Now we must come to understand the difference between the "Spirit UPON" and the "Spirit IN." It was only during what Paul calls "time past," while "the Law" was applicable upon Israel that "the Spirit of the Lord" came "UPON" men. The Spirit came UPON Jesus' "little flock" (Luke 12:32) at "Pentecost," while was still in "time past." Pentecost occurred during the dispensations of "the Law" that was still in force.

In the "but now," which Paul frequently refers to twenty-one times, a major change had occurred marking the dispensational change... from "the Law" to "the dispensation of the grace of God." This came to be only after Israel fell (Rom 11:10-11), was blinded, and set aside (Rom 11:25).

"I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)

Israel's "fell" when they stoned of Stephen to death. 1) Israel had long rejected God, killing His prophets, then 2) they killed His Son, Jesus. 3) The stoning to death of Stephen... this was the third strike (in baseball terms). Israel's fall brought a change of the age because Israel had struck out in their final rejection of the King and His kingdom. Israel is "out" of God's main focus for a long time, about 2,000 years so far. Thus today we of "the body of Christ" live in the age of grace, which will extend until the Gentile age is completed by "the rapture or catching away" (1Thes 4:13-18) of "the church which is His body" (Eph 1:22b-23a). Then during the Tribulation period the Lord will turn again to Israel, to fulfill every promise and covenant with them. In the Millennium He will set up His kingdom in which Israel will reign with Him (Rev 5:10, 20:6).

During this Gentile age today, "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:2), all believers receive "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" to INDWELL them - His "Spirit of Life" IN their spirit, to make them "one spirit" with the resurrected Christ (1Cor 6:17, Col 1:27, Rom 8:9-10).

Thus the difference between the "Spirit upon" and the "Spirit IN is very different and significant. It marks a change of the age. Sadly, the lack of understanding the Scriptures has led to much confusion among Christian believers concerning the impartation of "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:2a) to believers for their life and living today. The Lord's intention under grace today is two-fold, as seen below.

1. The Lord's intention today is that all men would be saved by grace (alone) through their faith (alone) in the Jesus Christ (alone)... as Savior. (cf., Eph 2:8).
2. Then also, at the very moment of their believing, they simultaneously are placed into "the body of Christ" (1Cor 12:13)  and receive "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" by His coming to dwell eternally WITHIN their human spirit (cf., John 3:6, Col 1:27, Rom 8:9-10, 1Cor 6:17).

Christ's Spirit is literally imparted to every believer to be their new, permanent, abiding, eternal life. The former "Mystery (Gk. musterion, secret)" of His indwelling for Gentiles was first revealed to by the Lord Jesus to "the Apostle to the Gentiles," Paul  (Rom 11:13). The Lord himself revealed to and equipped Paul with his "gospel of the grace of God" for ALL those who would simply trust in the Lord Jesus as Savior during this day of "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).  We must understand Paul's message of the now revealed "mystery."

"the MYSTERY (Gk., musterion, a God-kept secret) which Hath Been HID from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints (believers): To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory: (Col. 1:26-27)

Paul called the secret plan of God "the mystery (musterion), which is Christ in you" (Col 1:27). He says "the mystery" had been "kept secret since the world began." This "mystery" was first revealed to Paul for the Gentile "body of Christ" (cf., Eph 3:1-5).

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my (Paul's) gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, According To The Revelation Of 'The Mystery, which was Kept Secret Since The World Began," (Rom 16:25).

Now, the matter of "the Spirit" coming "Upon" men, as we see in the Old Testament and at Pentecost is was and is a quite a different matter from the "Christ IN you." To see this we must understand a key Biblical dispensational contrast. Many Christians today, if not most, have yet to see the distinct contrast between the differing dispensations of "the law," which God gave to Israel through Moses (Jn 1:17) and that of "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:2) that the ascended Lord Jesus gave to "the body of Christ" through Paul.

Today ALL lost men, Jews and Gentiles alike, during this age of grace are considered as lost Gentiles. Israel is "fallen" since "fell" from their once elevated position "above all people" (Exo 19:5, cf., Rom 11:10-11). Thus Paul wrote "there is none righteous no not one... all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:10, 23). Similarly, among saved believers today, Paul says there's no difference between Jews or Gentiles because "all are one in Christ" (Gal 3:28).

Then also, not many students of the Bible have particularly noted the time of the transition between "the dispensation of Law" for Israel, to "the dispensation of the grace of God" for "the body of Christ," which currently exist since it was given to Paul for us today.

The period of Israel under "the Law" of Moses lasted just over 1500 years from about 1440 BC until Paul was given and presented "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:2) for "the body of Christ." That transition period maybe called "the time of the Acts of the twelve Apostles," as seen in the early Acts period; its first several chapters. This period was until the conversion of Saul of Tarsus  who became "Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 11:13). The unique message and ministry of "the gospel of the grace of God" came to be with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to be the Lord's Apostle (Acts 9), known as "Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles." (Rom 11:13).

Now note these contrast.

• The ministry of "the Twelve"  was unto "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," that is "the circumcision" only (cf., Matt 10:5-6, cf. Gal 2:7).
• There ministry differs greatly from that ministry that which came later by Paul in terms of  "the mystery" gospel that was revealed to him "for ye Gentiles" (Eph 3:1-5), which is the "un- circumcision" (Gentiles). Paul says he alone is "THE Apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 11:13).

The core aspect of Paul's revelation concerned the subjective, personal, living, union that all believers, both Jew and Gentile under grace (Gal 3:28) now have by Christ INdwelling them individually. This then makes them the individual members of Christ's universal, invisible "church, which is His body" (Eph 1:22b-23a). This then is another contrast since Israel was dealt with Nationally as a nation. This individuality is precious, as the Lord know us and deals with us individually, knowing our frame. Its fine to be an individual, just not an independent individual, independent of the Lord's governing us from within. Paul called and preached this formerly secret gospel of God that was revealed to Him directly from the resurrected, ascended, celestial, Lord Jesus..."the Mystery... which is CHRIST IN YOU (personally, individually)" (Col 1:26-27).

A key point in discerning the difference between Peters Gospel to "the circumcision" and Paul's "gospel of the grace of God" to "all men"... relate to these two (2) dispensation, the dispensation of "the Law" and "the dispensation of the grace of God."  These two are not just two ages, they speak of two differing relationships with the Lord. This then may be seen by the terms "Spirit UPON" some of the children of Israel, versus that referring to "the Spirit of Christ"... "IN YOU," which we've already discussed rather thoroughly.

In the Old Testament, and until John 20:22 we see that "the Spirit of the Lord... came UPON" Israel's holy men; e.g. the prophets, David, etc. (cf., 2Peter 1:21). E.g., The "Spirit of the Lord came UPON Gideon..." (Judges 6:34). Then also, referring to Pentecost, Jesus told His disciples "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come UPON YOU" (Act 1:8).