The Great Substitute: With Him or In Him?
Only when the bulb is in the socket does light shine. So it is with us—we don’t live near Christ, we live in Him.
In today’s reflection, E. Stanley Jones explores a crucial distinction: is Christianity merely being with Christ, or truly being in Christ? He presses into this by examining the phrase “in Christ,” most heavily emphasized by the Apostle Paul but certainly not exclusive to him. The weight of Paul’s usage—97 times—compels us to take this reality seriously. Jones emphasizes that this is not merely a Pauline idea or a theological abstraction—it is the only real state of being. Compared to this, all else is illusion.
He contrasts “with Him” Christianity—being near Jesus, emulating His life, or aligning with His values—with “in Him” Christianity, where union with Christ becomes the believer’s very life. Jones likens the “with Him” model to an electric bulb beside the socket—it’s close, but powerless. Similarly, the seed beside soil or food near the body accomplishes nothing. Life comes from union, not proximity.
He warns of a troubling trend: shifting from abiding in Christ to merely holding beliefs about Christ. It’s the Great Substitute—doctrinal agreement replaces divine intimacy. Christianity turns into a theology about Jesus instead of a surrendered life in Jesus. Jones is sounding the alarm for us to move beyond conceptual Christianity to real participation in Christ’s life.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You are no longer merely with Christ—you are in Him, and He is in you. I chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world so that your very identity would be found in Him. I raised you up with Him and seated you with Him in the heavenly places so that even now, your life is hidden with Christ in Me.
This is not a metaphor or a concept—it is reality. The old you died, and the life you now live is Christ living in you. You are joined to Him, one spirit with Him. Do not settle for standing beside the Savior, observing Him from a distance as though imitation were the goal. You have received the Spirit of My Son into your heart, crying out, “Abba, Father.”
Christ in you is the hope of glory. You have been baptized into Him, clothed in Him, and made complete in Him. This is not about knowing more about Me—it is about knowing Me, because eternal life is not a concept, it is a Person. You are not called to carry information, but to carry Christ.
Abide in Him, and My life will bear fruit through you—not the artificial fruit of effort, but the organic overflow of union. There is no separation. There is no gap to bridge. You are in Christ Jesus, who became for you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
So walk in Him. Think in Him. Rejoice in Him. Live from the inside out, because you are not outside looking in. You are home.
Scripture references: Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 1:27; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:10; John 17:3; John 15:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:6
Prayer
Father, I rest in the truth that I am no longer near You—I am in You. I rejoice that this isn’t a relationship I must maintain through proximity or effort, but one of union and eternal participation. Christ is my life now, not just my example. I thank You for revealing the difference between knowing about You and being in You. I renounce the Great Substitute and embrace the Greater Reality. May the life that flows from You flow freely through me today, not because I strive, but because I abide. You have made me one with Christ, and that is enough.
Devotional Credit:
This post is based on insights from In Christ by E. Stanley Jones.
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