Ye IN ME and I IN You
John 14:20
I. Ye IN Me: The Facts
II. Ye IN Me: The Implications
III. I IN You: The Facts
IV. I IN You: The Implications
Ye IN Me: The Facts
The Believer is IN Christ
I Cor. 12:13 – We are placed IN Christ by means of Spirit Baptism.
We are thus a member of the Body of Christ
This is equally true of EVERY believer in Christ in this age.
I Cor. 1:2 – sanctified in Christ.
I Cor. 1:30 – But of him are ye in Christ Jesus
II Cor. 2:14 – triumph in Christ
II Cor. 5:17 – we are new creatures in Christ
Gal. 3:28 – Jew/Gentile; male/female; bond/free – are all one in Christ – on equal footing; no distinctions…
Eph. 1:3 – blessed… in Christ
Eph. 1:4 – chosen in Him before the foundation of the world
Eph. 2:6 – raised & seated together in heavenly places in Christ.
Eph. 2:10 – created in Christ Jesus
Eph. 3:6 – Jew & Gentile… of the same body in Christ…
Phil. 1:1 – all the saints in Christ … at Philippi
Phil. 3:14 – the high calling of God in Christ
Phil. 4:21 – salute every saint in Christ
Col. 1:28 – presenting every man perfect in Christ
Rom. 12:5 – one Body in Christ
Because of our position IN Christ, we share in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. This is often referred to as our identification with Christ. (Rom. 6:1-6)
Because of our identification WITH Christ, several important facts are true of every believer in this dispensation.
Because we are IN Christ, when Christ died, we died with Him.
Because we are IN Christ, when Christ was buried, we were buried with Him.
Because we are IN Christ, when Christ rose again we rose with Him.
Because we are IN Christ, when Christ ascended into heaven, we too ascended into heavenly places in Him.
In the New Testament, this identification is often signified by terms beginning (in Greek) with “συν” – sün, a preposition meaning “with” or “together with.”
Co-crucifixion:
Rom. 6:6 – ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος συνεσταυρώθη – my old man was co-crucified with Christ.
Gal. 2:20 – Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι – Joint crucifixion with Christ.
Co-burial:
Rom. 6:4 – συνετάφημεν οὖν αὐτῷ διὰ – buried together with Him.
Col. 2:12 – συνταφέντες αὐτῷ – buried together with Him.
Co-resurrection:
Eph. 2:5 – συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ – literally, made alive together with Christ.
Co-seating in heaven:
Eph. 2:6 – συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ – seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
Co-glorification:
Rom. 8:17 – συνδοξασθῶμεν – glorified together with Him (refers to the future glorification of the body).
Our Death WITH Christ
Romans 6:2: “How shall we that have died to sin live any longer therein?”
Romans 6:6: “Knowing this that our old man was crucified with Him
Romans 6:7: “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
Romans 6:11: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Colossians 3:3: “For ye died and your life is hidden with Christ in God”
I Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness”
Our Burial WITH Christ
Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death.”
Romans 6:5: “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death.”
Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism.”
Our Resurrection and Ascension WITH Christ
Romans 6:11: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:13: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.”
Eph. 2:6 – And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:13: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him.”
Colossians 3:1: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…”
Ye IN Me: The Implications
Implications of our Death and Burial With Christ
Dead to sin and the old self life
“How shall we that have died to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)
“Knowing this that our old man was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6)
“For ye died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24)
Thus, we are free from sin. “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7,14)
Dead to the Law
“I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live” (Gal. 2:19-20)
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the lawby the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another. (Rom.7:4,6)
Thus, we are no longer under law but are under grace as a rule of life. Our relationship to God is based on LIFE, not Law. (Rom. 6:14)
Dead to man’s philosophies, traditions, rules, and rituals
“Ye died with Christ” (Col. 2:20-23)
Something higher and nobler has captured our attention: heavenly things.
Dead to the world system
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Gal. 6:14)
We are dead to the world and the world is dead to us.
The relationship we once had to the world has been severed.
That should have an effect on the way we live in the world. We are in it, but no longer of it.
Implications of our Resurrection With Christ
We are ABLE to walk in newness of life.
