dive of the Christian life portrayed through Israel entering into Canaan. Thomas shows us that the Christian life isn’t about trying harder, but rather allowing and trusting Christ to be His very person in us, Christ in you. A simple but life changing concept for me personally, and this book hits the nail on the head in showing us what the exchanged life looks like.
I can’t, but He can.
I can’t, but He can.
May 2, 2023
Simply incredible! A little book written decades ago .. that should be regularly read and reread..!
Chock full of insight, information, viewpoints I hadn’t ever seen before. Refreshes your prayer life and relationship with our Lord.
Chock full of insight, information, viewpoints I hadn’t ever seen before. Refreshes your prayer life and relationship with our Lord.
August 26, 2025
Un relato aburrido. Poco interesante. Aparentemente todo ya está escrito y hecho.
Se sostiene demasiado en sus relatos bíblicos; tanto así que creo que es más conveniente leer la biblia que este libro. De todos modos malo malo no es.
Se sostiene demasiado en sus relatos bíblicos; tanto así que creo que es más conveniente leer la biblia que este libro. De todos modos malo malo no es.
March 4, 2019
Life-changing! Check out my book on the same topic - A REAL Human Life; The Life of Jesus Christ IN You
November 20, 2019
Excellent!!!
September 1, 2020
Something I wish I would have read when I was first converted.
February 2, 2021
This is a quick read, but one that really drives the point home. We can only live the victorious Christian life through the Saving Life of Christ!
January 30, 2022
Thomas is a little hard to follow, but the principles are sound and necessary.
January 2, 2023
Convinces that we are not at the mercy of our weaknesses or of those who want to control us. There is a person who is really closer than a brother.
February 20, 2024
A book I look forward to reading again.
March 14, 2025
C.S. Lewis level 💯 👌🏼
July 5, 2025
started off slow but kept me engaged halfway through to the end with the symbolism of old testament characters in God's story and calling me to action in keeping my eyes on the Lord
December 26, 2025
Life changing.
July 1, 2025
A great book about sanctification, about walking with God and what it means to have eternal life in Christ Jesus.
January 18, 2013
This book is a Must Read and brings home to us of the truth of the triumphant life of Christ indwelling in us by His Spirit. To be in Christ is Redemption; but for Christ to be in you is Sanctification. As Jesus lived by His Father, so we are to live by Him. Jesus became what man through sin had ceased to be - the willing vehicle of the divine Presence, allowing the Father to express Himself in action through His humanity. Christ in Us - a willing vehicle of the divine Presence, allowing Jesus to express Himself in action through our humanity. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (Jn 15:5) We can do no more without Him than Jesus could do without the Father. How much then can Jesus do through you and me? He is limited only by the measure of our availability to Him. God has called us to walk by faith in the Spirit resting in Christ who dwells in us. Allowing Christ to live in and through us, surrender to His will in our lives and not living to our own will. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) Christ living in Us by His Spirit. This is victorious christian living!
March 16, 2013
In this book, Major Thomas emphasizes that Jesus' resurrection means more to the Christian than what we generally think. Surely, his resurrection undeniably shows God's victory over death. This gives the Christian hope for life beyond this life. However, Thomas wants to make sure that we are not just wandering around in the wilderness; not experiencing the victorious life in the promised land. The Israelites delivered from slavery in Egypt could have gone into the land promised to them by God. However, they grumbled and complained instead of following God's commands. So, they wandered and died in the wilderness. Jesus Christ is alive, and we are to live by his life, his strength, and his victory. Christian, you have been delivered from sin and death. Don't grumble and die in the wilderness. Walk and live according to the saving life of Christ.
August 31, 2012
Tired and worn out from trying to live a good, Christian life? Read this book! Even if you're not tired out- READ THIS BOOK. It is life-changing for any Christian. It really shows how even though we know salvation is a gift, we keep wearing ourselves out trying to live the Christian life. It's not what God intended. He wants to live out His life through us, with His power. Anyway, Major Thomas says all of it a lot better than I can. Read the book! :)
September 3, 2009
Very good read!
Although we are eternally saved Christians we need to continue to be saved by, through, and in His Life.
---
For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life...(Rom 5:10)
Although we are eternally saved Christians we need to continue to be saved by, through, and in His Life.
---
For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life...(Rom 5:10)
March 13, 2010
Are you wandering in the wilderness or living in Canaan? This was part of a bunch of books I read right in a row that God used to do a work in my heart. Obedience really comes from the inside, not just looking good on the outside.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews