Indwelling The Believer

by John Kerr, Barrhead Scotland | Category: The Holy Spirit: | Jun 1993

After initlailly convicting us of our sinner need before God and bringing us to repentance, the Holy Spfrit witnesses with our spirits that we are children of God (Rom.8:16).

The quickening that took place at the new birth was dependent on our response to the Holy Spirit's voice in the gospel message, through which message we were saved (1 Cor. 15:2). Following on from this, we would naturally expect that just as we cannot be reconciled to God apart from responding to the Holy Spirit, so we cannot live victorious Christian lives apart from an on-going response to that seif~same SpiriL Furthermore, how better to make Him available to us than to place Him within us at the new birth. Then He becomes our permanent Guest and the duty of every believer is to respond to His leading. "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Rom. 8:14 MV); in other words the way to identify true likeness to God is to recognize the Spirit's leading in a believer's life. The purpose of this article then is twofold, firstly to establish that the Holy Spirit does in fact permanently indwell each believer and thereafter to discuss how best the believer can respond to His leading. These two points are presented as propositions, putting them to the test by the application of relevant scriptures.

ProposItion 1

The Holy Spirit permanently indwells each believer from the moment of the new birt~ When our Saviour said of the Holy Spirit that He would abide with the disciples for ever, dwell with them and be in them (John 14:16-17) what did He mean? In contrast to this world which neither sees the Holy Spirit nor knows Him, the disciples were reminded that He already was with them, for they knew Him and indeed had no doubt felt His power when they had gone forth two by two to work miracles (Luke 10:1-

9). However, they were now to be prepared for the fuller gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the distinct change introduced by that new experience, namely that the Holy Spirit was going to be "in them" and "with them for ever". All of this was clearly predicted by the Lord. This permanent abiding was in contrast to the separation which was about to take place when the Lord departed, for He would come again in the Person of the Holy Spirit and this time there would be no parting. The New Testament letters reinforce this new role of the Holy Spirit when, for example, Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6 verse 19 that the

believer's physical body is a temple of the Holy SpiriL This "flesh and bones container" is clearly a dwelling place of the Holy Spiril It is not surprising, therefore, that the apostle adds "glorify God in your body". God indwelling the believer in the Person of the Holy Spirit is set out in 1 John chapter 4 where we read "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (vA). God is in us "because He has given us of His Spirit" (v.13) and "whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in Him" (v.15).

From Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 we learn that having believed we were sealed with (not by) the Holy Spirit, a guarantee against the future, which guarantee is with us as a pledge until the day of ~mption, the day when our redernption is complete, when soul and body will be reunited at the rapture (Eph. 4:30). As far as the earthly life and earthly body of the believer are concerned, the Holy Spirit will have done His work, coming to us at the new birth, taking up residence in our bodies and abiding with us for life's journey.

Another expression in the New Testament which is used of the Holy Spirit in relation to the believer is the word anointing. Prophets, priests and kings were all anointed (i.e. set apart for a particular service). The anointing was indicated by pouring oil on the head and since oil is a symbol for the Holy Spirit it is not surprising to find the Holy Spirit linked with anointing in the New TestamenL It would appear

from Acts 10 verses 43 to 45 and 2 Corinthians 1 verses 21 and 22 that the giving of the Holy Spirit to the believer at conversion is an anointing by God, 1 John chapter 2 verses 20 and 27 associate the anointing with that aspect of the Holy Spirit's work which teaches us truth and reveals ChrisL Of course we must abide in Christ for that teaching to be wholly effective.

Indwelt, sealed, anointed; these are all consistent with the fact that the believer, saved at the new birth from the eternal punishment his sins deserve, cannot lose that salvation.

Proposition 2

There is a clear responsibility resting on the believer to respond daily to the leading of the inowelling Spirit. If this leading is not recognized or, if recognized, the response is inadequate a great purpose of the Christian lifr will be missed. Since the Holy Spirit is a gift common to all believers it should be clear that the matter we now address is not only for leaders and eminent saints, but for all children of God. Let us come again to Romans chapter 8 verse 14 which reads "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God". Now the clear purpose of this leading is to infuse into us the chacter of Christ (see 2 Cor. 3:18). The intention is to produce holiness and enable sin to be conquered not to escape trials of suffering, but to overcome. The Holy Spirit. should become the regulative influence. in our lives, controlling all our actions. It is not being carried, for that is not being

led, neither is one led when one goes ones own way, for to lead is to take control, and this we must allow the Holy Spirit to do. It has been said that when we are led we are always conscious of the road on which we travel - its roughness, steepness, twists and turns. The Holy Spirit has put us on the right path, now He plans to keep us there. It is not enough to be "in Christ", it is not enough to be "in the I�rd", we must walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

Under the control of the Spirit we discipline our nat~upuises and, in certain cases, reduce them to a condition of death resulting in spiritual life life in the Spirit (Rom. 8:13). The fulness of this is referred to by the Lord in Joli" chap~ 7 verses 38 and

39. These sIiea~ks come loom the indwelling Holy Spirit and flow out to others. Our joy in the lord will be full, and evident to all who meet us. "Sons of God" are so diiferent from all others.

What a marvellous souroe of power

is within us, for consider these scriptures - "Strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man" ~ph. 3:16), "greater is He that is in you thatn he that is in the worid" (1 John 4:4). Do you see triumpus in the

lives of other Christians that you don't see in your own? You have the same Holy Spirit and the same power - only you must let Him lead. Don't press on with your own ideas and expect God to ~ staaap them, but follow His leading and God will infuse His power into youbytheHoly SpiriL Only then

can you be truly victorious.

A vonside~on of the indwelling Spirit would ~dly be complete without a reference to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). As often poinled out in mir-, it is one fruit with nine characiristics. TIsse are not c-us loom wIcich we ~lect only what suits us or might appal to our natural character'sties. We are neeant to produce them all, thereby 'eploducing Christ's character within us. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (GaL 5:25 NIV).

To -NI up, we see the Holy Spirit as our perKanent guest, our powerful leader, our - seal and our private comforter. He is with us, in us, leading, guiding, teaching and filling.

All of ibis is ineeed a traasure in an earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4:7). In view of this, what Knanner of PersOns ought we tobeinallholy living and godliness (2 Pet. 3:11).

Speaking one to ahther in psalmS and hymns and spiritual songs, singing

and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving ~ks always for all things in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God' even the Father; subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ (~ph. 5:19-21).

John Kerr, Barrhead Scotland | Jun 1993
The Holy Spirit: