"Christ is come in the flesh"

"Christ is come in the flesh" & "Christ in you"

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God... Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist..." (1 John 4:1-3)

What "spirit" is John referring to? The Greek word is "pneûma". The definition from Strong's Concordance is "by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit". The context here seems to indicate two classes of humans: 1) Those who speak with the "Spirit of God"; 2) Those who speak with a different spirit.

It seems clear that John is saying that those who believe that Jesus came in the flesh are of the "Spirit of God"(vs. 2) and those who don't are of the "spirit of antichrist"(vs.3). So, this is a serious matter.

Some think that Jesus coming in the flesh means that He comes into(inside of) our flesh. So, let's look at some more Bible texts:

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He[Jesus] who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Was Jesus manifested in His own human-flesh OR was He manifested in your flesh?

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Was Jesus literally put to death in your flesh or His?

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Here we saw Peter clearly delineate between Christ's flesh our flesh, especially if we have the same mind as Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
If we continue to assimilate Christ words into our minds, more and more, we will have the mind of Christ and we can say, with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ(His mind/spirit) living in me(see Col1:27): and that life which I now live in the flesh(my own flesh) I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me(in His own flesh. See 1Pet3:18)."(Gal2:20)
John 1:14 ... the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us...
- Notice "the Word"(Christ) "dwelt among us", rather than in our flesh.

Now, it seems obvious to me that Christ came in His own flesh, not ours. However, we can have Jesus, living His life through us, by assimilating His words - His character into our own being - into our minds, for "It is the spirit that giveth life", according to Jesus, in Jn6:63. And, in the same verse, He also says, "the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life" (eternal).

Verses that indicate Christ In Us:

John 6:53-54 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ...

If we eat Jesus' flesh and drink His blood, we certainly will have Jesus in us, right? As a result, we will have "eternal life" in us. If we eat carrots, we will have carrots in us, right? As a result, we will have health benefits in us. Same idea... Of course, soon after this Jesus said that it is His words that He speaks to us that we need to eat, rather than His flesh(vs. 63). As a result, we have His words in us which means that we have "eternal life" in us(Jn6:54,63,68). I believe this principle, spoken by Jesus Himself, is the basis for all the following verses about Christ(His words) living His life in us. Maybe it would be easier for us to think of it as Jesus living His life through us.

John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Notice how it is that the Father and Son are one: It is because they are in each other.
- How is it that Father & Son are in each other? Remember that Jesus' words are both spirit and life eternal(Jn6:54,63,68).
  - Notice where Jesus gets His words of eternal life => "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."(John12:48-50)
  - Notice how John the Baptist shows us the connection between the words and the spirit, in agreement with Jesus in Jn6:63 => "For he[Christ] whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." -John the baptist, John 3:34-36
    - Why is it that Christ has the "words of God"? It is because His Father gives "the Spirit" to Christ, without measure. Just as Jesus equates His words with the spirit, so does John the Baptist.
How is it that we can be one with each other and be one with the Father & Son? It the same way that they are one. It is all about the words of God, given to His Son that are recorded in the Holy Bible. The more we assimilate(eat) the words of Jesus, the more we are one with each other and one with Jesus and His Father.

John 17:22,23,26 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me... 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

"I in them"? That's Christ in us. Why? Because we eat Christ's words!
"thou in me"? That's God in Christ. Why? Because Christ eats His Father's words!

Romans 8:9 But ye are ... 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.

Notice that Paul equates the "Spirit of God" with the "Spirit of Christ". Why? It is because Father God gave "the Spirit", which is His words, to Christ, without measure(John 3:34-36), as we saw before.

Romans 8:10 And if Christ[His words (Jn6)] be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

How is it that "the Spirit is life"? Because the words of Jesus are spirit and life everlasting(Jn6:63,68).

