In Paul's writings "in Christ" is a term denoting union between Christ and the believer. But, those who believe that one is born again before he believes in Jesus Christ believe that one is "in Christ" apart from faith. They often will speak of faith union, but then turn around and put union before faith.
When we believe the gospel, we believe "eis" ("unto," or "into" but "on" in KJV) Christ. In the New Testament the phrase "eis auton" (into him) is used frequently. Notice these texts:
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and is believing on him (eis-into him), may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you may be believing on him (eis-into him) whom He hath sent." (John 6:29)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that is believing on (eis, into) Me is having everlasting life. I am that bread of life." (John 6:47-48)
How do we enter into Christ? Answer: By believing in Christ. Therefore, believing is a means or condition for entering into Christ and having vital union with him.
"In the flesh" vs. "in the Spirit"
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom. 8: 1-2)
"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (vs 8-10)
There is no doubt that regeneration is alluded to in this passage. It is connected with becoming "in the Spirit," and that is defined as having "the Spirit of God dwell in you." To be "in the Spirit" is to "have" or possess "the Spirit of Christ." How does one who is in the flesh become no longer such? To become "in the Spirit"? If it is not by faith, then we must conclude that unbelievers may have the Spirit and be in the Spirit. But, Paul always taught that both Christ and the Spirit were received by faith. It is when Christ enters into the believer that the believer's own "spirit" is quickened ("is life"). Wrote Paul to the Galatian believers:
"This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (3: 2)
If we receive the Spirit by faith (that comes by hearing the word - Rom. 10: 14-17), and it is the receiving of the Spirit that constitutes one as being "in Christ" and "in the Spirit," then regeneration is by faith. Paul also says in the same chapter - "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3: 14) Those who say that regeneration precedes faith must say that the Spirit is received "before" faith, and not "by" faith. Of course, "received the Spirit" and "received Christ" speak of being regenerated, converted, or born again.
Further, the context of Romans chapter eight shows that believing is the way and means for exiting the flesh and entering Christ and the Spirit. He says in chapter six:
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Vs. 17-18)
"Made free from sin" speaks of justification, but "became slaves of righteousness" speaks of regeneration or rebirth. That being so, we can say 1) that both justification and regeneration follow believing (obeying) from the heart the gospel of Christ (form of doctrine), and 2) that justification logically precedes regeneration. The moment that they were made free from sin is the moment they became "in Christ," and "in the Spirit," and were reborn.
Paul talks about being "in the flesh" and "in Christ" (or "in the Spirit") in his epistle to the Ephesians. He writes:
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Eph. 2: 11-13 kjv)
There is no doubt in my mind that the time alluded to by the words "at that time" and "now" are allusions to points in time, the former (at that time) to a time in the life of the Ephesian believers when they went from being "in the flesh" to being "in the Spirit," and "now" references the time after having received Christ. And, of course, to be "in the Spirit" is also to be "in Christ." This point in time, this demarcation point, is the time when the Ephesians believed the gospel of Christ, and when they "received" Christ and were converted. Until a man believes in Christ and is converted he is in the flesh, but once he receives Christ, he is received by Christ, and they two become one.
United To Christ
To be united to Christ is also to be united with the Father and Spirit.
"What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (I Cor. 6: 16-17 nkjv)
This is a good text on our subject of union (or oneness) with Christ. There is a reference to the marriage union in the text. It is the same "joining" that Paul spoke of in his letter to the Romans, where he says -
“ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to (married KJV) another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.” (Rom. 7: 4)
In a marital union, it requires both parties to agree to the covenant that will formally constitute union, which will be followed by communion (or union of bodies in sexual relations). Union of heart precedes formal union and physical union in the paradigm. The assent to be married is equivalent to that act of placing faith and trust in Christ, and in "cleaving" to him as a husband does his wife, or "joining" oneself to him. So we read such verses as these in the old testament:
"...the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD" (Isa. 56: 3 nkjv)
"And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee." (Zech. 2: 11 nkjv)
"But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day." (Deut. 4: 4; see also 10: 20, etc.)
"For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear." (Jer. 13: 11 kjv)
Jesus spoke of how a husband cleaves to his wife and how she and he become one. (Matt. 19: 5)
So, how is one joined to Christ? Answer: By an act of the will in choosing Christ and cleaving to him.
Christ In You Through Faith
“...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...” (Eph. 3: 17)
The overwhelming majority of commentators rightly see this verse as supporting our premise number two that says "union with Christ is by faith." Those who say one is regenerated before faith are affirming that Christ enters the sinner before faith.
Notice the place where Christ specially dwells. It is in the heart, which includes your mind. So the picture at the top of this posting illustrates.
I like how Kenneth Wuest, Greek scholar, translates the words as "that the Christ might finally settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts through your faith."
I think too the words "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" carry the idea of "that Christ may continue to dwell in your hearts by faith," for the Ephesians were already saved and thus already had received Christ. Or, Paul not taking anything for granted (for there are hypocrites and deluded ones) in essence says "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith if he isn't already."
Receiving Christ
"He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 11-13 nkjv)
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Col. 2: 6)
"I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me." (John 5: 43)
We have already spoken of how "receiving the Spirit" is by the "hearing of faith." Here is a similar text, but it speaks of receiving Christ. Of course, all who receive Christ receive the Spirit and vise versa. So, if Christ must be received in order to possess or to have him, to be one with him, then regeneration is by faith. Those who say Christ is in a person before that person has received him is simply like a dog chasing his tail.
Christ condemned some who refused to receive him as Lord and Christ, as Savior and Teacher. This shows that both receiving Christ and rejecting Christ are acts of the will.
Of course, as a Calvinist, I believe that God is the one who works in a person to make him willing. (Psalm 110: 3: Phil. 2: 12-13)
"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)
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