New Testament writers did not shy away from discussing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Actually, they speak rather comfortably about it. When you read through the New Testament notice how often the authors mention that God has poured out His Spirit on those who believe. John the Baptist told the multitudes that Jesus was greater than he was, and that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. The apostle John records these words of Jesus, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John then said: “but this He Spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).
Romans 8 and Galatians 5:16-6:8 speak unreservedly about the Spirit. Paul told the Galatian brethren, that those who are led by the Spirit are not under law. The law is to restrict those who are led by the flesh, because their desire is to do evil. That is why Paul could say in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” The flesh and the Spirit are “contrary to one another” (Gal 5: 17). If we live in the Spirit, or allow the Spirit to live in us, we are Christ’s. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). When the Spirit dwells in us, it is a purifying agent. It rids us of all the putridity caused by the flesh. The lusts of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit cancel each other out. If one is faithful, they do not commit adultery, and they are not idolatrous. If one is peaceful and loving they do not hate or act selfishly. In other words, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings life, and results in the purging out of the flesh, which causes death. Consider these two statements:
1. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace...So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:6,8-9).
2. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14)
The New Testament writers wrote frequently and openly about the Spirit because Old Testament writers such as Isaiah also spoke frequently about the working of the Spirit. One of the central themes of Isaiah message was to warn the people of God about their impending judgment. Conversely, he also foretold of the restoration of Jacob, the people of God. It is clear in his prophecies that the Holy Spirit would play a major part in the restoration of these cleansed people. The Spirit of God is promised to all of his faithful followers. God's Spirit, said Isaiah, would replenish a land that had been destroyed because of the wickedness of the Jews. The waste land would flow with rivers of water. The dry fields would produce plentifully. Why? "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring" (Is 44:3). Those who receive the Spirit of God have one heart and one mind, they fear God and keep his commandments (Ezekiel 11:19; Jeremiah 32:37-41). Joel prophesied concerning the initiation of the era of the Holy Spirit. As a sign that the Spirit was being poured out on the people of God (Rom 5:5), for a time some men and women were blessed with spiritual gifts. Certainly, not every Christian in the first century had spiritual gifts. We know the Christians in Rome did not have these special gifts when Paul wrote them (Romans 1:11), but all faithful followers of Christ today are definitely led by the Spirit. God promises that. Do not mix up the two concepts or just assume they are basically the same thing. The Bible is clear that they are not.
We could continue in greater detail on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but I’ll let you continue the study on your own. Notice in these few scriptures, and the suggested readings below, that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit has to do with how we live. Those who are filled with the Spirit of God, are led by the Spirit of God. Those who are filled with the Spirit of the world (desires of the flesh), are led by the Spirit of the World. As Paul says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). Those who live in the Spirit are cleansed and made new. That is how the Spirit changes the lives of believers (Titus 3:5).
Scriptures to Read About The Holy Spirit:
1. The Book of Isaiah. Pay special attention to imagery regarding the renewal of the promised land, and the restoration of God's people. This mostly occurs from chapters 29-66, the first 24 chapters mainly focus on the destruction of wicked nations, including the "People of God," who failed to obey God.
2. Romans 5:5 & 8:1-30
3. Galatians 5:16-6:8
4. 2Cor 1:21-22
B.A.M. 12.8.06
About Me
- Brent
- I work full-time as a preacher at the Bartlett church of Christ. I graduated from Western Kentucky University with a B.S. in Financial Planning. I am married, and currently have a two year old daughter, and son on the way.
4 comments:
Good thoughts, Brent. I am often a little nervous about how the indwelling occurs and what exactly it means. I know the implanted Word is necessary, but is the Word synonymous with the Spirit? What are your thoughts?
In some ways I think it is, but I don 't think it is the full extent of what the indwelling of the spirit means. I think we really do have the spirit of God dwelling in us, despite the fact that we do not have some supernatural feeling that reveals that fact.
Consider John 7:39, and passages such as Romans 8. I think these passages speak very clearly about the fact that individual followers of Christ, those who believe, will receive the Holy Spirit. We shy away from this because we dont' want to sound charasmatic. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts are two different concepts. When Moses was to choose Joshua as the new leader. God told him that Joshua was a man full of the Spirit, yet we never see him work any miracles until after Moses is out of the picture. Ez 11:19 talks about the fact that God will give his new convenant people an new heart and spirit. We are also told that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I take that to mean that he dwells within us, or at least the Spirit of God should dwell in us.
That being said, There is no doubt that the Spirit guides us through the word of God. He delivered that to us by inspired writers. I wouldn't deny that.
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