Christ Lives in Me
A move to a new city once reminded me of the difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing someone, personally. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20b),” he was speaking of something very intimate. It is like a scenario where President Joe Biden moved into my house. I would know it. How does one know if she is a Christian or not? The answer is found in the answer to the question, “Has the Spirit of Christ moved into you?” It is a strange question for unbelievers, but it is very much understood by those who share the experience of God’s Holy Spirit occupying their innermost being.
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples (Jn 14:26; 15:26). This occurred at the Feast of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), following Jesus’ ascension and enthronement in heaven (Acts 2). John the Baptist prophesied of Jesus’ Pentecost work at the beginning of his own brief ministry, “I baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8).” Jesus also prophesied of His forthcoming work, “…for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5).” Others soon received this baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2:38), which became normative for those who became members of the church (1 Cor 12:13).
When a new believer in Jesus Christ is baptized with water, it is symbolic of a purified, spiritual washing by the Holy Spirit. Both fire and water are symbolic images for God’s spiritual baptism. Paul expounded on this to Titus, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).” The saved person is said to be born again of the Spirit (Jn 3:1–8). Many ideas accompany this act of God, who causes us to be born again (1 Pet 1:3), which carries the same meaning as, “regeneration” and “renewal.”
First, the washing of water by the Word has given faith to an elect soul (Rom 10:17). Where the Spirit is absent, there is no faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:9). God decreed for some people to be saved (Rom 9:23), which He decided before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). He predestined us to become His adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:15, 23), that is, children of God (1 Jn 3:1, 10).
At the appointed time in His providence, with an appointment to believe (Acts 13:48), He opened our hearts to respond to His Word preached to us (Acts 16:14). The Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge of Christ (Eph 1:17) and faith in Christ (Phil 1:29; 2 Pet 1:1). We have been given a heart for Christ, and we have been given a mind for Christ (1 Cor 2:16), for we were created in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10). As new creations, we have become men made new (2 Cor 5:17).
Second, when the Spirit-filled preacher proclaimed Christ at the appointed time and place, the Holy Spirit appropriated the Word to the elect soul (1 Pet 4:6), which made God’s Gospel call to come to Christ an effectual call (Rom 8:30). This means God’s Spirit made us alive, spiritually (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 3:18), that is, “in the Spirit.”
Where one was deaf to spiritual things, he can now hear God calling him to repentance and faith. Where he was dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1), he is given eternal life (Jn 10:28; 17:2; 1 Jn 5:11). Where he was blind to the Gospel truth (2 Cor 4:4), he now claims to see the marvelous light of truth about Christ. His affections were moved from the world, to the things of heaven (Col 3:2; 1 Jn 2:15–17). Jesus Christ has become his magnificent obsession. He keeps his eyes on Him because He is the One writing his new life story with a promise to work all things together for his good (Rom 8:28), while bringing his story to a fine finish (Heb 12:2).
Third, a mutual indwelling has placed the Spirit of Christ in the elect believer (Rom 8:9, 11), and the elect believer has been placed “in Christ.” These mutual positions are permanent. One is said to be “in the Spirit,” if the Holy Spirit of God dwells in him (Rom 8:9). The spiritual ramifications of being Spirit-occupied also extend to the work of the Spirit in our bodily resurrection on the last day (Rom 8:11). The promise of Christ to be with His disciples, even to the end of the age, is fulfilled by the permanent indwelling Spirit (Mt 28:20).
Paul gave Spirit-abiding as a reason for holy living. The saint, who joins Paul in saying, “Christ lives in me,” has become part of the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16). Each born again member of the church is a spiritual stone, in the building up of Christ’s church as the spiritual temple of God, which carries the shekinah glory of God’s presence. The church is the dwelling of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:22). The Holy Spirit is not just occupying our hearts, but He is at work, too.
Fourth, Christ, by His Spirit, is at work in the believer, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). The indwelling Spirit is called, “Teacher (Jn 14:26).” For one to grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet 3:18), he must have the Spirit teaching him the Word of God. As He matures saints (Eph 4:13), they become our Spirit-filled human teachers, imparting to us the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), who is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). This is one of the many spiritual blessings that is ours in Christ (Eph 1:3).
God does not withhold any good thing from His children, especially the knowledge of Himself, which is the knowledge of our salvation. By grace, we know He is our God, and we are His people (Gen 17:7; Lev 26:12; 2 Cor 6:16; Heb 8:10). This allows us the incredible privilege of calling Him, “Abba, Father (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:16),” because He has given us the right to be called, “children of God (Jn 1:12).”
The indwelling Spirit is called, “Helper (Jn 14:26).” We are weak, but He is strong (2 Cor 12:10). We are wayward sheep, but He is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10). He led Jesus through the wilderness (Lk 4:1), as He leads all the sons of God through the wilderness of this world (Rom 8:14). The Law condemns us because of sin (Jn 3:18), but the conviction of the Holy Spirit, for the believer, comes with teaching, admonishing, guidance, and comfort. It helps us to be reminded there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).
It is the Spirit, who brings God’s Word to our remembrance. In this, He is also called, “Comforter (Jn 14:26).” The Spirit is willing even when the flesh is weak (Mt 26:41). He even prays for us when we cannot pray for ourselves (Rom 8:26). He is the intimate agent of God’s love (Rom 15:30).
Fifth, the Holy Spirit gives us the blessed assurance of eternal salvation because He is the pledge and token of God’s promised salvation (2 Cor 5:5). Christians are sanctified by the Spirit and the Word (Jn 17:17). This means we are being made holy (Rev 21:2), being made to conform to the image of Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom 8:29). Knowing that God has begun a good work in us (Phil 1:6), by His Spirit, we also know He will bring it to completion in perfection (glorified). God does not sleep, and He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Dt 31:6, 8; Heb 13:5).
So, if He began a good work (Phil 1:6), promised to never leave us (Heb 13:5), and to bring His work to completion, then it is the Holy Spirit confirming these words by His very own presence. Sanctification is a progressive process of work done by the Holy Spirit. We are growing in Christ. We are maturing in Christ. Holiness is manifesting in us.
Christians are aware of the Holy Spirit producing righteous fruit in their lives, and even others observe changes in those who have been transferred and adopted by God. We have entered God’s Sabbath rest, who is Christ; and in His Spirit, we have peace with God (Rom 5:1), who never promises to give us eternal life, and then fails to fulfill His promise. “He will accomplish what concerns me,” is the Psalmist’s confidence (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
In summary, we have learned how the Holy Spirit gives God’s chosen people new, spiritual life. We have seen how the Holy Spirit takes up residence, and abides in the saints, permanently. As the third person of the Trinity, He is God in us, to will and to work. We have surveyed a few of His working titles, and we have also considered a number of His works in and through us.
In conclusion, we should ponder Paul’s words and personal reality of the divine occupier of his soul. With Christ in his heart and with Christ on his mind, Paul evidenced the new spiritual life granted by God (2 Tim 1:9). “Christ lives in me,” offers an endless variety of possibilities for living the Christian life most pleasing to God. Jesus taught full reliance to His disciples, “Apart from Me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).”
With this inseparable union with Christ, through mutual indwelling, all things become possible for the Christian. Christ above us, Christ in us, Christ for us, Christ with us confirms Christ as our all in all. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20c), and who gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). Has the Spirit moved into you? Then bear witness to this fact in word and deed, for this is God’s will for your abundant and eternal life.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 7, 2021
