Note 7 at 2 Cor. 5:17: One of the greatest differences between the saints in the Old Testament and those in the New Testament is the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The victorious New Testament believer is not living for the Lord, but it is actually the risen Christ living through him. Paul described this beautifully in Galatians 2:20 when he said, "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."

There are over a hundred scriptural references to the indwelling presence of the Lord in the life of a believer. Following is a list of just a few of these.

"And I will put my SPIRIT WITHIN YOU..." (Ezek. 36:27); "Even the Spirit of truth... he dwelleth with you , and SHALL BE IN YOU." (Jn. 14:17); "And ye in me, and I IN YOU." (Jn. 14:20); "I IN THEM..." (Jn. 17:23); "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." (Rom. 8:9); "And if CHRIST BE IN YOU..." (Rom. 8:10); "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU?" (1 Cor. 3:16); "But he that is joined unto the lord is ONE SPIRIT." (1 Cor. 6:17); "What? know ye not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, which ye have of God , and ye are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6:19); "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME..." (Gal. 2:20);

"That CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS by faith..." (Eph. 3:17); "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." (Col. 1:27); "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the HOLY GHOST WHICH DWELLETH IN US." (2 Tim. 1:14); "But the anointing which ye have received of him ABIDETH IN YOU..." (1 Jn. 2:27); "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and HE IN HIM. And hereby we know that he ABIDETH IN US, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 Jn. 3:24); "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" (Rev. 3:20).

Note 8 at 2 Cor. 5:17: The NIV translates this passage as, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he has become a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" The New Creation that Paul is speaking about is described in scripture in the following ways: the new birth (Jn. 1:13; 3:3), the new creation (Gal. 6:15), His workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10), newness of life (Rom. 6:4), a spiritual quickening (Eph. 2:1,5), a spiritual resurrection (Col. 2:12; 3:1), a new heart and spirit (Ezek. 36:26; Rom. 7:6), the putting on of the new man (Eph. 4:24), the inward man (Rom. 7:22), the circumcised heart (Rom. 2:29), the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), regeneration (Ti. 3:5), etc.

The fruit of the new creation is righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; 1 Jn. 2:29), being conformed to the image of God's Son (Rom. 8:29), a heart that knows God (Jer. 24:7; Heb. 8:11), God's law written within the heart (Heb. 8:10), a hatred of sin and a love for righteousness (1 Jn. 3:7-10), works of faith, i.e. works produced as the by-product of faith (Jas. 2:18), good fruit borne unto God (Rom. 7:4), brotherly love (1 Jn. 4:7), an active faith in Christ (1 Jn. 5:1), etc.

Note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17: This is a key passage of scripture that explains many other passages of scripture. The Bible presents salvation as a life transforming experience. Change is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a true believer. Yet failure to understand that this change takes place in the spirit first and is then reflected in the outward thoughts and actions proportional to the way we renew our minds (see note 9 at Rom. 12:2, p. 826), has caused much confusion.

This verse makes it very clear where this change takes place. It describes this change as total and complete (All things are become new, not just some things). Therefore this change has to take place in our born-again spirit (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92). Why is that? If you were fat before you got saved, you will be fat after you get saved, unless you go on a weight loss program. Your body doesn't instantly change. Also, your soulish or mental realm doesn't instantly change. If you were stupid before you got saved you will be stupid after you get saved, until you start renewing you mind. The only part of you that is left is your spirit (1 Th. 5:23).

It is your spirit that is instantly changed at salvation. It is perfect (Heb. 12:23). It cannot sin (1 Jn. 3:9). Everything that is true of Jesus is true of our born-again spirit (1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 1:3, 15-23; Col. 2:9-10; 1 Jn. 4:17). Your spiritual salvation is complete. At salvation, you receive the same spirit that you will have throughout all eternity. It will not have to be changed again or cleansed again. It has been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) and is therefore sanctified and perfected forever (Heb. 10:10, 14; 12:23).

The rest of the Christian life is not trying to obtain faith or joy or love, etc., from God, but rather a release of what we already have in our spirits (Gal. 5:22-23) into our soul and body. Failure to understand this has caused some people to despair when they don't see sufficient change in their life after coming to the Lord for salvation. It must be understood that the change is internal in our spirit and the outward change will take place as we renew our minds through God's Word.