Christ Being Revealed to Us VS. Christ Being Revealed in Us

 

Christ Being Revealed to Us VS. Christ Being Revealed in Us

Galatians 1:15 But God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 And when it was His good pleasure to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles as the gospel, I immediately did not consult with flesh and blood,

 

Aspect	Christ Being Revealed to Us	Christ Being Revealed in Us
Meaning	An external revelation process where the knowledge or truth of Christ enters into us from outside	An internal subjective experience where Christ Himself as a living person is manifested within us
Distinction	Emphasizes the transmission and reception of knowledge and truth	Emphasizes Christ's indwelling and expression as a living person
Examples	1.          Acquiring knowledge and truth about Christ through Bible reading 2.          Understanding Christ's teachings through sermons	1.          Christ living in believers (Gal 2:20) 2.          Christ being formed in believers (Gal 4:19) 3.          God being pleased to reveal His Son in Paul (Gal 1:15-16)
Application	1.          Reading the Bible and spiritual books 2.          Receiving teaching and preaching	1.          Setting aside one's own concepts 2.          Turning one's heart to the Lord 3.          Paying attention to the spirit 4.          Spending time in the Lord's word with a prayerful spirit and atmosphere
Interrelationship	Serves as the foundation and prerequisite for Christ being revealed in us Provides knowledge content about Christ	Built upon the foundation of "revealed to us" Transforms knowledge into life experience Revelation and experience are closely linked: the measure of revelation brings an equal measure of experience
Related Scripture	Luke 24:45 "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (regarding the veil covering) 2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were hardened, because the same veil remains until this day when they read the Old Testament, not having the revelation that this veil is taken away in Christ.  (the gospel being veiled) 2 Corinthians 4:3 If our gospel be veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing; 2 Corinthians 4:4 In them the god of this age has blinded the minds of them who do not believe, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine among them.	Gal 1:15-16 "But when God...was pleased to reveal His Son in me" Gal 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" Gal 3:14 (the blessing of Abraham, the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit) Gal 4:19 "until Christ is formed in you" 2 Cor 3:16-17 "Whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" 2 Cor 4:6 "...this God has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" Eph 1:17-18 (spirit of wisdom and revelation, eyes of heart being enlightened)

 

Conclusion:

The table shows that "Christ being revealed to us" and "Christ being revealed in us" are two different but related aspects of spiritual experience. The former focuses on the transmission of knowledge, while the latter emphasizes the experience of life. A true spiritual life requires balance between both: we need both knowledge of Christ (revealed to us) and the reality of Christ's indwelling (revealed in us). "The measure of revelation we have brings an equal measure of experience." These two aspects complement each other and together promote the growth of the believer's life.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 20 The Way to Accept, Experience, and Enjoy the All-inclusive Christ as the All-inclusive Life-giving Spirit (who is the epitome of the all-inclusive blessings of God’s full gospel)