Rom.6:4-5 – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Rom. 6:13 – As we yield our members to God “as those that are alive from the dead” God’s righteousness is manifested through our mortal bodies.
II Cor. 5:17 – all things are made new
We have access to the power of the resurrection in our daily lives.
Eph. 1:18-20 – The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.
Phil.3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
Implications of our Ascension With Christ
We have entered into a new spiritual realm. Our new position is in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus.
Eph. 2:6 – And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Our present earthly life and walk is to be the outgrowth of our abiding relationship to Christ in glory.
We have been raised up into heavenly places. That is our new position IN Christ.
John 15:4 – God expects us to ABIDE (remain, rest, dwell) in that position by faith – BELIEVING and resting in what God has said and done.
Resting in our heavenly position strengthens us for life down here on earth… as the branch that rests and abides in the vine is provided with all the nutrients and nourishment it needs to be strong, healthy, and to bear good fruit.
As we ABIDE in our heavenly position, we are enabled to walk in newness of life on earth.
The ability to walk in newness of life is NOT based upon our diligence, our efforts, our strength, or our self discipline.
It is based upon our abiding above… FAITH and confidence in God… resting in our position.
New privileges
Col. 3:4 – Our new life is hiddenand thus protected with Christ above… in a realm where the crises of earth cannot touch us… a heavenly place where Satan cannot harm us… a place far beyond the law’s jurisdiction…
II Cor. 4:10-11 – Manifesting the indwelling LIFE of Christthrough our mortal bodies.
Eph. 2:6 – seated togetherin heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I Pet. 2:5 – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Heb.3:1 – Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus.
Heb. 8:1-2 – Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (A heavenly tabernacle for a heavenly priesthood)
New responsibilities
Col. 3:1 – to seek things above
Col. 3:2 – to set affections on things above
Col. 3:5-9 – put off the dirty garments of the old man
Col. 3:10-14 – to put on the garments fit for one who has been raised into heavenly places.
Matt. 6:19-21 – to lay up treasures in heaven.
I IN You: The Facts
Of our union with Christ, William Kelly wrote that believers have “the closest vital association with Him Who has gone into heavenly glory, and yet is one with us here, as we with Him there.”
Christ is IN the Believer: Predicted In the Gospels
John 6:56 – He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
John 14:20 – At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
John 15:1-5 – Every branch in me
John 17:23 – I in them, and thou in me.
John 17:23,26 – I in them.
Christ is IN the Believer: Expounded in the Epistles
Romans 8:10 – And if Christ be in you
II Cor. 6:16 – I will dwell in them…
II Cor. 13:5 – Christ is in you.
Gal. 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal.4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Eph. 3:17 – That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith
Col.1:27 – Christ in you… the hope of glory.
Col.3:11 – Christ is all, and in all.
I IN You: The Implications
The Practical Significance of “Christ in You”
The Christian life IS “Christ In You”: The life of the indwelling Christ manifested through our mortal bodies.
Phil. 1:21 – For to me to live is Christ
II Cor. 4:10-11 – “That the life also of Jesusmight be made manifest in our body…that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (Col. 3:4 – Christ who is our life…
Gal.4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
As we walk by faith, resting in our position in Christ, GOD works in us.
Eph. 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Gal. 6:15 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.“
Phil. 1:6 – He begins the work in us and HE continues the work from heaven… and He won’t stop working in us until He brings us to perfection.
Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”.
Col. 1:29 – “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in memightily”
Heb. 13:21 – “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in youthat which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Apart from God working in us…
Unless God works in us, our efforts lead to nothing but frustration and failure. (Rom.7:14-25)
Unless God works in us, all of our labors are in vain. “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5c-6)
Whatever we produce on our own efforts, apart from God working in us, is wood, hay, and stubble, to be burned up as worthlessat the Bema – no matter how impressive and successful it may appear to men (I Cor. 3:13-15).
Nothing the flesh can offer to God is acceptable to Him.
But IF God works in us…
Then our labors result in spiritual fruit that redounds to His glory.
When God works in us, the end product is not the fruit of the flesh but the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:19-23)
We are ABLE to walk in newness of life. (Rom.6:4)
No command is impossible.
