A. E.le.P. It is quite unscriptural to speak of the Holy Spirit as dwelling in the body of Christ — “The church which is his body.” He dwells in the “House.” The Church looked at as the “body of Christ” — its Head in heaven — was formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, taking the aggregate number of the saints at Pentecost and baptizing them into one body in union with the Head, and consequently one with the other. No figure could possibly convey more completely the union of Christ and His people. They are, as joined unto the Lord, one Spirit with Him.
The Church looked upon as the place where God dwells here is spoken of as the “House,” or “a habitation of God by the Spirit” or spiritually. God is said to “dwell” in her, and to walk in the midst of his people.
Both terms embraced the same people at the first. They were coterminous in extent, though not convertible terms. For the “Body” expressed union. The “House” or “Habitation” not so. It has often been shown that into the latter, “wood, hay, stubble,” might be introduced, as has been the case, without the Holy Spirit leaving the house though thus defiled; while none could become united to Christ as a member of His body, unless he was a true believer who had received the Holy Spirit as a seal. Consequently, the history of things shows us that evil having crept into the house, the Spirit who dwelt there would point it out and warn and guide the saints, and act on the conscience of the evil, if the ear to hear was there; but all this as dwelling in that which was still the house of God in responsibility. Of course, the body of Christ being only the true living members, it is contained, as you say, the less in the greater.
2. Your body, as a believer, is a member of Christ, though made out of the dust (1 Cor. 6). The whole man — “spirit, soul and body” is destined to be with Christ in glory, its present condition being changed. The apostle is pressing personal purity and gives prominence to our “body” in this chapter, and in it we are to glorify God.
“Your body,” says the apostle, “is the temple of the Holy Ghost,” — adding “which ye have of God, and ye are not your own, but ye are bought with a price; therefore, he says, “glorify God in your body.” (The remaining portion of the verse is not authentic Scripture.) It cannot be said that the Spirit dwells in the “new nature.” That is produced by the Spirit’s quickening power through the Word of God acting on the conscience and producing faith in Christ. Then the Spirit of God having thus wrought, is given as a seal to him that believes, and is said to dwell in his body. There would hardly be any sense in saying the Spirit dwells in the new nature.