"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD" The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit by Mark Copeland

 

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"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD"

The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit

INTRODUCTION

1. Several passages speak of the Spirit given to the Christian...
1. Jesus promised the Spirit in some way that would be unique - cf. Jn 7:37-39
1. "...Christ is speaking here of what is peculiar to his own personal reign and administration." - Robert Milligan, Scheme of Redemption, p.283
2. "He manifestly refers in this passage to something which had hitherto been enjoyed by no one, and which could be enjoyed by none until after that he himself was glorified." - ibid.
3. "This, it would seem, could not have reference to the mediate agency of the Spirit, through the written word and the ordinary workings of God's providence; for through these media the Spirit had always operated on the minds of both Jews and Patriarchs." - ibid.
4. This promise also does not have reference to any miraculous manifestation of the Spirit, as such had been experienced prior to the glorification of Jesus - e.g., Lk 1:41,67
2. Peter promised the Spirit to those who repent and are baptized - cf. Ac 2:38-39
1. "The gift of the Spirit promised in Ac 2:38 was the Spirit itself" - David Lipscomb, Queries and Answers
2. "The expression means the Holy Spirit as a gift" - J.W. McGarvey, New Commentary on Acts of Apostles
3. "Certainly the gift of the Spirit is the Spirit itself given." - Moses Lard, Lard's Quarterly
4. "The gift of the Holy Spirit is not some definite thing the Holy Spirit gives, but the Holy Spirit as a gift." - R. L. Whiteside, Reflections
3. Other passages to consider are Ac 5:32; Ro 5:5
2. Such promises of the Spirit likely refer to what is called the indwelling of the Spirit...
1. "Since the gift of the Spirit in Acts 2:38 is promised to all believing penitents who are baptized into Christ, and since the Spirit dwells in all Christians, this is the gift of the Spirit which was promised in Ac 2:38. - James D. Bales, The Holy Spirit And The Christian, p.13
2. "...the reference is to that indwelling of the Holy Spirit by which we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, and without which we are not of Christ." - J. W. McGarvey, New Commentary on Acts of Apostles, p.39 (commenting on Ac 2:38)
3. "If they would repent and be baptized, receiving and cherishing the word of God in their hearts, this Holy Spirit as the indwelling guest of the church and the Christian would be their portion." - David Lipscomb, Queries and Answers, p.222 (commenting on Ac 2:38)

[Whether certain passages (such as Jn 7:37-39; Ac 2:38) specifically refer to the Spirit's indwelling may be debatable. But one thing is certain, and that is...]

1. THE FACT OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING
1. THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN THE CHURCH...
1. The church is the temple of God, in which the Spirit dwells - 1Co 3:16
2. The church is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit - Ep 2:21-22
3. "...God, by means of the Spirit, dwells in the spiritual temple, in the hearts of believers. This temple is composed of 'living stones' (1Pe 2:5), has a holy priesthood, and spiritual sacrifices." - B.W. Johnson, People's New Testament (commenting on Ep 2:22)
4. "Christians are builded together in Christ, for a habitation, a dwelling place of God on earth. He dwells in this holy habitation in the person of the Spirit." - J.W. Shepherd, A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, Vol. IV, p.53 (commenting on Ep 2:22)
-- Thus the Spirit dwells in the church as a whole, making it possible for the church to be a temple in which God may dwell
2. THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN THE CHRISTIAN...
1. Necessary to belonging to Christ, to receiving life in our mortal bodies - Ro 8:9-11
1. If we do not have the Spirit, we are not His
2. If we have the Spirit, He will impart life to our mortal bodies
2. A reason to flee sexual immorality - 1Co 6:18-19
1. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
2. What is said of the church as whole in 1Co 3:16, is now said here of our bodies
-- Thus the Spirit dwells in each Christian individually, which ought to inspire godly living

[No Christian disputes the fact of the Spirit's indwelling. What is often disputed is...]

2. THE NATURE OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING
1. THE ISSUE DEFINED...
1. Is the Spirit's indwelling literal, personal?
1. Does the Spirit literally dwell in the Christian?
2. Does He somehow personally reside in the body of each Christian?
2. Or is the Spirit's indwelling mediated, through the Word only?
1. Does the Spirit figuratively dwell in the Christian?
2. Does He dwell in the Christian only in the sense that the Word abides in us?
-- I understand the Spirit to literally and personally dwell in the Christian
2. ARGUMENTS FOR A LITERAL, PERSONAL INDWELLING...
1. Primary support for such a view - 1Co 6:18-19
1. Note the metaphor used by Paul
1. The body of the Christian is the "temple" of the Holy Spirit
2. Just as the body is a tabernacle for our spirit (2 Co 5:1-4; 2Pe 1:13-14)
3. So also the body is a dwelling place for the Spirit of God
2. Note the prepositions used by Paul
1. The Spirit is "in" the Christian
2. The Christian has the Spirit "from" God
3. Note the line of reasoning (train of thought) used by Paul
1. Paul argues from the indicative to the imperative
1. From a statement of fact or condition to a command to be obeyed
2. Because the Spirit dwells in them (statement of fact), they need to flee sexual immorality (command to be obeyed)
3. Paul argues that because the Spirit is in them, they need to obey the Word
2. Through-the-Word-only advocates argue from the imperative to the indicative
1. This view argues that a Christian must obey the word (imperative) in order for the Spirit to indwell (indicative)
2. I.e., one must flee fornication (heed the Word) so the Spirit will dwell in them
3. Exactly opposite to the line of reasoning used by Paul!
-- Through use of metaphor, prepositions, line of reasoning, Paul depicts the Spirit as dwelling in the body of the Christian
2. Other passages for such a view
1. God has sent the Spirit "into" our hearts - Ga 4:6
1. Note this occurs because we are His sons; i.e., something beyond simply hearing and obeying the Word of God
2. The effect is one of producing endearment in our relationship to God - cf. Ro 8:15
2. God strengthens us by "His Spirit in the inner man" - Ep 3:16
1. God is at work in us as we work out our salvation - Php 2:12-13; 4:13
2. One way He does this is by His Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
3. With the Spirit as His instrumental agent, God is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" - Ep 3:20
-- The plain and simple reading of the Scriptures lead me to believe that the Spirit's indwelling is literal and personal

