G. C Willis
Many true Christians today are not sure whether they have the Holy Spirit or not. Many are praying that He may be given to them. This is the test according to the Scriptures: If a man, convicted of sin and believing on the Lord Jesus as his only Savior, who has finished the work of salvation, can truly say from his heart, "Abba, Father," such a one possesses the Holy Spirit. "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear [which the law gives]; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:1515For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)). And again: "Because we are sons, God hat h sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)).
The one who reads his Bible and believes it knows that this is true. But those who do not know this from their own Bibles very often do possess the consciousness of their relationship with God; He is their Father, and they are His children. And in the presence of God in prayer, they will from their hearts address Him as "Father!" Such a person may be very ignorant and have much to learn. He may also have much to "unlearn" of false teaching he has received from men, but if he can truly say, "Father,” then it is surely the Holy Spirit alone who has taught this to him. This is riot simply "conversion." A sinner, as a sinner, cannot receive the Spirit, but as soon as a man truly believes in Christ and His precious blood cleanses his sins, then the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in him.
We see the difference in the case of the prodigal son. He had come to himself; he had owned he had sinned and was ready to perish. He arose and set off to return to his father. He was acting rightly. He was truly converted, but as yet he had not on the best robe, nor the ring, nor the shoes.
As yet he had not met his father. He knew well the wealth and bounty of his father's house, but he did not know if he might enter there. He did not know if his father would receive him. He had not the sense of being a son. He meant to say, "Make me as one of thy hired servants," for he knew he was not worthy to be called a son. He had not the sense of being a son, although he truly was one. He dared not say, "Abba, Father!”
How many truly converted men and women are in this condition. They are not sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)). We may not be able to explain how we cry "Abba, Father" or why we know we have this privilege. We may know nothing of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (we must know something of the Scriptures to know this), but if we can truly cry, "Father," then we must have the Spirit of God dwelling in us.
There are many who from bad teaching are afraid to say they are children of God, but when they are alone in prayer and in God's presence, they say, "Father." They say this blessed name from the bottom of their hearts. This is the work of the Spirit dwelling in them. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3:1717Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)). There is not only liberty in the presence of God, but there is also liberty from the power of sin.
Now look for a moment at the work of the Holy Spirit for us. First, it is the Holy Spirit who convinces (or convicts) us of sin (John 16:8-98And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:8‑9) margin). He is not a spirit of bondage but of adoption (Rom. 8:1515For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)). We know that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)). If we are heirs, then we have an inheritance, but to be in such a relationship to God and to Christ is far more than having an inheritance, which is only the result of this relationship. All this we know by the Spirit.
The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us (Rom. 5:55And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)). How precious this is. We dwell in love, the love of God, for God is love (1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)), and by the Spirit, He dwells in us. The proof of the love is that God gave His only begotten Son and that the Son gave Himself for us. But we can only enjoy this love through the Holy Spirit. By His presence the love is "shed abroad in our hearts.”
The Apostle John says: "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:12-1312No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:12‑13)). Then to show that this belongs to all Christians without any question, he says: "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God" (1 John 4:1515Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15)).
It is difficult for one who does not walk with God to believe that we can dwell in God, and God in us. But the Word clearly says: "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom. 8:99But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)). He dwells in us, and the one who walks in communion with God enjoys this and rejoices in it with humility and gratitude. The presence of God never makes us proud. He is too great for us to be anything before Him. It was not when Paul was in the third heaven that he was in danger of being exalted above measure, but when he came down to earth again. (See 2 Corinthians 12.)
The Spirit of God also gives us to know that we are in Christ, and Christ in us (John 14:2020At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)). There is no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus. Not only are our sins forgiven and we are justified before God, but we are acceptable to God in our Jesus who is the beloved, for we are "accepted [taken into favor] in the beloved" (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)). Here we see the believer's perfect acceptance and also his responsibility. Before God I am perfectly accepted in Christ. But if I am in Christ, Christ is in me as life and power, and I am responsible to manifest this life before the world. Christ is for us before God, and we are for Christ before the world.
By the Holy Spirit, therefore, we know that we are in Christ and Christ in us. What a wonderful fact that the Spirit of God dwells in us! This is the result of Christ's perfect redemption. But what a responsibility this is also for the Christian! God did not dwell with Adam, even when he was innocent, before he sinned, in the Garden of Eden. God did not dwell with Abraham, though He visited him, and Abraham was called "the Friend of God" (James 2:2323And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23); Isa.41:8)
As soon as Israel was redeemed by the blood of a lamb, even though this was but a type of the true redemption, then God came to dwell in the midst of His people and sat between the cherubim in the tabernacle in the holy of holies. Now that the true redemption is completed, He comes to dwell in believers individually and in His people gathered together by the Holy Spirit. His presence in us is more than conversion. The persons washed in the blood of Jesus become the dwelling place of God. They are thus sealed for glory by means of the gift of the Holy Spirit.