THE HOLY SPIRIT
What does it mean
for the Holy Spirit to “dwell” in a person?
The Issue
The issue is NOT whether the Holy Spirit is spoken of as dwelling in the Christian.
He is and He does. See 2Tim. 1:14; 1Co. 6:19-20. The issue IS: Does this mean
He literally and mystically takes up abode within the Christian and directly
affects his heart, or, does it refer to His influence in the heart and life
of a Christian through the agency of the Word? The question is not whether the
Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian, but HOW—directly and personally,
or indirectly through means used to influence the Christian.
The Spirit dwelling in the Christian does NOT refer to:
• The omnipresence of God - ALL men are in His presence.
• Pantheism - The Holy Spirit is a rational, divine, spiritual being.
He is not to identified as the material elements and energies of our body.
• Baptism in the Holy Spirit - see previous lesson.
• Spiritual gifts (miracles) given to Christians - They have passed away,
yet Christians today can be said to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
• Simply being able to quote scripture or having a knowledge of scripture.
While knowing scripture is a requisite to the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person,
one may possess a knowledge of scripture and the Holy Spirit not dwell in him.
What some believe about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
• He personally, literally indwells the Christian, but does not know what
he does.
• He personally, literally indwells the Christian to open the understanding
and/or to strengthen one spiritually.
• He personally, literally indwells the Christian and gives one the scriptures
he is trying to recall.
• He personally, literally indwells the Christian and guides him in everyday
affairs, e.g. finding a parking spot, etc.
• He personally, literally indwells the Christian to work miracles.
“Indwelling”—What Does It Mean?
“Indwelling” is a combination of “in” and “dwelling.”
What does “in” mean in Ac. 20:8?
Can it possibly have that same meaning in Jn. 15:4; 17:21? If so, explain.
What does Jesus mean when he says a branch cannot bear fruit unless it “abides
in the vine”?
So, while “in” may mean “inside of,” it can also mean
“in connection with” and refer to some kind of relationship. Context
and harmony must determine its meaning and what the connection, or relationship,
is.
What does “dwells” mean in Rev. 2:13 (last word in verse)? Draw
your conclusion from the information in the verse.
What does “indwells,” or “dwells in,” mean in Rom. 7:17-20.
Base your answer on what is said in these verses.
What does “dwell” mean in Col. 3:16? See the result in the rest
of v16.
So, while “dwelling in” may simply mean living in a place, it may
also be used figuratively to refer to some continued relationship. It contrasts
permanence with temporariness. For example, it may refer to a continuing influence—motivating,
affecting decisions, effecting emotions in one’s daily walk, as in Col.
3:16, or to being united with another in heart, will in one’s daily life,
as in 1Jn. 2:6; 3:6,24; 4:15,16, or to a continuing, gracious fellowship, as
in Jn. 14:23.
In view of the above, one cannot conclude that since the Holy Spirit is said
to “dwell in” us that therefore He literally and personally dwells
in us, any more so than when it is said God or Christ dwells in us, or that
Satan dwells in Pergamum. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit personally dwells in
us and influences us directly, apart from or in addition to the influence of
the Word of God, there must be some other evidence besides the phrase “dwells
in.”
We have already learned in our previous lessons that the influences the Holy
Spirit is said to have upon us are also attributed to the Word, the Word being
His instrument in operating on the human heart. (See lesson, “The Work
of the Holy Spirit in Revelation,” especially the section on “The
Holy Spirit and Believers.”) Again, if He influences our hearts in any
other way, where is the evidence?
Objections
Does this not deny the Spirit dwells in the Christian?
No. Does an understanding that saying God and Christ “dwell in”
is a figurative way of speaking of the relationship Christians have with God
and Christ deny that they dwell in the Christian? This study seeks to explain
HOW the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian—what that phrase meant to
those people who used it.
Does this not push the Spirit out of our lives?
Not at all. Does an understanding that God and Christ “dwell in”
the Christian by faith push either of them out of our lives? An understanding
of what the Bible teaches about the Spirit helps us to appreciate Him as a Divine
Being and to see how vital His work is to our salvation.
“You don’t believe what the Bible says.”
It is not a question of what it says, but what it means. For example, Jesus
said, “Watch our and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,”
Mt. 16:11. But He did not mean “leaven” at all. Note that his disciples
misunderstood him, reacting to what he said rather than what he meant. What
did he mean?
“This equates the Holy Spirit with the Word; is He no more than the Word
of God?”
The dentist fills teeth by the instrumentality of dental instruments; does that
make the dentist the dental tools? You convert people by means of the gospel;
does that mean you are no more than the gospel? The Holy Spirit sent messengers
to Peter (Ac. 10:20) through an angel and Cornelius (Ac. 10:7,8); is the Holy
Spirit to be equated with an angel or Cornelius? Instrumentality or agency is
understood in other areas; why should it be so difficult when referring to the
Holy Spirit and His work? “agency”—“2: a person or thing
through which power is exerted or an end is achieved: instrumentality <communicated
through the agency of the ambassador>” Miriam Webster’s Collegiate
Dict., 10th Edition.
“This takes the spirituality out of religion.”
“Spirituality” is confused with “emotionalism.” A “spiritual”
person is one who “walks by the Spirit” (the norm of the Spirit)
and bears “the fruit of the Spirit,” Gal. 5:22-26...6:1. A spiritual
person may indeed experience such emotional “highs” of joy, relief,
etc., but he may also experience emotional “lows” such as fear,
concern, etc. (2Co. 1:5,8; 2:4,12-13; 7:4-5, 8-9,13; 11:28,29).
“An infidel can memorize scriptures. That does not change him.”
True, for the Holy Spirit so designed His revelation that it does its work in
a “honest and good” heart, Lk. 8:11-15. See Ac. 28:24-28 and many
such examples. While an infidel can memorize scriptures and it not change him,
have you ever known any one who worshipped Jesus Christ who had never heard
the Scriptures??
Quick Quiz
Choose all correct answers in the following.
1. “Dwell in,” as used by the authors of the Scriptures
a. Always meant a personal, literal abode by which direct influence was exerted
on the heart and life of the individual
b. Continued influence in the heart and life of an individual
c. Being united with another in heart, will and life
d. Continuing, gracious fellowship
2. The following are spoken of as dwelling or abiding in the Christian
a. God
b. Christ
c. The Holy Spirit
d. None of the above
3. True or False
a. Christians abide in God
b. Christ abides in God
c. Christians abide in Christ
d. God abides in Christ
4. “Dwells in” or “abides in” is put in contrast to
a. Having no spiritual gifts
b. Having no direct inward impulse and guidance
c. Transitoriness, leaving
d. None of the above
5. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, or influences us
a. In order to lead us to salvation
b. In order to give us inward moral strength apart from faith in the Word of
God
c. In order to guide us into the truth by leading us inwardly to correct interpretation
of the Bible when we study
d. In order to give us power to speak in tongues
7. True or False
a. The Holy Spirit dwells in Christians
b. The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with our lives as Christians.
c. The Holy Spirit is the Word of God.
d. If you believe the Bible, you must believe that the Holy Spirit personally
and literally dwells within Christians.
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