Could we begin by asking: why do some want to believe that the Spirit of God dwells within the believer? Is there some advantage? We presume there must be. What are the implications? If the Spirit dwelling within is a passive thing: what is the point? If it is an active thing, then what are the results of that activity?
Once one has accepted this belief of the indwelling Spirit of God within oneself, it would appear there are two different directions of thought which can be taken. These two directions depend somewhat on the personality or temperament of the individuals concerned. An emotional person may believe he can “feel” the indwelling spirit active within and this, one would think, would lead naturally and even inevitably to an “experience”. And, in fact, we now have the brotherhood being circularized with a questionnaire asking if those who have “experienced” the activity of the indwelling spirit would like to pool their experiences so others can benefit from them! Anyone who has sat, as the writer has before coming into the Truth, in an Oxford Group-type of prayer meeting (or Moral Re-Armament as it is now known) will be thunderstruck at the similarities.
Here are two dangers: firstly, that there will slowly and inevitably be a trend to more reliance upon the activity of the Spirit of God within, than upon application of the mind to the Word of God. Secondly, that we who have the Truth will become indistinguishable from the evangelical or pentecostal churches of the world.
Even without the danger of feeling an experience it is difficult to see how brethren can distinguish between the belief that God’s Spirit dwells within the believer, and the beliefs of many church-goers today. A principal part of the apostasy of Christendom is the belief that every individual has part of God’s spirit within him. It is an easy step for the nominal Christian to then believe that he is part of God and will be with God at death. The same step leads, again rather easily, to the belief that their children are “holy” – in direct opposition to the scriptural teaching concerning the true nature of man – and therefore a child dying in early years goes to be with God.
Spiritual Arrogance–or Humility?
The alternative direction, for the less emotionally inclined, is a process of thought and belief which can only lead to what has been described as “spiritual arrogance”. Let us follow it through. In the writer’s experience, those who believe in the indwelling Spirit of God also tend to believe the following doctrines. The Scriptural references are given only as a brief indication of the basis for beliefs that are found in the brotherhood today.
- Christadelphian predestination (Rom. 8:29,30).
- The present possession, in a sense, of eternal life (Jn. 6:54, I John 5:13).
- Present membership in the Kingdom of God (Col. l:13).
- A confidence of acceptance at the Judgement Seat of Christ (I John 4:17),
Please note that we are not endeavouring to ascertain whether these are true or false. For example, we can say that we have eternal life within our grasp by the promise of God; or again, our citizenship is “in the heavenlies” and this gives us a special relationship to the Kingdom, not enjoyed by the unbaptised. It depends entirely on the emphasis or slant of thought given by the brother who presents these ideas. There is a danger in too positive a presentation. For example, we have noted the following emphasis from some brethren:
(a) God has chosen ME?
(b) God wants ME to have eternal life
(c). God wants ME to be in His Kingdom
(d) I will be in the Kingdom.
And to these we add: God, by His Spirit, dwells in ME. No brother, of course, ever says it in this simplified form, but this is the attitude that comes through. Note the elevation of SELF. Surely the danger of this kind of thinking is obvious?
Christadelpbians are sometimes accused by outsiders of being proud and self-righteous (“We have the Truth and everyone else is wrong”!); we are accused of being Pharisees – hypocrites – because we do not live the life we teach. And yet our goal is certainly that of men of a contrite and humble spirit with whom He that inhabiteth eternity is pleased to dwell. (Is it fair to ask: How can God dwell with the believer when at the same time He is supposed to be dwelling in him, by His Spirit?).
Humility, that gentleness of spirit, is surely the qualifications for acceptance at the Judgment Seat? Is it possible that a brother who believes he has been selected by God out of the world, that he has now eternal life within his grasp, that he has present membership in the Kingdom of God, that God dwells in him by His Spirit, that he will not be accountable at the Judgement Seat of Christ – Is it really possible that that brother can believe all these things of himself and still retain his humility? Surely humbleness of mind is incompatible with these beliefs? In fact, almost impossible? This is what a belief in the indwelling Spirit of God can lead to. This is the danger.
In passing, we might just note that a thorough and careful study, both of the meaning and of the usage of the word “boldness” in I John 4:17 (RSV “confidence”, Greek: parrhesia) in the New Testament will show quite clearly that this passage cannot be used to substantiate the idea that we can approach the Judgment Seat with confidence that we will be accepted. The word means “freedom of utterance”. As Daniel was touched on the lips by an angel, in that figure of death and resurrection (Dan. 10:16) permitting him to give his testimony, so will the believer be enabled at the Judgement Seat of Christ to give his. Compare Bro. Roberts thoughts on the Judgment as recorded in “Christendom Astray”, pages 70-71.
In conclusion: There are no positive benefits to be gained from the belief that we have the indwelling Spirit of God that cannot be gained through study and meditation upon the Word of God, preceded and concluded by prayer. But there are many dangers.
Why do brethren today insist upon propagating a new doctrine, not countenanced by our Pioneer brethren; a doctrine that could easily endanger a believer’s salvation by engendering in him a false confidence and pride, a doctrine that can only lead to an adulteration of the Truth by the beliefs of the so-called Christian church?
Fellowship with the Maker and Brethren