INDWELT OR NOT?
Questions about the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit are among the most important ones of scripture. This subject often raises more questions than it answers and leads some people into questioning some of the answers. Great theologians have spent centuries examining these issues.
Along with a study of this topic come questions that often find answers solely in the opinions of men without any basis in scripture. More often that not, God hasn’t chosen to shroud the presence of the Spirit of God in mystery and things are often simpler than many people think they are. Still, questions are important. Here are a few of the questions many people ask today.
Were men saved in the Old Testament in a different way than in the New Testament or today?
If God’s plan of salvation changed, why did it change?
If God’s plan of salvation changed, when does the New Testament change actually happen?
Did the Holy Spirit indwell believers in the Old Testament in the same way He does now?
Many schools of thought address these questions even though most “scholars” agree. Before other questions find answers though, a foundation must first be laid. The first obstacle along the journey of discovery shows itself as the popular and common notions of many Bible teachers—whether right or wrong. Did the Spirit of God indwell believers in Old Testament times? The answer to this question is vital for those seeking the true nature of the Holy Spirit’s work. Nobody has all the answers to these questions. There are still some things about the Holy Spirit that wait for the final authority of God himself on the shores of eternity. Until then, we wonder about some things because we aren’t yet certain about them.
Popular notions….
Some scholars feel the Spirit indwelt some believers in the Old Testament but not on a permanent basis. Along with this thought lurks the danger of losing the presence of the Spirit as quickly or easily as it came in the first place. They also think that men who lived in Old Testament times neither had His indwelling presence or experienced His regenerating work in their lives.
Others see the presence of the Spirit in this sense as a privilege often withdrawn as quickly or easily as it was once given. Those that the Holy Spirit left were “completely abandoned” by Him. Before you think I’m crazy, will you think about it a minute?
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. “ 1 Samuel 16:14
Those with doubts about the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit inside of believers in the Old Testament days find this part of scripture a haven of refuge. However, a closer look at the meanings of the words used here dispels much of the mystery.
The sprit spoken of here is that of a rational being, including its expressions and functions—yet, this isn’t only a demon. The word “departed” means to turn off, either literal or figurative or to withdraw. Evil does not mean wicked in this verse. Rather it means adversity, affliction or grief. “Troubled” speaks of fear.
Knowing the events that happened here also helps explain what really happened. This happened after the prophet Samuel anointed David as the future king to replace Saul. Not until this happened did the spirit depart Saul. Was this a literal parting or a figurative one? Think about what took place next. Conviction, grief and fear possessed Saul because he did one or both of two things.
He quenched the Spirit by refusing to listen to God’s will in this matter.
He grieved the Holy Spirit by not yielding himself to God and His will in this matter.
Why else would Saul endure the chastisement that comes from the Lord only to those that are His children? Some believe that Saul was saved but lost his salvation because he was troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord. When does God send out demons to do His work and since when do demons want to volunteer to do God’s work? The only spirits the Lord sends are angels or the Holy Spirit, not fallen angels or demons! Since this spirit came from the Lord it cannot be a demon. This spirit signifies the presence of adversity, affliction and grief. The presence of each of these strongly implies the convicting presence of the Spirit of God in a believer’s life rather than a plague of wicked spirits.
Trouble with David!
The Psalmist David once made a plea to God that seems to indicate the temporary character of the indwelling presence of the Spirit.
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 5l:11-12
C. I. Scofield wrote about those verses by saying, “While Christian position is not found here, Christian experience in essence is.” How can a person have one of those without the other? The key may lie in the meanings of position and experience. While Scofield wasn’t sure about the word meanings, Strong’s Lexicon makes them clear.
The process of casting involves throwing out, down or away—hurling, plucking, or throwing either literal or figurative.
“Away” involves stretching or spreading out—by implication, to bend away, including moral deflection, taking aside, turning aside, wresting or causing to yield.
“Presence” may include the face as the part that turns, or favor.
Many applications exist for the word “take”.
To restore is to turn back—not necessarily with a return to the starting point, but generally to retreat, often implying that this is done again and again.
“Joy” equals cheerfulness. “Salvation” speaks of liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety and it comes from a word meaning open, wide, free and safe. To “uphold” is to lean upon, take hold of, bear up or establish.
Keeping the meanings of these words in mind, does Psalm 51:11-12 speak of something other than what most people think? Perhaps so.
