Is Jesus In Or Is He Out?

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

I must say, before I start, that I am going to be wading into deep water today. I am attempting to clarify the idea of the habitation of Jesus with respect to Believers. Followers of the Way.

I do my best to pay close attention to the sermons and prayers that I hear. Not in a critical sense, but in anticipation of hearing the Spirit speak in the midst of the words of men and women. And I often do -thanks be to God. But sometimes I hear things said that seem to contradict what is written in the Bible, at least as I understand it.

I often hear people say that I have Jesus in my heart. What exactly does that mean? What does it mean when we say that Christ lives in us? We know that when Jesus left the earth He ascended to Heaven. Then Father sent the Spirit to inhabit each Believer. Still with me? Jesus told the disciples that He was leaving and going back to the Father.

"I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." - John 16:28 

Paul wrote that Jesus was seated in heaven waiting for His eventual return for the Church, his Bride. 

"which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 1:20

"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest [that being Jesus], who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" - Hebrews 8:1

So is He in or is He out?

Jesus prayed that we might be one as He and the Father are one, emphasizing that Jesus was going to be with the Father.

"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:11

I think the issue is understanding the Godhead. Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Our salvation is dependent upon the grace and mercy of the Father, the Sacrifice and continuous intercession by the Son and the indwelling of the Spirit as the seal of our redemption. So, my conclusion is - Jesus is in and He is out. He is both. We very often want to think about the spiritual in the context of the natural. Physics says that one object can't be in two places at once and neither can two objects occupy the same space. Those are natural laws. God is not bound to them like our mortal bodies are.

The Body of Christ is spiritual one and yet physical separated by culture, race, geography, language. Separated by natural constructs - united by the Spirit and one faith.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone