Today’s lesson is exciting! We will briefly discuss what it means that the Holy Spirit can and does live inside of you and me! Remember that the Holy Spirit is God and that He is sent to us by Jesus from the Father. The reality that He actually lives inside of us and indwells us permanently with His holy Person, presence, and power should astound us every day of our lives!
Does the Holy Spirit Dwell in Me?
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described as indwelling believers immediately upon their conversion or salvation. This is often associated with the moment they place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Several passages support this understanding:
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” -Acts 2:38, ESV
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” -Romans 8:9, ESV
These passages indicate that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is simultaneous with faith in Christ, marking believers as God’s possession and empowering them for the Christian life.
Benefits of the Holy Spirit Dwelling In You
The Holy Spirit’s presence brings many benefits to our lives:
- Confirming that a believer belongs to the Lord
- Making us a member of Christ’s Church
- Helping us understand and apply Scripture to our lives
- Enriching our prayer life
- Guiding us in right living
- Guaranteeing our eternal salvation
- Giving us supernatural capabilities (spiritual gifts)
- Giving us supernatural qualities (spiritual fruits)
Does the Holy Spirit Ever Depart from a True Believer?
According to the New Testament, the Holy Spirit does not ever leave a true believer. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is described as a permanent seal and guarantee of a believer’s salvation and inheritance in Christ. Here are some key passages that support this view:
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” -Ephesians 4:30, ESV
“‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.’” -John 14:16-17, ESV
These passages emphasize the permanence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a true believer. The sealing by the Holy Spirit is an assurance of God’s ongoing work in our lives and the promise of our final redemption.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are assured by the verses above that the Holy Spirit dwells in you permanently along with His supernatural and divine presence and power, filling you with His manifold blessings, gifts, fruits, and empowerment.
What do you do if you are unsure of your own salvation and, therefore, unsure as to whether the Holy Spirit dwells in your life? If that’s you, please take a few minutes to read this simple explanation as to how to be certain that you have been forgiven by God, written by my dear friend, John Maisel.
A Prayer to Know Jesus
Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, please help me to know You as my Savior so that I am assured that Your Holy Spirit lives in me. God, I admit that l am a sinner and understand that my sin separates me from You. I believe that Jesus, being God, paid the penalty for all my sins when He died on the cross and rose from the dead.
Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for me. I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I repent of my ways and want to change the direction of my life. And now, Lord Jesus, I open the door of my life and ask You to come into my life as Savior and Lord. I trust You alone for the forgiveness of my sins and the free gift of eternal life. Amen.