In the Spirit

[Van]

The phrase "in the Spirit" is found about 19 times in the NASB version of the New Testament. Of these, the Greek construction, "en (in) pneuma (the faith) is found in 13 verses. Two verses have the Greek construction "en (in) ho (the) pneuma (faith), two have "ho (in the) pneuma (Spirit) and two have "pneuma" translated by itself as "in the Spirit." Even more confusing, the context of these various Greek phrases into the same English phrase indicates differing meanings.

Let us look at some of these:

1) In the Spirit could mean being spiritually alive within Christ as a born anew believer. This meaning is found in Romans 8:9, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 4:6,

2) Frequently the phrase indicates acting in accordance with God's purpose and will. This meaning is found in Matthew 22:43, Luke 1:17, Acts 19:21, Ephesians 2:22,
Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 1:8,

3) With you mind set on spiritual things of the spiritual realm. This meaning is found in 1 Corinthians 14:16, Ephesians 4:23, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 4:2, Revelation 17:3 and Revelation 21:10.

4) Other translations and NASB footnotes identify "in the Spirit" with the action of the Spirit, i.e "by the Spirit. This meaning is found in Ephesians 3:5,
1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Timothy 3:16,​

 

[Van]

Romans 8:9 NASB
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Here obviously, the meaning of the phrase is the person has been transferred spiritually into the spiritual body of Christ, thus in the Spirit means within Christ's Spirit. Next, everyone who has been transferred into Christ also has been sealed in Christ forever with our Helper, our Paraclete, the Spirit of God, which can be referred to as the Spirit of any of the three Persons of the Trinity. If we are not indwelt, we are not "in Christ," and if they are not "in Christ," they do not belong to Him, they are not one of Christ's "My sheep" and if they physically die in that unholy state, Christ will say "I never knew you, depart...."

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also died once for all, just for unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

This verse is vague in that it is difficult for the reader to determine if Christ is the person put to death in the flesh, or are the persons in view, those baptized into Christ including being baptized into His death but made alive, regenerated, born anew within Christ as a new creation.

If this second view is correct, then the idea may be we, having been put to death spiritually by the consequence of sin, are now made alive within Christ's Spirit.

1 Peter 4:6 NASB scrubbed of italic additions.
For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to God.

Here, in my view a better translation to provide clarity would be "they may live within Christ's Spirit, according to God.