It appears David wasn’t talking about his eternal security or the lack of it in this portion of Scripture, at least not in the sense most people often think of the word. He clearly spoke of the joy or gladness of his salvation, his prosperity, freedom, safety, and liberty. A deeper look referred to David’s speaking about the joy that comes when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and obeys Him. Such joy flees when either self or something else fills the believer’s life in place of the Spirit of the Lord. There wasn’t any question about whether or not David had Bible salvation, could lose it or gain it back again.
More confusion comes because this verse is often taken out of context. The best course lies in looking at the whole chapter or at least verses 7-12 rather than only looking at two verses.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
This verse spoke not of the moment of salvation but about something else. At the beginning of the chapter David showed deep concern about the sin he committed with Bathsheba as King of Israel when he had her husband “killed” in battle.
He sent up a prayer to God for mercy and expressed the plea that God not remove His anointing upon David as the King of Israel. In other words, it was a rededication of his life to the Lord, neither a first-coming to Him or a moment of salvation. David didn’t want God’s blessings removed. These matters make this event more a matter of service to the Lord than a matter of salvation from the Lord.
Renewal and regeneration are two different things in this portion of scripture that speaks of the renewal of a right spirit. Nothing can be renewed that was not there in the first place.
Perhaps one of the statements made here also depends on the other one. If a person could be literally cast away from God’s presence then the Holy Spirit could literally be taken from him and people living in any time period could also lose their salvation!
David once asked, “Where shall I flee from thy spirit?” Psalm 139:7
Since one part of that condition is impossible, so is the other! This is seen when the whole counsel of God’s Word is examined.
The Way Others See It
Despite proof to the contrary, many Bible scholars see indwelling as a sovereign gift usually associated with a special call to service that carried with it a special enablement for a specific task. Once the work was finished, though, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence also ended. To accept this thought also makes one accept the notion that when people are filled with the Holy Spirit they only remain filled until a task ends. But more than that, they are also only indwelled by the Spirit until the purpose for which they were indwelled comes to an end and then their indwelling also comes to an end. Sound confusing? These precepts are no more confusing than people try to make them.
Many scholars also feel that indwelling of the Holy Spirit wasn’t a universal privilege in the Old Testament that was available to all believers like it is today. The few people who enjoyed the Spirit’s indwelling presence were often sought out as leaders and prophets and they led lives as “marked men”. The reason for this was that so few men were indwelled and those who were indwelled weren’t indwelled on a permanent basis.
The Holy Spirit Came Upon Men
Little doubt remains about the ministry of the Spirit coming upon men in Old Testament times and providing them with the temporary and transitory character of the Holy Spirit. Many who admit this still feel the indwelling ministry of the Spirit was highly selective—a few were indwelt but most were not.
The Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit being in some men.
Joseph…Genesis 41:38
Those who helped with the tabernacle…Exodus 28:3
Others…Numbers 11:17, 25
Joshua…Numbers 27:18
Daniel…Daniel 4:8 and 5:11-14
The Holy Spirit also filled men like Bezaleel and those who helped him in his work. Exodus 31:3 Exodus 35:31
God’s word speaks of men that the Holy Spirit came upon in the Old Testament.
Othniel…Judges 3:10
Gideon…Judges 6:34
Jephthah…Judges 11:29
Samson…Judges 13:25
King Saul…1 Samuel 10:9-10
David…1 Samuel 16:13
Without a universal indwelling, available to all believers, those living during the Old Testament had only selective indwelling. How is this explained?
Charles C. Ryrie felt the Old Testament work of the Spirit different than His work in the world today, a change marked by what happened on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. In his eyes, God’s Spirit was present before Pentecost but He didn’t take up a permanent residence or indwelling with believers until the events on that famous day in the past.
Scholar John Walvoord stated that he felt the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was as vital as His work in the New Testament though it was of a different character.
While Walvoord admits that the Spirit’s work touches every creature and that He touches every phase of the life of men no matter when they live, he also feels no universal indwelling of the Holy Spirit is observed before Pentecost.
The basic reason for this theology seems the same for most theologians. Those living in Old Testament times are seen as men living before the Age of Grace. Still, it seems God selected men in the Old Testament and gave them the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit—and this included all Old Testament prophets.
Some things that Christ Himself said seem to agree with the popular view of these matters. Jesus told His disciples that after the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit would be in them, that they would experience a fullness of the Spirit that didn’t yet exist.
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John 7:38-39
“Even 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 14:17
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13
Right or wrong, popular or not, those are the common notions about the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God among believers in history.
This has been food for thought, hasn't it? Nearly every Bible student has his own ideas about these issues and nobody has all the answers. Let's not get choked on the p's and q's of the full meanings here. These are questions that God will answer for us when we're ready for the answers. I've found that just about the time we think we have it all figured out, something else comes along that makes us ask more questions. In our next article, we'll ask some of those questions for you!