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him[Father God] that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also [give life to] your mortal bodies by his[Father's] Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Did Father God raise Jesus? At least 19 Bible verses say so => http://sidnash.org/docs/WhoRaisedJesus.html
How is it that Father's Sprit gives life eternal life to us? Father gave His spirit/words to Jesus without measure(Jn3:34-36) and as we "eat" those words(Jn6:54,63), we are assimilating the words of eternal life(Jn6:63,68) into our minds.
May we have eternal life now? => http://sidnash.org/docs/NeverDie.html

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Does "the Spirit of God [dwell] in you"? We need the words of God, as given to His Son, to dwell in us - in our minds. - "the temple of God".
- Philippians 2:5,13 Let this mind(from which the words of Christ proceed) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ... 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ[His word] is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Do you see the importance of the knowledge of God? See: http://sidnash.org/docs/KnowGodImport.html

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

How could Paul "preach him" if he hadn't already been assimilating God's Son's words into his mind? Isn't that HOW Paul revealed God's Son in him?

Galatians 2:20 "... Christ living in me..." (already discussed in previous section and in John 6:53,54,63,68)

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts[minds], crying, Abba, Father.

Remember that His words are His spirit(Jn3:34-35;6:63)

Colossians 1:27 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:(eternal glory/life)

Colossians 3:16 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.

Truly, this is "Christ in you" by His holy spirit.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Who is it that "hath begun a good work in you"? "... it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

John 14:6,16,17,18,20 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life... 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ... the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ... 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

See discussion above on John 17:20-26

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rather than "come in to him", this phrase is often read as "come into him". What's the difference, some may ask =>
- If we understand it just as it reads, we might say it this way: "come in the door to be with him" so we can discuss things over supper.
- if we change "in to" to "into", it could be understood this way: "come into(inside of) his body". If we choose to understand it this way, then we would need to explain how Jesus is going to eat a meal with "him" if Jesus is inside of "his" body. I don't know about you, but if I were inside of "his" body, I would be trying to eat my way out!
One of my favorite authors said, "Many times these false theories are a jumble of inconsistencies; and if men would use their reason, and take the Bible as it reads, they would see the absurdity of their positions. The plain “Thus saith the Lord,” would dispel their errors, as the mist is dispelled by the glories of the rising sun."

Now, let's consider the word "abide", meaning "to dwell, rest, continue, stand firm, or be stationary for anytime indefinitely." (http://sidnash.org/d/#abide)

Strong's Greek Dictionary G3306; μένω ménō, men'-o; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) KJV Translation(s):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own. (all Teal-colored words below are all translated from the Greek word ménō and could be translated "stay" or "continue")

John 15:4-11 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you... 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Notice Jesus said, "my words abide in you"(vs. 7) - "the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are are life"(Jn6:63c).

1 John 2:13-14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one...

Notice that "the word of God abideth in you"(vs. 14) - The Father's words, His spirit, which He gave to Jesus, "without measure"(Jn3:34-35) can abide "in you".

And since "the word of God abideth in you", "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he[Christ] that is in you, than he[satan] that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:4-6)

Who/what is the "spirit of truth"?
- John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me... 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ... the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Obviously, Jesus is truth. So, His spirit is the "spirit of truth". Who then is the "spirit of error"? It can't be God or His Son, so it must be satan and his spirit is the "spirit of error". John then has informed us that, if the word of God abides in us, we are of God, which means that Christ's spirit is in us. Likewise, that that "are of the world" have satan's "spirit of error" in them. Fortunately, "greater is he[Christ] that is in you, than he[satan] that is in the world."

Problems with believing in a disembodied(intelligent spirit being without a body) christ literally inside your body.

How many disembodied spirit christs would it take to live inside of all of christ's followers?
If one believes that a disembodied holy spirit being is literally inside of their brain, might it be tempting to think that microscopic "being" will cause everything you think, do, and believe to be according to the will of God? I know someone who thinks that way.
Remember the Bible texts above that speak of believers being in Christ and in His Father? If Christ and His Father are literally inside of you, then, according to those texts, all believers are literally inside of Christ and His Father. To that notion, let me remind you of that quote from one of my favorite authors above, which speaks of "the absurdity of their positions".

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)

-Sid Nash: 12/09/2023. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/InTheFlesh.html