Articles
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us” (2 Tim. 1:14). “What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19).
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a subject that has caused and continues to cause much religious disagreement. From the verses above, we cannot deny that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, so the question is not if He dwells in us, rather how. In this article, we will examine four Bible concepts that will help us understand the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Father and Son both dwell in us as well.
“If we love one another, God dwells in us.” (1 Jn. 4:12)
“If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin.” (Rom. 8:10)
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)
By faith: all three of the Godhead dwell in us by faith. (Eph. 3:17)
Received the Spirit by the law, or by hearing of faith? (Gal. 3:2)
The Bible teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one in the same, and have unanimity in their purpose and will. Therefore, our concept of the Holy Spirit must be the same as that of the Father and the Son as far as divine nature is concerned. Just as God and the Son do not personally dwell in each individual, neither does the Spirit. If they did, we should accept and expect worship!
2. Metonyms: A metonym is a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated. For example, “Washington” is a metonym for the federal government of the U.S. The Bible uses metonyms many times. Consider Luke 16:29: Did the rich man literally have Moses and the Prophets? No, they had long since died. He had their writings. In the same way, the term Holy Spirit is often used in place of the effects, operations, influences, or gifts thereof. The Spirit came on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), at Samaria (8:14-18), Cornelius (10:44), Ephesus (19:6), and Corinth (1 Cor. 12:4-11) through miraculous gifts and operations. This was NOT the Spirit personally, but His presence. He was present. Today, after miracles, the Spirit still influences us! How? By His teaching through the Word. He was there miraculously, but in this was as well. (See Eph. 5:18-23)
“When we do the Lord’s will, affected and controlled by it, the Spirit is in us. When we permit the fruit of the Spirit to be a part of us, the Spirit through the fruit dwells in us.”
3. Functions attributed to a personal indwelling: Once people make the assumption that the Holy Spirit personally acts and controls, they try to find something for it to do.
Rom 5:5 “He sheds abroad the love of God...” This passage states what happens, NOT how. Love for God is learned through the Gospel, which was dictated and directed by the Holy Spirit. We only learn of God’s love for us through His word, and we love God as a result of knowing His love for us.
Rom. 8:26 “He helps our infirmities.” This verse’s application is what the Spirit does for us in Heaven, not in the human body.
Eph. 3:14 “He strengthens the inner man.” Again, this verse says what, not how. The Bible teaches that the Word builds us up and gives strength (Col. 1:10-11; Acts 20:32).
“He guides and directs.” Although the Spirit directed the Apostles where to teach (Acts 16:6-7), the days of miraculous works are over (1 Cor. 13:8-13). As much as man wants to suggest that the “Spirit made me miss my bus so I could teach this man...” these are mere assertions that cannot be proved by the Bible.
“He illuminates the Word.” Does this mean the Spirit gives special insight?? It is a completely bogus claim. “Through thy precepts I get understanding” (Psa 119:104). He did not need extra in addition to the Word. “Whereby when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 5:4). Reading yields understanding. If different religious groups claim “illumination from the Spirit” which is right?
“That the Spirit of God enlightens and converts sinners; comforts and strengthens saints; that love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, fidelity, self-control, are all the fruit of the Spirit, we learn not from inner consciousness, but from the Word of God. The modus operandi -- mode, medium, the HOW -- is the Word of God. Independent of the Word we could never know whether there be any Holy Spirit.”
God and Christ never personally occupied anyone, and likewise, the Holy Spirit does not personally occupy anyone.
-Daniel Curtis