Along with a study of this topic come questions that often find answers solely in the opinions of men without any basis in scripture. More often that not, God hasn’t chosen to shroud the presence of the Spirit of God in mystery and things are often simpler than many people think they are. Still, questions are important. Here are a few of the questions many people ask today.
Were men saved in the Old Testament in a different way than in the New Testament or today?
If God’s plan of salvation changed, why did it change?
If God’s plan of salvation changed, when does the New Testament change actually happen?
Did the Holy Spirit indwell believers in the Old Testament in the same way He does now?
Many schools of thought address these questions even though most “scholars” agree. Before other questions find answers though, a foundation must first be laid. The first obstacle along the journey of discovery shows itself as the popular and common notions of many Bible teachers—whether right or wrong. Did the Spirit of God indwell believers in Old Testament times? The answer to this question is vital for those seeking the true nature of the Holy Spirit’s work. Nobody has all the answers to these questions. There are still some things about the Holy Spirit that wait for the final authority of God himself on the shores of eternity. Until then, we wonder about some things because we aren’t yet certain about them.
Popular notions….
Some scholars feel the Spirit indwelt some believers in the Old Testament but not on a permanent basis. Along with this thought lurks the danger of losing the presence of the Spirit as quickly or easily as it came in the first place. They also think that men who lived in Old Testament times neither had His indwelling presence or experienced His regenerating work in their lives.
Others see the presence of the Spirit in this sense as a privilege often withdrawn as quickly or easily as it was once given. Those that the Holy Spirit left were “completely abandoned” by Him. Before you think I’m crazy, will you think about it a minute?
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. “ 1 Samuel 16:14
Those with doubts about the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit inside of believers in the Old Testament days find this part of scripture a haven of refuge. However, a closer look at the meanings of the words used here dispels much of the mystery.
The sprit spoken of here is that of a rational being, including its expressions and functions—yet, this isn’t only a demon. The word “departed” means to turn off, either literal or figurative or to withdraw. Evil does not mean wicked in this verse. Rather it means adversity, affliction or grief. “Troubled” speaks of fear.
Knowing the events that happened here also helps explain what really happened. This happened after the prophet Samuel anointed David as the future king to replace Saul. Not until this happened did the spirit depart Saul. Was this a literal parting or a figurative one? Think about what took place next. Conviction, grief and fear possessed Saul because he did one or both of two things.
He quenched the Spirit by refusing to listen to God’s will in this matter.
He grieved the Holy Spirit by not yielding himself to God and His will in this matter.
Why else would Saul endure the chastisement that comes from the Lord only to those that are His children? Some believe that Saul was saved but lost his salvation because he was troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord. When does God send out demons to do His work and since when do demons want to volunteer to do God’s work? The only spirits the Lord sends are angels or the Holy Spirit, not fallen angels or demons! Since this spirit came from the Lord it cannot be a demon. This spirit signifies the presence of adversity, affliction and grief. The presence of each of these strongly implies the convicting presence of the Spirit of God in a believer’s life rather than a plague of wicked spirits.
Trouble with David!
The Psalmist David once made a plea to God that seems to indicate the temporary character of the indwelling presence of the Spirit.
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 5l:11-12
C. I. Scofield wrote about those verses by saying, “While Christian position is not found here, Christian experience in essence is.” How can a person have one of those without the other? The key may lie in the meanings of position and experience. While Scofield wasn’t sure about the word meanings, Strong’s Lexicon makes them clear.
The process of casting involves throwing out, down or away—hurling, plucking, or throwing either literal or figurative.
“Away” involves stretching or spreading out—by implication, to bend away, including moral deflection, taking aside, turning aside, wresting or causing to yield.
“Presence” may include the face as the part that turns, or favor.
Many applications exist for the word “take”.
To restore is to turn back—not necessarily with a return to the starting point, but generally to retreat, often implying that this is done again and again.
“Joy” equals cheerfulness. “Salvation” speaks of liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety and it comes from a word meaning open, wide, free and safe. To “uphold” is to lean upon, take hold of, bear up or establish.
Keeping the meanings of these words in mind, does Psalm 51:11-12 speak of something other than what most people think? Perhaps so.
It appears David wasn’t talking about his eternal security or the lack of it in this portion of Scripture, at least not in the sense most people often think of the word. He clearly spoke of the joy or gladness of his salvation, his prosperity, freedom, safety, and liberty. A deeper look referred to David’s speaking about the joy that comes when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and obeys Him. Such joy flees when either self or something else fills the believer’s life in place of the Spirit of the Lord. There wasn’t any question about whether or not David had Bible salvation, could lose it or gain it back again.
