A popular understanding among some today is that any New Testament reference to God’s Spirit indwelling the Christian must simply be a reference to God’s word. This “representative” indwelling of the Holy Spirit contrasts with what would otherwise be a literal indwelling of the Father’s Spirit.
There are key passages commonly put forward to defend such a position. For example, when Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Or when James admonishes to “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word” (James 1:21). For both of those passages we might challenge their application by asing, “Who is charged with doing the ‘implanting’ in those passages?”
However, quite unfortunately, some passages never seem to come into the conversation with someone advocating for a representative indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
How Scripture answers "Top 10: Passages that must be reconciled before concluding that the Holy Spirit indwells representatively through the Word?"
- John 1:141: By what authority can we advocate a representative indwelling of the Holy Spirit, effectively that God’s word equals Holy Spirit, when Scripture only ever explicitly equates God’s word to the Son?
- John 7:37-392: An inspired writer confirms for us that the Holy Spirit equals “living water” coming from every believer. Hasn’t God’s word already had it’s effect (eg creating a believer)?
- Acts 234: If Jesus was a man who “God [the Father] anointed” with the promised Spirit and who was the living Word1, how was this anointing not literally the person of the Holy Spirit? And if it’s not, how is our anointing (e.g. indwelling) not the same? Isn’t that exactly the point of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2? What exactly is the “gift” that they would receive if they had already received/believed the word by hearing it?
- Hebrews 6:45: Why does the Hebrews writer describe the Christian experience and distinguish between “sharing in the Holy Spirit” and “having tasted the goodness of the word of God”?
- Ephesians 6:176: Explain why Paul attributes the word of God to the Spirit’s sword and not the whole Spirit Himself. Shouldn’t he have just said, “and take the helmet of salvation, and the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”?
- 2 Timothy 1:147: Reconcile Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
- Philippians 2:12-138: Explain how Paul’s statement that, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” is “just representative of the word” instead of what he states as a matter of fact.
- Romans 8:26-279: Paul identifies “the mind of the Spirit”, “the Spirit”, and “the will of God”. Since we understand the “will of God” to be God’s word, explain how or why Paul would distinguish between these three things as he does.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-1410: There is indeed a close relationship between God’s Spirit and His word, but these are two distinct ‘forces’ working for our salvation. Are we really prepared to marginalize, or dismiss all together, the sanctifying work of the Spirit that makes us complete/perfect?
- Ezekiel 3711: Ezekiel’s vision proves the distinction between God’s word and the Spirit. The first is the cause, while the second is the effect! How can we say that the “breath” is the word?
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
The Word [Jesus] became flesh and lived among us. We saw His glory—the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified that the one coming after him ranked before him because He existed before him.
The beginning of John’s testimony of the things he witnessed about Jesus’ time on earth.
Applying John 1:14-15 to this question...
Scripture says that it’s the Son who is the Word.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
On the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and yelled that if anyone was thirsty, they should come to Him to drink and that whoever believed in Him would lead to what scripture said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What He said was referring to the Holy Spirit which would be given to anyone who believed in him after his glorification.
Jesus has begun his public ministry, and He’s begun to stir up Jerusalem with his controversial teaching and popularity. On this occasion, Jesus has gone “privately” (vs 10) up to Judea for the Feast of Booths (vs 2), and it is the last “great” day.
Jesus makes a summary statement about what “Scripture has said”. It’s not a direct quote from any one passage, but a portion or concept well documented in Scripture, including His conversation with the woman at the well (John 4) and several other poignant statements in the prophets:
- “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:17)
- “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.” (Jer 17:13)
- “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:3)
- “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.” (Ezk 47:1ff)
Applying John 7:37-39 to this question...
The “living water” (eg the Holy Spirit) is a believers output – behavior demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. Someone only becomes a believer by hearing the word – effectively the input for a believer.
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
We [apostles] are all witnesses to the fact that God raised Jesus up. He has been glorifed to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured it out [on us] and it’s what you are seeing and hearing.
Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost after he witnessed Jesus ascending into heaven. The apostles had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, able to speak in foreign tongues and having what appeared to be “tongues of fire” resting on them (vss 3-4).
Applying Acts 2:32-33 to this question...
The Son (the “Word”1) received the Spirit.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
When they heard the preaching of Peter and the rest of the apostles, they were convicted by them and asked what they should do [to be saved]. Peter told them that they each should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that they could receive the remission of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This “gift” was the promise made for all Jews, but also all Gentiles — everyone whom God calls to himself.
Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost where he recalled several prophetic statements from Joel and David (vss 16-36). By divine inspiration, Peter interpreted these statements to apply their fulfillment to Jesus and the ushering in of the “last days”.
