Now that the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you are in Christ and Christ is in you. You, God, Christ, and His Spirit are one.

But of what benefit is this new union? Let’s explore how this new birth will change you.

• First you are no longer under condemnation. Romans 8:1
• You are set free from the law of sin and death. Which is to say, sin no longer rules over you. Romans 8:2
• You now meet all the righteous requirements of the law through your union with Christ. Romans 8:4
• Your mind is now set on what the Spirit desires, not on the sinful desires of the flesh. Romans 8:5
• You have peace of mind through the controlling nature of Christ’s Spirit. Romans 8:6
• You please God and now willingly submit to His law, not to be saved, but as an act of love. Romans 8:7
• In all things you are controlled by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:9
• You belong to Christ. Romans 8:9
• Christ is in you. Romans 8:10
• The Spirit of Christ has given new life to your mortal body. Romans 8:11
• Your earthly body will be redeemed. Romans 8:23
• You are now obligated to live by the Spirit and produce its fruit. Romans 8:12-13
• You are led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14
• You are free from the spirit of fear. Romans 8:15
• You are now a son or daughter of God. Romans 8:14 (Before you were God’s enemy.)
• You received a Spirit of sonship. Romans 8:15
• The Spirit of Christ testifies before God that you are His child. Romans 8:16
• You are an heir of God and co-heir with Christ. Romans 8::17 This means you now share in all the benefits due a child of God.
• You share in the sufferings of Christ. Romans 8:17 This may not sound like a great benefit, but when you recognize that those who persecute you do so because you are in Christ, you will enjoy a sense of honor in knowing you are worthy to be counted with Christ. Romans 8:17
• Through your suffering in Christ you will also share in his glory. Romans 8:17
• You enjoy a hope others lack. A hope that saves. A hope that endures patiently, expectantly. Romans 8:24-25
• The Spirit of Christ prays for you. His Spirit knows what to pray on your behalf and intercedes for you. Even if all you can do is groan, if words fail you, Christ searches your heart. He knows the mind of the Spirit. You no longer need to wonder how to pray. The guesswork is gone. Even if you pray incorrectly, the Holy Spirit intercedes for you, correcting your requests. These prayers will align with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
• When God calls you to a task, whatever you do, however you do it, regardless of the circumstances or perceived outcome, God will work it out for the good. Not necessarily for your good, but at least your efforts won’t be wasted. Romans 8:28
• You will be conformed into the likeness of Christ. If you like how Jesus behaved, cared for others, listened before speaking, never seemed to be in a panic or hurry. . .  You’ll like the way He fits on you. Romans 8:29
• You will possess: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
• All your sins will be rinsed and removed. Not once, but each time you go through the wash cycle.
• As a result, you will be glorified. Romans 8:30
• God will have your back. He will be in your corner. Romans 8:31
• No charge lodged against you will stick. Though others will slander you, God will eventually clear your name. Romans 8:33
• God is your justice. Romans 8:33
• Not only is the Holy Spirit tweaking your prayers so they align with God’s will, but God himself is praying for you. Romans 8:34
• You will remain fixed in the love of Christ. Romans 8:35
• No amount of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, danger, violent threats, or poverty will take you from the arms of Christ. Romans 8:35
• You not only win your battles, but you are the champion of champions. Romans 8:37
• No power, neither death nor life, angels or demons, your past, present or future, your deepest valley (depression) or highest mountain top experience (ecstasy) can take you from the love of God. During any and all of this you will remain in Christ and he will remain in you. Romans 8:38-39
• You will know the thoughts of God. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
• You will receive wisdom and revelation, so that you may know God and his Word better. Ephesians 1:17
• When you read God’s Word, your heart will be warmed. Luke 24:32
• When you read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will explain what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Christ. Luke 24:27 This is as it should be. The author of the text always has a greater understanding of its meaning than the reader. When you read Scripture with the Holy Spirit as your guide, the Author is revealing His deep truths to you. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God (His Word), for they are folly to him. He is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 All Scripture is God-breathed (God’s Spirit). 2 Timothy 3:16 
• You will know the hope to which you have been called. Ephesians 1:18
• The eyes of your heart will be informed. Ephesians 1:18
• You will have power. Acts 1:8
• The Spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth John 16:13 Christ says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6 His Spirit will guide you in His Truth. “You will know the truth (Christ), and the truth will set you free (of sin).” John 8:32 & John 8:34-36
• Your inheritance is guaranteed. When you believed, you were marked in Christ with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
• You will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry (loving anything more than God) and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies. Galatians 5:19-20 The transformative process of the Spirit may take time — maybe a lifetime. But in the same way a child grows from infant to toddler to child to young adult to maturity, you should over time, see these changes take place.

A Barna survey in 2009 showed that only 25% of professing Christians were certain the Holy Spirit is real and dwells within those in Christ. This lines up with Jesus’ parable of the sower where only 25% receive the seed and produce a good crop. Clearly, it’s hard to grow fruit when you are not connected to the vine. Those in Christ and who have Christ in them “now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.” Romans 11:17 We should not boast in this. It is not our doing. We do not support the root, but the root supports us. Romans 11:18

If you wish to enjoy all the benefits of being in Christ and having Christ in you — in having the mind of God, character of Christ, and clear insight into God’s words and meaning — then ask Christ to come into you so that you may also be in Him. Become one of the 25% who produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Be like Christ. With His Spirit, you can!