We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil.4:13)
God provides limitless resources of power for the weak (but trusting) believer to be able to walk worthy… to walk in newness of life…
Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. (Col. 1:11)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his powerto us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Eph. 1:19)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spiritin the inner man. (Eph.3:16)
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Eph. 3:20
Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Eph. 6:10)
My strengthis made perfect in weakness. (II Cor. 12:9)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phil. 4:13)
God’s power is available to be operative in us… but only when the vessel is emptied of self and full of HIM. Then His power operates in and through us…
And ALL MIGHT is available… the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available… omnipotence…
All the power we need is available to us to walk a worthy walk… to please Him…
Sanctification by Faith
Sanctification is by FAITH: (Faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross and our identification with Him.)
Sanctification is part of God’s plan of salvation for the sinner.
Every aspect of God’s plan of salvation is by grace through faith. (Eph. 2:8-10).
Our faith is to REST in the work of Christ on the cross.
His work is FINISHED.
His cross work provided the basis of both justification and sanctification.
They are applied by faith. Power and enablement to walk in newness of life are ours only by faith, and not through self effort or self discipline.
Justification and sanctification are by grace through faith.
We are justified by believing that Jesus died and rose again for us. (Rom. 5:1,6-8)
We are sanctified by believing that we died and rose with Christ. (Rom. 6:1-4)
Living by law the Christian is defeated
He believes that Jesus died for him and rose again.
He trusts Christ as his Savior and is justified by faith.
But once saved by grace through faith, he turns to the law and the flesh and tries to PRODUCE good fruit for God.
Gal. 3:1-3 – He enters into eternal life by faith but then tries to grow through the efforts of the flesh.
Rom. 7:14-25 – He experiences nothing but failure and defeat.
Living by grace through faith, the Christian is victorious.
He too believes that Jesus died for him and rose again.
He too trusts Christ as his Savior and is justified by faith.
But he CONTINUES to trust God to work in him.
He realizes that he cannot PRODUCE fruit, but as he walks by faith he will BEAR the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in and through him.
He ABIDES in his heavenly position, beholding the glory of Christ, focused on things above, looking unto Jesus, and is TRANFORMED into the same image from glory to glory. (II Cor. 3:18).
Our faith is to rest upon the FACTS of God’s Word.
Fact #1: We are to KNOW and BELIEVE that our old man is dead. (Rom.6:6)
It is not our responsibility to try to “crucify” the old man… but rather to BELIEVE that he is dead and act accordingly, even though it doesn’t FEEL like he is dead.
We are to walk by faith and not feelings.
We are to RECKON it to be so. (Rom. 6:11)
Reckon is a faith word – to count it as a fact.
Fact # 2: We are to BELIEVE that since we are dead to sin, we have been freed from the bondage to sinnature. Thus we don’t have to sin. (Rom. 6:7)
Fact # 3: We are to BELIEVE that we have been raisedinto heavenly places as new creatures and are thus able to walk in newness of life. (Eph. 2:5-6; Rom. 6:4)
We are to RECKON it to be so. (Rom. 6:11)
Fact # 4: We are to BELIEVE that as we take a step of faith in dealing with sins, it is God who works in us. (Phil. 2:13)
Fact # 5: We are to BELIEVE that as we trust God for victory, we are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. (Col. 1:11)
Fact # 6: We are to BELIEVE that as we yield our members to God that the Lord will FILL us with His powerto obey. (Rom. 6:13; 8:2-4; 12:1; Eph. 5:18)
Walking by faith we experience the power of the resurrection in our daily lives. It is a good fight of FAITH. (I Tim. 6:12)
There is a huge difference between the believer TRYING to achieve victory… and a believer TRUSTING in a victory already provided.
It is the difference between faith and works; law and grace; between the flesh and the Spirit;
It is not the believer’s responsibility to try to crucify the old man (or die to self) but to believe that he has been crucified. We are dead to sin and self.
It is not the believer’s responsibility to try to free himself from slavery to sin, but to believe that he has already been freed from sin.
It is not the believer’s responsibility to make himself a new creature but to believe that he IS a new creature in Christ.