More confusion comes because this verse is often taken out of context. The best course lies in looking at the whole chapter or at least verses 7-12 rather than only looking at two verses.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
This verse spoke not of the moment of salvation but about something else. At the beginning of the chapter David showed deep concern about the sin he committed with Bathsheba as King of Israel when he had her husband “killed” in battle.
He sent up a prayer to God for mercy and expressed the plea that God not remove His anointing upon David as the King of Israel. In other words, it was a rededication of his life to the Lord, neither a first-coming to Him or a moment of salvation. David didn’t want God’s blessings removed. These matters make this event more a matter of service to the Lord than a matter of salvation from the Lord.
Renewal and regeneration are two different things in this portion of scripture that speaks of the renewal of a right spirit. Nothing can be renewed that was not there in the first place.
Perhaps one of the statements made here also depends on the other one. If a person could be literally cast away from God’s presence then the Holy Spirit could literally be taken from him and people living in any time period could also lose their salvation!
David once asked, “Where shall I flee from thy spirit?” Psalm 139:7
Since one part of that condition is impossible, so is the other! This is seen when the whole counsel of God’s Word is examined.
The Way Others See It
Despite proof to the contrary, many Bible scholars see indwelling as a sovereign gift usually associated with a special call to service that carried with it a special enablement for a specific task. Once the work was finished, though, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence also ended. To accept this thought also makes one accept the notion that when people are filled with the Holy Spirit they only remain filled until a task ends. But more than that, they are also only indwelled by the Spirit until the purpose for which they were indwelled comes to an end and then their indwelling also comes to an end. Sound confusing? These precepts are no more confusing than people try to make them.
Many scholars also feel that indwelling of the Holy Spirit wasn’t a universal privilege in the Old Testament that was available to all believers like it is today. The few people who enjoyed the Spirit’s indwelling presence were often sought out as leaders and prophets and they led lives as “marked men”. The reason for this was that so few men were indwelled and those who were indwelled weren’t indwelled on a permanent basis.
The Holy Spirit Came Upon Men
Little doubt remains about the ministry of the Spirit coming upon men in Old Testament times and providing them with the temporary and transitory character of the Holy Spirit. Many who admit this still feel the indwelling ministry of the Spirit was highly selective—a few were indwelt but most were not.
The Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit being in some men.
Joseph…Genesis 41:38
Those who helped with the tabernacle…Exodus 28:3
Others…Numbers 11:17, 25
Joshua…Numbers 27:18
Daniel…Daniel 4:8 and 5:11-14
The Holy Spirit also filled men like Bezaleel and those who helped him in his work. Exodus 31:3 Exodus 35:31
God’s word speaks of men that the Holy Spirit came upon in the Old Testament.
Othniel…Judges 3:10
Gideon…Judges 6:34
Jephthah…Judges 11:29
Samson…Judges 13:25
King Saul…1 Samuel 10:9-10
David…1 Samuel 16:13
Without a universal indwelling, available to all believers, those living during the Old Testament had only selective indwelling. How is this explained?
Charles C. Ryrie felt the Old Testament work of the Spirit different than His work in the world today, a change marked by what happened on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. In his eyes, God’s Spirit was present before Pentecost but He didn’t take up a permanent residence or indwelling with believers until the events on that famous day in the past.
Scholar John Walvoord stated that he felt the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was as vital as His work in the New Testament though it was of a different character.
While Walvoord admits that the Spirit’s work touches every creature and that He touches every phase of the life of men no matter when they live, he also feels no universal indwelling of the Holy Spirit is observed before Pentecost.
The basic reason for this theology seems the same for most theologians. Those living in Old Testament times are seen as men living before the Age of Grace. Still, it seems God selected men in the Old Testament and gave them the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit—and this included all Old Testament prophets.
Some things that Christ Himself said seem to agree with the popular view of these matters. Jesus told His disciples that after the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit would be in them, that they would experience a fullness of the Spirit that didn’t yet exist.
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John 7:38-39
“Even 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 14:17
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13
Right or wrong, popular or not, those are the common notions about the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God among believers in history.
This has been food for thought, hasn't it? Nearly every Bible student has his own ideas about these issues and nobody has all the answers. Let's not get choked on the p's and q's of the full meanings here. These are questions that God will answer for us when we're ready for the answers. I've found that just about the time we think we have it all figured out, something else comes along that makes us ask more questions. In our next article, we'll ask some of those questions for you!
