Post Edited (Theoria) : 8/20/2007 6:13:03 PM (GMT-5)

Search for "Christ in you" on this site of a college I used to teach at:

http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/36-40/WTJ%2038-2-c.pdf

Thus, Christ himself becomes our sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30c).

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come

to fullness of life in him” (Colossians 2:9-10 RSV). This fullness, however,

is not a private, mystical, quietistic union with Christ. It is social; it

is life in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 2:21—

2:7; 4:4-16; Colossians 3:1-4, 11-17; cf. Hebrews 2:10-13). In the Body

of Christ—the koinonia of the Spirit—we discover the full meaning of

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:21-29).

To put the matter in fullest perspective we must add one further

word. Christ’s victory is complete but not final. We have been “saved in

hope”—the hope of resurrection and glorification with Christ (Romans

8:17-15; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Philippians 3:12-21). Meanwhile our

sanctification has the character of spiritual warfare in which our victory

over sin is assured as we permit Christ to live moment-by-moment in us

(John 15:1-6; Ephesians 6:10-15; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:18-23;

Romans 8:12-13, 26-39; Romans 13:11-14; Hebrews 7:25). This is the

practical meaning of Christus Victor for a theology of holiness. “Thanks

be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”—over

the dominion of sin in conversion, over sin itself in sanctification, over the

racial consequences of sin in glorification.

FROM A GOARCH SITE I TRUST (Coniaris is trustworthy too!)

http://www.plasticsusa.com/ortho/etheosis.html 

Achieving Your Potential in Christ:
X Theosis X
Plain Talks on a Major Doctrine of Orthodoxy
After: Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6).

"...Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). When Christ dwells in us, His presence creates a unique "hope of glory." Describing this "hope of glory," C.S. Lewis wrote in his book "The Weight of Glory": "The promise of scripture may very roughly be reduced to five heads... firstly, that we shall be with Christ; secondly, that we shall be like Him; thirdly... that we shall have 'glory'; fourthly, that we shall in some sense be fed or feasted or entertained; and finally, that we shall have some sort of official position in the universe - ruling cities, judging angels, being pillars of God's temple."

Truly, when we consider God's promise regarding theosis, "it does not yet appear what we shall be" (I John 3:2).

The author of Hebrews takes this a step further when he speaks of our share in or partaking "of the heavenly calling" (3:1), and he declares that we are made partakers of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the Apostle Paul again affirms that those who rise in Christ will "put on" God's own incorruptible immortality.

St. Paul speaks of the fullness of God's presence abiding in us, when he prays, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (II Corinthians 13:13).

All these verses constitute only a small part of the many references to theosis found in the scriptures.

 

QUOTE:

What Does It Mean to Have Communion with God?

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/what-does-it-mean-to-have-communion-with-god/