He also specifically refers to the “promise of the Holy Spirit” earlier – given by the Father to the Son (vs 33). More were continuing to be saved, and they began meeting together as the Lord’s church (vss 41-47).
Applying Acts 2:37-39 to this question...
Peter told people who had already been convicted by the word (the word had done its work) that if they responded, they would receive the same “promise” from the Father that the Son received 3.
Similarly, Acts 5:32 summarizes the same pattern (individual responds to word —> God gives Spirit).
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
It’s impossible to restore to repentance those that have fallen away after coming to understand and experience salvation – having shared in the Holy Spirit and the goodness of God’s word and the power to come – since they crucify all over the Son of God, putting him to public shame to their own harm.
The Hebrews writer is arguing the “better” things in Christ, contrasting with things from the Old Law these Hebrew Christians had turned from, but apparently were at risk to turn back. He is chastising them for having become “dull of hearing” (5:11) and requiring someone to still need to teach them these “basic principles” (5:12).
Applying Hebrews 6:4-6 to this question...
The Holy Spirit is “shared”, and the word of God is “tasted”.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
In all situations, take up the shield of faith which can put out all Satan’s flaming darts. Put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, making sure to always offer prayer in the Spirit.
Paul’s closing admonition to the Christian’s in Ephesus.
Applying Ephesians 6:16-18a to this question...
The word is the Spirit’s sword, not the Spirit Himself.
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
With the faith and love that we have in Christ, adhere to the framework of truth that I have laid down for you and entrusted to you. Guard it with the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
The apostle Paul’s letter to a younger evangelist, Timothy, instructing him in matters of doctrine and congregational order.
Applying 2 Timothy 1:13-14 to this question...
Timothy, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, is instructed to “guard” the word (“the good deposit”).
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Therefore brethren, as you have been even now – obey! Not only because I was with you, but even more now that I’m away. Each of you, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Paul is transitioning into a long closing in an otherwise short letter to the church in Philippi. He has expressed his deep fondness for them (1:6-7) and encourages them throughout to have the “mind of Christ.” His encouragement here is to remain strong in their “partnership in the gospel” (1:5) so they continue to “shine as light in the world” (vs 15).
Applying Philippians 2:12-13 to this question...
God is working in us (eg the indwelling of the Spirit), while at the same time, having already obeyed [the word], we are directed to “work out our own salvation”.
Paul opens his letter with a prayer asking, “that He [God, the Father] who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (1:6)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
The Spirit helps us [Christians] in our weakness because we do not know what to pray for as we ought. The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. God, who searches hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God’s will.
Paul emphasizes the Christian’s relationship to the Holy Spirit throughout the entire chapter for those who are “in Christ Jesus” (vs 1). Contrasting with the flesh, some of the points made about this relationship include:
- the law of the life-giving Spirit set us free,
- we are to walk according to the Spirit,
- outlook should be shaped by the Spirit — an outlook that is life and peace and submitting to the law of God,
- made alive by the Spirit living in us,
- those led by the Spirit are sons of God.
Applying Romans 8:26-27 to this question...
The Spirit helps us in our weakness — this is specifically the Spirit’s work — and He performs it “according to the will” of the Father (eg His word).
Effectively, the same point is being made by Paul to the Philippians.8
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We should give thanks to God for you, brethren loved by the Lord, since God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved through the setting apart by the Spirit and belief in the gospel. This salvation is what He called you to by the gospel message we had preached, and its end is glorification with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica. The preceding verses describe deception among those who refuse the truth and take pleasure in unrighteousness, and God’s sending a strong delusion (vss 9-12). Paul then contrasts this with thanksgiving for his readers and their calling (vss 13-14).
Applying 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 to this question...
We are saved “through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth”.
We read about this exact thing happening — at least the start of it — for the first Christians in Acts 2.4
Then he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
God told Ezekiel to speak to the bones and tell them to hear God's word. He will give them breath, connect them with tendons, and cover them with flesh. He will cause them to live, and they will know that He is the Lord.
Ezekiel spoke God’s words during the Babylonian captivity – after the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple. God’s Spirit has taken Ezekiel into a valley that was full of dry/dead bones (vs 1-2). The did come together (vs 7) “but there was no breath in them” (vs 8). Ezekiel prophesied “to the breath” (vs 9) and “the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” (vs 10)
Applying Ezekiel 37:4-6 to this question...
Ezekiel is told to preach “the word of the Lord” to the “dry bones” and the result will be that God will “cause the breath [the Holy Spirit] to enter” and they “live”.
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