The mystery of Christ indwelling the believer is what Paul calls in Colossians, Christ in you the hope of glory.

This is the second of a seven part series on the mysteries in the Bible (1 Cor. 4:1). This particular mystery is found in Col. 1:27, and it has to do with Jesus Christ actually residing inside of you after you get saved. It is a mystery how the Creator of the entire universe, who is currently seated at the right hand of God Almighty, could literally and fully indwell every single Christian who is alive on the earth today. But he does.

When Christ was on the earth, he explained to his disciples that the time was coming when they would not see him anymore. Nevertheless, so that we would not be comfortless, he promised that he would send the Holy Spirit and that he would dwell, “with you, and shall be in you,” (John 14:17). However, when he explained this to them, he said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you,” (John 14:18). He even told them that at that time he would be in his Father, that we would be in him, and that he would be in us (John 14:20). So, not only do we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us but we also have the Lord Jesus Christ in there.

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is found in Hebrews 13:5. That is the promise that says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Now, from this mystery, you can see that Jesus Christ literally meant what he said since he actually lives inside of us. How often have you heard people in a backslidden condition mourning the thought that Jesus Christ is now so far from them? They agonize because it seems like God has left them and Jesus has turned his back on them.

However, as a result of this mystery, we find that Christians who “feel” like God is so far away are simply overwhelmed in their heart that they have done something to displease God. In 1 John 3:20, we have this promise, “if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” In other words, you may feel or sense a great distance between you and God, but in truth, he is as physically close to you now as he was the moment you got saved. According to 1 John 1: 7-9, the broken fellowship between you and Jesus Christ can be restored by confession and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and does not require that you ask him “to come into your life” again.

Now there are three great things that we see when we understand this doctrine.

First, according to Romans 8:10, with Christ living in us, our body is dead because of sin and our life is now the life of the Holy Spirit because of righteousness. The only way that you and I can enjoy this victory that we have in Christ is if we mortify the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13) and reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin (Romans 6:11).

Second, according to 2 Cor. 13:5, with Christ in us, we can prove to ourselves that we are saved. Truthfully, there are only three people that know for sure whether you are saved or lost: God, the Devil, and you.

Third, according to 1 John 4:4, with Christ in us, we have the spiritual power to overcome the spirits of false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist, “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

So, as you can see, learning this mystery edifies you and clears up some uncertainty about your salvation.

Hope this helps,

Pastor Bevans Welder