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Living in the Presence of God's Spirit and Guidance

Living in the presence of God's Spirit and guidance is a central theme in Christian thought, often described as an abiding state rather than an occasional influence [10]. This concept is rooted in the understanding that God, through the Holy Spirit, indwells believers and the Church [7, 12].

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is promised to believers and is seen as a means of quickening, guiding, and enabling fruit-bearing [7]. The apostle Paul writes, "If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided" (Galatians 5:25 BBE) [1]. This suggests that a life animated by the Spirit should also be directed by the Spirit in practice [10, 11]. The presence of the Spirit is not merely a disposition or mindset but the actual indwelling of the Holy Ghost [13]. It serves as evidence that believers are "in the spirit" and under the dominion of a renewed mind [13].

This spiritual life has its origin in the "new birth" and is sustained by Christ, faith, the Word of God, and prayer [3]. The Holy Spirit is identified as the author of this spiritual life, alongside God the Father and Christ [3]. The Spirit's presence is a proof of being united with Christ and of adoption into God's family [7]. John Gill notes that the giving of God's Spirit signifies a communion between God and believers, and a communication of His love and grace [9].

The concept of God's habitation extends beyond individual believers to the Church as a whole, which is considered His temple [4, 7]. God dwells among His people, providing enlightenment, quickening, comfort, and support [12]. This divine indwelling is a foundational aspect of the New Covenant [12].

The "witness of the Spirit" (Romans 8:16) refers to the inner consciousness of the Spirit's gracious work in the mind [6]. This includes comfort, prompting to prayer, conviction of sin, and drawing believers to acts of love and testimony [6]. The Spirit's presence is a certitude asserted within believers, manifesting in various ways [6].

Union with Christ is intrinsically linked to living in the Spirit. This union is described as Christ being in believers and believers being in Christ [2]. It includes union with the Father and is maintained by faith, abiding in Christ, His word abiding in believers, and obedience [2]. The Holy Spirit witnesses to this union [2]. The indwelling of Christ in believers' hearts is presented as the source of spiritual power for life and ministry [14].

Hope, a vital aspect of the Christian life, is also a work of the Holy Spirit [5]. This hope is obtained through grace, the Word of God, the comfort of the Scriptures, the gospel, and faith [5]. It is described as lively, sure, steadfast, and gladdening [5].

Those who do not have the Spirit are described as sensual and without Christ [7]. Conversely, where the Spirit of God is, there God is [8]. The Spirit dwells in the Church, and each believer receives a measure of that Spirit [8]. This abiding state of life by the Spirit calls for a corresponding walk by the Spirit, ensuring that practical life aligns with the inner spiritual principle [10].

Sources

  1. Galatians “Galatians 5:25 (BBE) — If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Spiritual — God is the Author of -- Ps 36:9; Col 2:13. Christ is the Author of -- Joh 5:21,25; 6:33,51-53; 14:6; 1Jo 4:9. The Holy Spirit is the Author of -- Eze 37:14; Ro 8:9-13. The word of God is the instrument of -- Isa 55:3; 2Co 3:6; 1Pe 4:6. Is hidden with Christ -- Col 3:3. The fear of God is -- Pr 14:27; 19:23. Spiritual-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Is maintained by Christ. -- Joh 6:57; 1Co 10:3,4. Faith. -- Ga 2:20. The word of God. -- De 8:3; Mt 4:4. Prayer. -- Ps 69:32. Has its origin in the new-birth -- Joh 3:3-8. Has its infancy -- Lu 10:21; 1Co 3:1,2;”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Habitation — God is the habitation of his people, who find rest and safety in him (Ps. 71:3; 91:9). Justice and judgment are the habitation of God's throne (Ps. 89:14, Heb. mekhon, "foundation"), because all his acts are founded on justice and judgment. (See Ps. 132:5, 13; Eph. 2:22, of Canaan, Jerusalem, and the temple as God's habitation.) God inhabits eternity (Isa. 57:15), i.e., dwells not only among men, but in eternity, where time is unknown; and "the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3), i.e., he dwells among those praises and is continually surrounded by them.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Witness of the Spirit — (Rom. 8:16), the consciousness of the gracious operation of the Spirit on the mind, "a certitude of the Spirit's presence and work continually asserted within us", manifested "in his comforting us, his stirring us up to prayer, his reproof of our sins, his drawing us to works of love, to bear testimony before the world," etc.”
  7. 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.”
  8. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 4:13: Hereby--"Herein." The token vouchsafed to us of God's dwelling (Greek, "abide") in us, though we see Him not, is this, that He hath given us "of His Spirit" (Jo1 3:24). Where the Spirit of God is, there God is. ONE Spirit dwells in the Church: each believer receives a measure "of" that Spirit in the proportion God thinks fit. Love is His first-fruit (Gal 5:22). In Jesus alone the Spirit dwelt without measure (Joh 3:34).”
  9. 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 ”
  10. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:25: in . . . in--rather, as Greek, "If we live (see on Gal 5:24) BY the Spirit, let us also walk (Gal 5:16; Gal 6:16) BY the Spirit." Let our life in practice correspond to the ideal inner principle of our spiritual life, namely, our standing by faith as dead to, and severed from, sin, and the condemnation of the law. "Life by (or 'in') the Spirit" is not an occasional influence of the Spirit, but an abiding state, wherein we are continually alive, though sometimes sleeping and inactive.”
  11. Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:25: If we live in the Spirit - If we profess to believe a spiritual religion, let us walk in the Spirit - let us show in our lives and conversation that the Spirit of God dwells in us.”
  12. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 29:45: I will dwell among the children of Israel - This is the great charter of the people of God, both under the Old and New Testaments; see Exo 25:8; Lev 26:11, Lev 26:12; Co2 6:16; Rev 21:3. God dwells Among them: he is ever to be found in his Church to enlighten, quicken, comfort, and support it; to dispense the light of life by the preaching of his word, and the influences of his Spirit for the conviction and conversion of sinners. And he dwells In those who believe; and this is the very tenor of the New Covenant which God promised to make with the house of Israel; s”
  13. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you--This does not mean, "if the disposition or mind of God dwell in you"; but "if the Holy Ghost dwell in you" (see Co1 6:11, Co1 6:19; Co1 3:16, &c.). (It thus appears that to be "in the spirit" means here to be under the dominion of our own renewed mind; because the indwelling of God's Spirit is given as the evidence that we are "in the spirit"). Now--"But." if any man have not the Spirit of Christ--Again, this does not mean "the disposition or mind of Christ”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:17: 3:17 Having Christ . . . make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17, 23; 15:4-5; Gal 2:20).”
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