In furtherance of our study on the Spiritual (Pnuematikos) or that which proceeds from the spirit (Pnuema), it is imperative that we understand something about Holy Spirit. So, today I will be expounding on the indwelling of Holy Ghost.
Before Jesus ascended, he told his disciples, I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:18, 16-17).
And also in John 16:7, he said, Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient (profitable) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
You see, the comforter spoken of in the above texts is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name… (John14:26).
The word “comforter” is derived from the Greek word “Parakletos”. It is defined as “one called to the side of another for help and counsel” or “one who stands alongside another in order to offer encouragement and comfort”.
Parakleltos is also translated “Advocate”, “Counselor”, and “Helper”. An advocate is one who pleads the cause of another; specifically one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court, or one who supports or promotes the interests of another.
You see, the Holy Spirit is our paraklete (advocate) on earth and Jesus is our paraklete (advocate) in heaven… we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).
A counsellor is a person who gives advice or counsel, other synonym for counsellor is adviser or guide. Just as we can ask our stylish friend to counsel us on our hair and dress styles, or write to Dear Abby for counsel about our love life. The Holy Ghost is available to offer us advice in our daily life.
You see, there is a dual or two-fold working of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer; there is an indwelling of the Holy Spirit and there is outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs at the new birth and it is for fruit-bearing. The outpouring of the Spirit occurs at the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, and it is for service.
In his narrative of Holy Spirit with his disciples in John 14:17, Jesus said, But ye know him “for he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN YOU.The Holy Spirit indwells us at the new birth and recreates our spirit, imparts into our spirit eternal life (zoe) or God kind of life, and the fruits of the spirit, such as love, joy, and peace. Hence, the scriptures declare… love of God (Agape) is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us (Roman 5:5).
Remember the dialogue of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the city of Sycar? He said, But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14).
Note that water is a type or symbol of the Holy Spirit. The last phrase in this construction says, but the water that I shall give him shall be “IN HIM” a well of water springing up into everlasting life (Zoe). Mounce Reverse Interlinear Rendering says, but the water that I will give him will become “IN HIM” a fountain of water gushing up to eternal life.
You see, the Greek word translated Eternal Life or Everlasting life is “Zoe”, which means “God-Kind of life”. The well of water or indwelling spirit or Holy Spirit within imparts into our human spirit God-Kind of life and makes us a new creation or brand new species of being.
Speaking of the God-Kind of life, John said, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life(Zoe) (John 3:16).
While giving a narrative of an encounter between Jesus and his disciples after his ascension, John said, And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them… (John20:22-23). Unbeknownst to many believers, this is when the disciple became born again. They received the indwelling of Holy Spirit: Receive ye the Holy Ghost…, Jesus said.
Note how receiving the Holy Spirit is connected to remission of sins. Remission of sin connotes the wiping out of sins and it always used in connection with the new birth. When a person repents or becomes a new creation, he receives remission of sins, not forgiveness of sin. All sins which are upon the person are remitted or wiped out at Salvation. That is why the scriptures say, if any be in Christ he is a brand new creature,(a brand new species of being, one that never existed before (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Holy Spirit within — for he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN Him —… will become “IN HIM” a well of water springing up into eternal life, recreates our spirit, imparts into our spirit the nature of God or God-Kind of life, makes us new creations or son’s of God, and puts us same class with God.
Paul verifies this assertion in his missive to the church at Galatia, saying, Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son INTO OUR HEARTS (SPIRIT). He is the Holy Spirit. By his power we call God “Abba”. Abba means Father (Galatians 4:6 New International Reader’s Version).
In Romans 8:15, Paul describes the nature of spirit that indwells us, saying, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. In order words, The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (New International Version).
And in Romans 8:16, he makes us understand how the Indwelling of Holy Spirit affirms our status as new creations: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” Put differently, The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God (Amplified).
You see, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the new birth, we become children of God… Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9). Amplified Rendering says, But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God.
Note, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings about the new birth and the fruits of the spirit; which gives us character …But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [a]that can bring a charge] (Galatians 5:22-23Amplified Bible). It is a different experience from the outpouring or baptism of Holy Spirit, which is the enduement with power.
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe(Ps)