[I find arguments against a literal, personal indwelling of the Spirit unconvincing, and may address them in another study. But let's conclude this lesson by reviewing some of...]

3. THE BENEFITS OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING
1. WE ARE SEALED BY THE SPIRIT...
1. We have been "sealed" by the Holy Spirit of promise - Ep 1:13; cf. 2Co 1:21-22
2. The word "seal" (Gr. sphragizo) - "mark (with a seal) as a means of identification...; so that the mark which denotes ownership also caries with it the protection of the owner (see Re 7:3)... This forms a basis for understanding the symbolic expression which speaks of those who enter the Christian fellowship as being sealed with or by the Holy Spirit" - Arndt & Gingrich, p.796
3. "The word "seal" is used in several important senses"
1. "A seal authenticates a document and proves its genuineness (e.g., notary public seal or seal of an official on a document)"
2. "It is a mark of ownership (e.g., seals on ancient jars, brands on animals)"
3. "It is a mark of security (e.g., railroad cars closed and sealed; medicine bottles)"
-- Ferrell Jenkins, The Finger of God, p.19
4. "It is our conviction that when a person obeys the gospel he is given the Holy Spirit. In this way God seals the person."
1. "In effect God says 'This person belongs to me; let everyone take note."
2. "The other side of the coin is that the Christian greets this reception of the Spirit as a guarantee (earnest or pledge) of eternal inheritance." (see point B, mac)
-- ibid., p.19
-- Though not expressly stated, giving us His Spirit may be how God's "seals" or "marks" us as one of His own - cf. Ga 4:6
2. WE HAVE THE SPIRIT AS AN EARNEST...
1. The Spirit is given as an "earnest" (KJV) of our inheritance - Ep 1:13-14; cf. 2Co 1:21-22
1. Translated "guarantee" (NKJV)
2. Translated "pledge" (NASB, NRSV)
2. The word "earnest" (Gr. arrabon) - "first installment, deposit, down payment, pledge, that pays a part of the purchase price in advance, and so secures a legal claim to the article in question, or makes a contract valid...in any case, [arrabon] is a payment which obligates the contracting party to make further payments." - Arndt & Gingrich, p.109
3. Vine points out that the word is closely connected to the modern Greek word for engagement ring - Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vol. II, p.11
4. "The Holy Spirit is God's earnest (down payment) to the Christian as assurance of the complete promised inheritance."
1. "There is no comfort here for the advocate of the impossibility of apostasy."
2. "The Christian can 'grieve' the Spirit (Ep 4:30)."
3. "We can forfeit the down payment and not receive the inheritance."
-- Ferrell Jenkins, The Finger of God, p.19
-- Receiving the Spirit is an indication that we are the children of God, and joint-heirs with Christ of the inheritance of which the Spirit is an "earnest" - Ro 8:14-17
3. WE ARE STRENGTHENED BY THE SPIRIT...
1. God strengthens us by His Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
2. It is by the Spirit we are able to put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:13
3. The Spirit helps in our weaknesses - Ro 8:26a
-- The Spirit serves as God's instrumental agent by which He imparts strength and support to the Christian
4. WE ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT...
1. Necessary if we are to be the sons of God - Ro 8:14
2. Necessary if we are not to fulfill the lust of the flesh - Ga 5:16
3. Necessary if we are not to fall under condemnation of the law - Ga 5:18
-- How the Spirit leads, we shall examine more closely in the next lesson
5. WE BEAR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. The fruit of a person led by the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - cf. Ga 5:22-23
2. We can be filled with peace and all joy in believing, and abound in hope by the power of the Spirit - Ro 15:13
-- Producing such fruit is contingent on setting our minds on the things of the Spirit - Ro 8:5-9

CONCLUSION

1. Exactly how the Spirit indwells the Christian may remain a mystery...
1. Many understand the indwelling as literal, with the Spirit personally abiding in the Christian
2. Others view it as figurative, the Spirit dwelling through the Word only
-- I used to hold the latter view; I now lean strongly toward the former
2. Whatever the exact nature of the Spirit's indwelling, we must be careful to not...
1. Grieve the Spirit, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption
2. Anger the Father, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance
-- Which we can do by continuing in willful sin - cf. He 10:26-31
3. Whatever the exact nature of the Spirit's indwelling, we must be careful to...
1. Bring glory to God, by producing the fruit of the Spirit
2. Walk after the Spirit, being strengthened by the Spirit
-- Which we can do by being led by the Spirit, as we set our minds on the things of the Spirit - Ro 8:5-14

In our next study, we will look more closely at how the Spirit leads. In the meantime, don't forget that the Spirit is given to those who are the sons of God (Ga 4:6).

Have you considered how one becomes a child of God? - cf. Jn 3:5; Ga 3:26-27; Tit 3:5; Mk 16:16

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