The fourth indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the individual indwelling of the Spirit in every person who obeys the Gospel. This is part of what was promised by Peter upon baptism on the day of Pentecost, declaring “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Though there has been considerable debate among good brethren through the years whether this promised “gift of the Holy Ghost” is salvation or the Holy Spirit Himself, the scriptures declare that we receive both. Indeed, the thoughtful and cautious Bible student would ultimately have to concede that the two are not mutually exclusive as some would claim.

It is also important to note that this indwelling is not of the Holy Spirit only, but is also an indwelling of the Father. Jesus declared in John 14:23, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Furthermore, the apostle John affirmed, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15).

In addition to the indwelling of the father and the Spirit, Jesus dwells within the obedient Christian. Again, referencing John 14:23, Jesus promised that He and the Father would abide with them that obey His word. The apostle Paul also affirmed that one of the riches of the glory of the mystery of God for the obedient Christian is the indwelling of Christ within the Christian (Col 1:27).

Therefore, it is at the moment that one is baptized that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit dwell within the obedient Christian. Baptism is that culminating act of keeping the words of Jesus (John 14:23), which brings the believer into a relationship with God and bestows upon him all the blessings that are offered to humanity (Gal 3:27; Eph 1:3).

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all dwell within the Christian at the same time. The apostle John affirmed, “He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 John 3:23-24). Furthermore, if one of the three is not dwelling within us, then none are. Hear the words of 2 John 9 which states, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He

that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

All three dwell within the Christian in the same manner, which is by faith (Col 3:16; Eph 3:17). The Bible also says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). Therefore, no one is ever moved by the Spirit separate and apart from the word. Additionally, the Bible never indicates that this individual indwelling is of a miraculous sort.

Finally, every example of indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Bible demonstrates that He never caused anyone to speak, act, or think against their own will. The Holy Spirit has always worked in conjunction with the will of the indwelt individual. The only time the Holy Spirit has ever superimposed himself over His host was Baalam’s donkey.

Much discussion has occupied disciples as to whether this measure of the Holy Spirit is a literal (yet non-miraculous) indwelling or a figurative (or representative) indwelling only. Since the Bible does not explicitly answer this question, one can only speculate. To argue for one position or the other would be like trying to prove whether the blood of Christ washes away our sins literally or figuratively.

(continued on page 12)