It was in 1956 when I attended what was called “Latter Rain” meetings in Chicago. It was a very precious time in my life! One of the simple choruses we sang, was based upon John 1:4 “In Him is life.” What a joy and revelation this was! Sure, we may have known this truth in some small degree, however, now with this fresh move of the Spirit it became very real. The emphasis at that time was upon GRACE, as opposed to the works of the flesh and Law. What a joy, and release, it was to this twenty-year-old who had been raised a Pentecostal with all of its emphasis upon holiness which most often resulted in well-meant legalism. We were holy mostly by what we didn’t do, wear, say, etc, which affected the women the most. The Babylonish religion of this world, under whatever name, always tends to put down the women and add extra burdens onto them.

The word for LIFE used in John 1:4 is from the Greek word, ZOE. It is used as the basis of all life. In the natural realm we have such words as zoology from it. However, under the inspiration of the Spirit, this word, zoe, came to mean life in the highest form.

One day I found myself thinking of Paul’s words, “Saved IN His life.” Some may think that this is a bit odd. Does not the Scripture teach that salvation is by the death and blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of this world. Yes, indeed it does! That, however, is only part of the picture. The concept of salvation can be said to take us from one state, or condition, to another. The ongoing process of salvation does not stop at the cross. Thank God for the cross, but, let us NOT camp there or we will be as the Children of Israel who walked around the desert year after year, having been delivered from bondage, and yet they never entered that which God had purposed for them.

Romans 5:10 tells us that while we were still in a state of sin, and at war with God, that we were RECONCILED, by the death of His Son. THERE IS MORE! “We shall be saved by/IN His life!” Jonathan Mitchell puts it this way, “For since (if) continuously existing being actively hostile ones (enemies) we were changed from enmity to friendship (reconciled; conciliated; changed to be consistent and compatible; down-exchanged) by God (to God; in God) through His Son’s death, much more, being ones that were conciliated (changed down from enmity to friendship), WITHIN His Life we will be rescued (delivered; saved; made whole; cured and restored to health). Can you see that we move from being at war with God to being conciliated, and at peace, by HIS one-sided CONCILIATION. As the old chorus says, “There’s nothing more that I can do, for Jesus did it all.” Then we continue on with His INDWELLING LIFE working in us.

There is a tiny word that used in Romans 5:10 that is crucial to our understanding. It is the Greek word, “en” [Strong’s #1722]. It is most often, but not always, translated as “IN.” According to Dr. E.W. Bullinger “en” means, “A being or remaining within, with the primary idea of REST in any place or thing.”

Now the question becomes, “WHO is living IN you?” Years ago some of us sang a little chorus that went, “Come into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus.” We invited HIM IN and then promptly forgot that He was there, as we were taught to practice all the outward forms of religion, that were often based on the Old Covenant, which was consummated, or fully fulfilled, in and by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is no wonder that so many, including this writer, have wandered in the wilderness year after year, until light shone into our hearts and we began to see that Christ dwells within. Oh the glory of His indwelling presence! Let us rejoice!

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and 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/IN faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (NAU) Within this verse is the Greek word “en.” It is rarely translated as “in” in most translations of the Bible, yet, without understanding that our faith IS RESIDENT IN THE SON OF GOD, we struggle to work up some kind of faith based upon works, scripture quotation/affirmations or other things. It is NOT my faith or I could boast about it, it is HIS faith and He lives it.

Paul simply said, “IN Christ I died, and Christ now lives en/in me. The faith I now have is because it is He who is indwelling me.” It is CHRIST’S faith and not Paul’s. What a joy and rest that is! As Norman Grubb put it, “Christ is me.”

Within all of us there is an on working of HIS LIFE. It is Christ Jesus who is accomplishing the continual process of bringing us to that which He has already proclaimed up to be, sons of God. Even as Isaiah recorded the anthem, “The whole earth IS FULL of His glory.” That which is so in God, we shall surely enter into in fullness.