CHRIST IN YOU vs YOU IN CHRIST
Have you ever studied the Bible enough to marvel at it’s accuracy? God’s use of figures of speech, the
usages of the different names of God, God’s usage of words such as the usage of Jesus Christ versus
Christ Jesus. Tonight, I want to delve into the two terms “Christ in you” versus “you in Christ.”
These two terms use the same words, but, in a different order. They look similar, but, they mean two
totally different things.
“Christ in you” happens in a moment of time when you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. It is the spirit of God in Christ in you.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Wrapped up in that spiritual birth is our legal position of children of God. It is our position in the family
of God. With that, also, comes righteousness, sanctification, justification, redemption and the ministry
of reconciliation. This is all God’s doing for and in you when you believe.
“You in Christ”, on the other hand, is what you do after you are born again of God’s spirit.
Galatians 4:19 (KJV)
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
When you are born again it is in an instant of time. Christ formed in you takes time. It is you working to
change your thoughts to the thoughts of Christ and aligning you actions and ways to the ways of Christ.
It is transformation by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It is letting the Word of God dwell in you richly.
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Romans chapter eight contains both “Christ in you” and “you in Christ” in it and I would like to show a
little of this to you.
Romans 8:1-39 (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The walk is something we do. It a day by day, moment by moment decision to do what the Bible
says. This is “you in Christ.”2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit.
The righteousness is “Christ in you.” The walk is “you in Christ.”
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be.
Spiritual mindedness is “you in Christ.”
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Those that aren’t born-again.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if
any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Verses nine, ten and eleven are talking about the new birth, “Christ in you.”
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of
the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Verses twelve through fourteen are “you in Christ.”
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Verses fifteen through the first half of verse seventeen is “Christ in you.”18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons
of God. (Christ in you)
20 For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him
who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth
he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit (our spirit) itself maketh intercession (to God) for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
“Them that love God” is “you in Christ.” “Them who are called” is “Christ in you.”
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.