Let’s begin by looking at a verse where the Holy Spirit is referred to three times in three different ways. Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (NKJV). It is obvious that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person in the Holy Trinity (see Matthew 28:19), is in view here, even though He is not called the Holy Spirit. What can we learn from these three references to the Holy Spirit? No doubt these bear witness to the PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT in the believer in Christ, but they also teach us various truths about the Spirit’s relationship to the believer, to God the Father, and to Christ. We will now break this verse down to consider these three truths.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” Before one believes in Christ as their Savior they are looked upon by God as being “in the flesh.” This describes a STATE OF SIN, for “the flesh” is referred to as the “sin nature” in Romans 7:17-18: “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but SIN THAT DWELLS IN ME. For I know that in me (that is, in MY FLESH), nothing good dwells.” The unbeliever is characterized by this “state of sin” which is at enmity with God and cannot please Him. We see this in Romans 8:7-8, “Because the mind of THE FLESH is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God; for neither indeed can be: and they that are IN FLESH cannot please God.” But once a sinner believes on Christ and is born of the Spirit (see John 3:3-8), the Spirit takes up residence in him and God then looks upon him as being “in the Spirit.” It is an altogether “new POSITION before God” (just as we are looked upon as being “in Christ” in 2nd Corinthians 5:17). We are living in a “new sphere” where the Spirit can now control us and give us the power to live a holy life which will please God and bring glory to Him (see Romans 8:1-4, 12-14 along with Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25). Though the believer still has the “sin nature” in him, he is no longer characterized by a “state of sin,” but a “state of holiness” as he yields his life to the Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18),

“If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Here the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of God” because God the Father is the one who gave us the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:15-17, “If you love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and WILL BE IN YOU.” See also John 14:26; 15:26.

“Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” I believe the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Christ” in this verse for at least 2 reasons. 1) The Spirit has “SEALED US” (see Ephesians 1:13) and His SEAL is a mark of ownership; it shows that we belong to Christ.” We see this truth also in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20a, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are NOT YOUR OWN? For you were bought with a price.” We now belong to Christ because He has PURCHASED US WITH HIS OWN BLOOD on the cross (Acts 20:18). The unbeliever has NOT been “sealed with the Holy Spirit” and thus they do not belong to Christ. 2) The Spirit has one main mission while living in us; to GLORIFY CHRIST. The Lord Jesus spoke of this in John 16:12-14, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He WILL GLORIFY ME, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” As He does present Christ to us (through the scriptures) the Spirit will also “transform us into Christ’s image” (please read 2nd Corinthians 3:18). These two truths (His SEALING us to show we belong to Christ and His TEACHING us the truth of Christ) is why He is called “the Spirit of Christ.”  (DO)  (595.1)