9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you--This does not mean, "if the disposition
or mind of God dwell in you"; but "if the Holy Ghost dwell in
you" (see
1Co 6:11, 19; 3:16,
&c.). (It thus appears that to be "in the spirit" means here to be
under the dominion of our own renewed mind; because the
indwelling of God's Spirit is given as the evidence that we are "in the
spirit").
Now--"But."
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ--Again, this does not
mean "the disposition or mind of Christ," but the Holy
Ghost; here called "the Spirit of Christ," just as He is called "the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (see on
Ro 8:2).
It is as "the Spirit of Christ" that the Holy Ghost takes possession of
believers, introducing into them all the gracious, dove-like
disposition which dwelt in Him
(Mt 3:16;
Joh 3:34).
Now if any man's heart be void, not of such dispositions, but of the
blessed Author of them, "the Spirit of Christ."
he is none of his--even though intellectually convinced of the truth
of Christianity, and in a general sense influence by its spirit. Sharp,
solemn statement this!
JFB.
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