Holiness and the Indwelling Holy Spirit Relationship
Holiness, in its highest sense, is an attribute belonging to God, as indicated in passages like Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 15:4 [1]. God is described as the "high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy," and who dwells "in the high and holy place" [2]. For Christians, holiness signifies being consecrated to God's service and conforming to His will [1]. This personal holiness is not an instantaneous event but a gradual process of development, often requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [1].
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is intrinsically linked to this process of holiness. The Holy Spirit is understood to dwell within believers, making their bodies and the Church His temple [3, 12]. This indwelling is promised to saints and is a means by which they are quickened, guided, and enabled to bear spiritual fruit [3]. The presence of the Spirit is also considered proof of being united with Christ and a sign of adoption [3].
The Holy Spirit's role in fostering holiness is primarily seen through the production of spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22 describes "the fruit of the Spirit" as encompassing qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [5]. These virtues are not merely human efforts but are the natural outcome of the Spirit's work in a believer's life, much like a good tree yields good fruit [5, 7]. John Gill, in his commentary on Ephesians 5:8, suggests that this "fruit of the Spirit" (or "fruit of light," as some manuscripts read) manifests in "all goodness, and righteousness" [6, 9]. This fruit is considered a harmonious whole, "the fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11) and "fruit unto holiness" (Romans 6:22) [8]. John Calvin emphasized that believers are like "wild and useless olive trees" until they are "grafted into Christ, who, by His living root, makes us fruit-bearing branches" through the Spirit [8].
The indwelling Spirit acts as an Advocate, counseling and protecting Jesus' followers [4]. This intimate relationship between the Father, Son, and believers, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, is highlighted in passages like John 14:23-31 and 15:1-11 [11]. The presence of the Spirit is a tangible sign of this communion, allowing believers to know that they "dwell in him, and he in us" [10]. Those who lack the Spirit are described as sensual and without Christ [3]. The ongoing work of the Spirit in believers is crucial for their spiritual growth and conformity to God's will, even amidst hindrances [1].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- Isaiah “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. -- Isaiah 57:15”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, The — In his Church, as his temple -- 1Co 3:16. In the body of saints, as his temple -- 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16. Promised to saints -- Eze 36:27. Saints enjoy -- Isa 63:11; 2Ti 1:14. Saints full of -- Ac 6:5; Eph 5:18. Is the means of Quickening. -- Ro 8:11. Guiding. -- Joh 16:13; Ga 5:18. Fruit bearing. -- Ga 5:22. A proof of being Christ's -- Ro 8:9; 1Jo 4:13. A proof of adoption -- Ro 8:15; Ga 4:5. Is abiding -- 1Jo 2:27. Those who have not Are sensual. -- Jude 1:19. Are without Christ. -- Ro 8:9. Opposed by the carnal nature -- Ga 5:17.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 15:26: 15:26 But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth: Like a legal advocate, the Holy Spirit counsels and protects Jesus’ followers.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind. The tree of the flesh”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:8: For the fruit of the Spirit,.... Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his grace, are the fruit: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read "the fruit of light"; which agrees with the preceding words: and the genuine fruit of internal grace, or light, is in all goodness, and righteousness, ”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 1:31: fruit . . . way--result of conduct (Isa 3:10; Eze 11:21; Rom 6:21; Gal 6:7-8). be filled--even to repletion (Psa 123:4).”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 1:11: The oldest manuscripts read the singular, "fruit." So Gal 5:22 (see on Gal 5:22); regarding the works of righteousness, however manifold, as one harmonious whole, "the fruit of the Spirit" (Eph 5:9) Jam 3:18, "the fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11); Rom 6:22, "fruit unto holiness." which are--"which is by (Greek, 'through') Jesus Christ." Through His sending to us the Spirit from the Father. "We are wild and useless olive trees till we are grafted into Christ, who, by His living root, makes us fruit-bearing branches" [CALVIN].”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:9: fruit of the Spirit--taken by transcribers from Gal 5:22. The true reading is that of the oldest manuscripts, "The fruit of THE LIGHT"; in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). This verse is parenthetic. Walk as children of light, that is, in all good works and words, "FOR the fruit of the light is [borne] in [ALFORD; but BENGEL, 'consists in'] all goodness [opposed to 'malice,' Eph 4:31], righteousness [opposed to 'covetousness,' Eph 5:3] and truth [opposed to 'lying,' Eph 4:25]."”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:13: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us,.... That there is a communion between God and us, and a communication of his love and grace to us, and an exercise of grace upon him; for God dwells in his people by his Spirit and grace, and they dwell in him by the exercise of faith and love upon him: and this is known, because he hath given us of his Spirit: not of the essence and nature of the Spirit, which is the same with the nature of the Father and of the Son, and is incommunicable; but either of the gifts of the Spirit, which are divided to every man as he ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 10:15: 10:15 The Father and the Son share a profound intimacy, which Jesus shares with his sheep through the Holy Spirit (14:23-31; 15:1-11).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 6:16: What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot,.... Not in marriage, but in carnal copulation, and unclean embraces, is one body with her for two ("saith he", Adam, or Moses, or God, or the Scripture, or as R. Sol. Jarchi says, the Holy Spirit, Gen 2:24) shall be one flesh; what is originally said of copulation in lawful marriage, in which man and wife, legally coupled together, become one flesh, is applied to the unlawful copulation of a man with an harlot, by which act they also become one body, one flesh; and which is made use of by the apostle, ”