The idea of the Holy Spirit having a dwelling is well established in Scripture. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “shekhinah” means dwelling or settling and culminates into this Jewish idea of “Divine Presence”. We can read of God’s (e.g. Holy Spirit’s) dwelling among the people of Israel first in the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 13:21-22) and again with the dedication of the permanent temple in Jerusalem by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).
Notably, God’s Holy Spirit did not fill the temple built by Zerubbabel in the days following the return of the Babylonian captives. Nor do we have any record of God’s Divine Presence filling Herod’s temple in the first century. So where is the Holy Spirit dwelling today?
How Scripture answers "Where is the Holy Spirit dwelling today?"
The Holy Spirit is dwelling in every baptized believer2,3,4,7,9,10,11,13,14,15. It is rather “matter-of-factly” stated in many places3,6,9,10,11,14,15. It is also a critical fulfillment to an ever-present Bible theme of God’s desire and promise11.
God literally dwelt among His people during the wanderings (tabernacle) and Solomon (temple) years. However, during the captivity (no temple) and remnant years He was absent but promised a day when He would return5,8. In the first century, Jesus alludes to this promise7,11, and we see the fulfillment of that promise on the Day of Pentecost4. From that point on, we see these matter-of-fact statements by New Testament writers about the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers2,3,6,9,10,11,13,14,15 – and by extension, His church1,12.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
1
Paul states that they, as a local church, are a temple of God in which the Holy Spirit dwells.
2
Paul states that the Christian’s body is the temple (dwelling) of the Holy Spirit given by God.
3
Peter states that God has given the/His Holy Spirit to all that obey Him (believers).
4
Peter says that their [water] baptism is directly connected to them receiving the gift/promise of the Holy Spirit.
5
God through Haggai assures the people that His Spirit is still in their midst. However, He promises a future glimpse of something even greater. The “Yet once more” statement is defined and interpreted for us by an inspired writer in Hebrews 12:26-29.
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
The Haggai and Hebrews passages don’t explicitly speak to the dwelling of God’s Spirit. However, in Haggai, God’s encouragement and promise of the future was in response to their noting the absence of God’s glory (Spirit) in their temple rebuild. Likewise, with the Hebrews passage, we know of many other passages that connect the coming of God’s kingdom with His Spirit dwelling and God returning “in their midst”.
6
God dwells in us because “he has given us of his Spirit.”
7
Jesus references the role of the Spirit to one’s entering the kingdom of God. It was one of two “born again” elements – water (baptism) being the second.
8
God, through Ezekiel, promises a time (a “day“) when He will put His Spirit “within you.”
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
This this theme in many other places in Ezekiel including 37:14 and37:26-28 and the last many chapters of the book. His contemporary Jeremiah also uses very similar language and identical thought (Jeremiah 31:33). Two men…but importantly prophets of God so the same author (God) and message. While Ezekiel’s words are never directly quoted/interpreted by inspired writers in the New Testament, Jeremiah’s are interpreted in Hebrews and applied for us to the 1st-century church.
9
God gave his Spirit to those that have responded to his call for holiness.
10
The Spirit of God (aka Spirit of Christ) dwells in those that are “not in the flesh”. He goes on to conclude and restate his declaration that God gives life to their fleshly bodies “through his Spirit who dwells in you” (vs 11).
11
Jesus speaks about “rivers of living water” coming from the believers heart. John confirms for us that he was speaking about the Holy Spirit that all believers would receive and times it for us after his ascension.
12
The indwelling of the Spirit in each Christian forms the basis for “the household of God” (all saints) being a “holy temple” dwelling place for God.
13
The Holy Spirit is in our “inner being” (and in that way, Christ dwells in our hearts).
14
John is reminding Christians of what is in them using a pronoun, “he” [Holy Spirit implied].
15
Jesus’ Spirit – the Holy Spirit – is in our hearts is we are sons of God.
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