⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

if indeed [seeing that] the Spirit of God dwells [present tense, actively lives at home] in you.

Those in the sphere of the Spirit depend not upon what they accomplish but upon what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in them.

The principle for identifying a genuine believer is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. The Spirit is a permanently abiding guest in the soul of a believer. The Christian has the capacity to orient his life to God. He cannot avoid this dynamic in his life.

Jn 14:17, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

The words “if indeed” show that it is a fact that the Spirit of God dwells in believers. Paul did not express any doubt about this issue. This is the condition for being a genuine Christian. Life of the flesh is set in contrast to a different quality of life in the Spirit.

“Dwells” indicates a settled state; one dwells in his house as a resident rather than as a passing guest. It is a permanent home rather than a temporary lodging. The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the believer at the point of salvation (1 Co 12:13).

The root of the Greek word for “dwells” means to live at home. It comes from the word “house” or a certain place where we dwell at home. The Spirit not only resides in the believer from a positional standpoint, but He actively resides daily with him. The Holy Spirit lives in us as His home. Salvation puts the believer outside the dominating sphere of the flesh into the sphere of the believer’s new orientation to the Spirit. The Christian is in the grip of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is no occasional visitor but He makes a permanent home in the believer; He is no passing guest to a true Christian. The change of dominion and dwelling of the Spirit provides a sphere of power for the believer.

Since it is a fact that the Spirit indwells the Christian, it is patent that he does not operate completely in the sphere of the flesh. He operates as well in the sphere of the Spirit.

PRINCIPLE:

The Christian lives permanently in the sphere of the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION:

The indwelling of the Spirit is a sure sign of spiritual birth. It is impossible to have the Spirit and not possess new birth. There is a renewal in this birth. It has to happen.

1 Jn 4:13, By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

Ro 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The indwelling Spirit governs and leads the Christian. He operates in our soul with power. Some of these operations are illumination, sanctification, supplication, the pledge of our salvation, and comfort.