Holy Spirit

Hi. My name is Mike Noble. I’m one of the elders for the Central Shelby church of Christ. I’ll just speak for myself in saying I’m glad you logged on to our forum and asked the questions you did. They all are good questions, questions that I’ve sought the answers to myself.

I concur with what I perceive to be your usage of all of the Scriptures that you cited. These passages speak of the Holy Spirit being “given” to obedient believers, a matter which we must accept by faith.

I’ll post the following additional passages (all from the New King James Version) for you to consider, all of which speak of the Spirit “dwelling” in the Christian. Romans 8:9, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” And, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Further, 1 Corinthians 3:16 asks, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Also, James 4:5 asks, “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’?”

There appears to be no denying the fact that the Spirit is given to obedient believers, and that He dwells in us. But in what sense He has been given, and just how He dwells -- this I perceive to be what your question is about.

To “dwell” means “to inhabit; to take up residence in.” Such can be literal or it can be figurative. Even in the Scriptures there are many persons who are said to “dwell” in certain places, but often this is to be taken figuratively. For instance, Satan was said to “dwell” in Pergamos (Revelation 2:13). Truth is said to “abide” in us (2 John 2). These are figurative dwellings.

What has always helped my understanding of the Holy Spirit’s dwelling in us, is the fact that the scriptures speak also of God dwelling in us (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 John 4:12-16). Also, Christ is said to be “in” us (Romans 8:10; Colossians 1:27). How do God and Christ dwell in us? The Bible says “through faith” which comes from hearing God’s word (Ephesians 3:17; Romans 10:17) and by “abiding in the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9).

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian in much the same way, through the medium of the written word -- God’s word. Through faith that is produced by hearing God’s word, we receive the Spirit. I won’t type the passages out here, but Galatians verses 2, 5, and 14 of Galatians chapter 3 really point this out, receiving the Spirit “by faith.”

Another illustration from the Bible that has really helped my understanding is by putting two very similar passages side by side and comparing them. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul says, “but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” -- In Colossians 3:16, Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” This comparison seems to explain how we can be “filled with the Spirit,” by letting the word of Christ “dwell” in us.

I firmly believe the way to tell if God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit dwell in a person is to observe whether that person BEARS THE LIKENESS of them. I.e., if God and Christ truly dwell in me, I then will live as they command me to live. If the Holy Spirit truly dwells in me, then the fruit of the Spirit will be seen in my life (Galatians 5:22ff). (Conversely, if the Spirit doesn’t dwell in a person, people will see the works of the flesh in their life.)

Wow! I’ve typed a lot here! I hope I didn’t get too wordy. I especially hope that perhaps I’ve helped your understanding in some small way.

I surely don’t claim to fully comprehend the nature of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. But I do believe that if we will just accept and believe the fact that He does do so in the obedient believer, that this is vitally important. Thanks for reading. I would greatly appreciate any further thoughts you might have about the Spirit.

By the way: do you live in the Shelby county area? It’s so refreshing to hear of someone who is looking for a church that is trying to work and worship after the teaching of the New Testament.

Mike