It is not the believer’s responsibility to try to conjure up enough power to have victory over sin, but to believe that all the power of the resurrection is available through the indwelling Holy Spirit as he walks by faith.
Christ IN You: The Riches of the Glory of the Mystery (Col.1:26-27)
Definitions:
Mystery: Previously unrevealed truth hidden in the mind of God
Glory: divine effulgence or blazing splendor;
Riches: ploutos: riches, wealth; abundance of external possessions; fullness, abundance, plenitude.
The riches of the glory of the mystery speak of the dazzling splendor of the truth Paul has revealed.
It is glorious beyond our ability to describe.
Then the “riches” of that glory would be riches, best part of it… the cream of the crop… the most dazzling portion of that blazing splendor!
The richest part of this glorious mystery- truth is Christ in you!
This mystery had MANY different facets… all revolving around the believers’ new relationship to Christ.
Head of Body; Bride and Bridegroom; Building and Inhabitant; Vine and branches; Jew & Gentile on equal footing; no distinctions in Christ; the rapture; new means of godliness — all of these aspects of the mystery are glorious.
Everything about the mystery is glorious.
But the RICHEST part of this glorious mystery is the fact that Christ dwells in us… in ME! And you! And in every single true believer, bar none!
And think of WHO HE IS! (As revealed in Colossians)
1:14 – the Redeemer
1:15 – the image of the invisible God!
1:16 – the Creator of the universe
1:17 – the One who holds all things together
1:18 – the Risen and Glorified Head of the Body
1:18 – the One who is to have preeminence in all.
1:19 – the One in whom all fullness dwells
1:20 – The One who has reconciled heaven and earth.
This One lives in me! This is the riches of the glory of the mystery!
Of all the various aspects of truth related to the mystery, this is the cream of the crop: Christ dwells in us!
As Jesus said, Ye in Me and I in you!
Christ in you means the cup is being cleaned from the inside out, rather than the way of religion.
Religion attempts to clean the cup from the outside in… but is unable to clean the inside, and thus settles for cleaning the outside.
That is mere external conformity… a whitewash… that never gets to the heart of the matter…
Religion might leave a sinner “looking pretty good”… perhaps he looks even better than a believer – Mother Theresa. (Have not we cast out demons and done many wonderful works in thy name?)
But religion leaves the inside of the cup filthy… and condemned. It cleans the outside of the grave, but inside it is full of dead men’s bones.
Christianity is completely different. It places CHRIST IN US… at the moment of saving faith.
And that guarantees a gradual change… from the inside out. Christ is being FORMED in us… slowly, gradually, from glory to glory… but SURELY!
He who hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM it until the day of Jesus Christ!
And when changes occur on the outside… those changes are examples of REAL FRUIT… not manufactured fruit… not the works of the flesh… but they are the work of the Spirit of God… producing Christlike character in us… which eventually will manifest itself on the outside!
External changes in behavior that DO not arise from Christ on the inside are easy and can take place rapidly… but they are the works of religious flesh. And the flesh glories in such external changes.
External changes that occur as a result of Christ being formed in us take time… but the end product is GENUINE fruit… not the phony fruit of the flesh, but the real thing.
Religion offers one method of producing external change… and it is the work of the flesh and it glorifies the flesh.
Christianity results in external changes in behavior, which emanate from the Spirit of God producing Christlikness in us. That kind of change glorifies God.
The changes may LOOK the same to the natural eye… (for example, a man may stop smoking) but God sees more than the natural eye sees. He sees the SOURCE of the change (flesh/Spirit) and He can tell the difference between genuine fruit and phony fruit; & He is concerned about WHO gets the glory: self or Himself.
These are huge issuesto God and should not be overlooked. God is not only concerned about His child changing his behavior, but He is equally concerned about HOW that change occurs… methodology and motive.
Is it a spiritual victory if you stopped smoking because you went to a hypnotist? Is it really a spiritual victory if you conquer your anxiety with a prescription?
The riches of the glory of the mystery is Christ in you… and that always results in genuine Holy Spirit produced fruit… a spiritual transformation into the image of Christ… a cleansing of the cup from the inside out, for which God gets all the glory.