Does the Holy Spirit 'Indwell' in Christians?

Question:

May I have an explaination of Act 10:1-44 being filled with the Holy Spirit. How?

Submitted by JW on 3/31/99.

Answer:  (Given by Bro. Don Raines)

Thank you for your question and your interest in God's word. Acts 10 is a very important chapter. It is important for several reasons.

1. In it, the door of the church is opened to those other than Jews, that is, the Gentiles
2. It shows the fulfilling of Joel's prophecy
3. It teaches us that being devout and sincere religiously isn't always enough to claim salvation.

Lets look at point #1. In Matthew 16:13-20, we read where Jesus is questioning his disciples about who they and others thought he really was. Some said John the Baptist, some Elijiah, some just knew he was a prophet. But when he asked them who they thought he was, Peter answered and said, "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God". After Peter confessed his faith in Jesus, the Lord turned and confessed Peter. This is exactly what Jesus said must take place Matthew 10: 32-33. Peter confessed Jesus, and Jesus confessed Peter. But the Lord also said that he would give Peter the "keys" to the kingdom of heaven. The word key is a figurative expression meaning authority. In Acts 2 Peter uses one of the "keys' to open the door of the kingdom, the church, to the Jews gathered at Pentecost. And again in Acts 10 Peter uses the other "key" to open the door of the church to the Gentiles.

Which brings us to point #2. Joel prophesied that in the last days the Lord would "pour out his Spirit upon all flesh.... " Joel 2: 28. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We find this prophecy being fulfilled on Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-4) Peter even quotes Joel's prophecy to prove that the events on Pentecost were in fact the fulfilling of Joel's prophecy. However, Joel's prophecy included all flesh. All flesh included both Jew and Gentile. These were the only two classes of men the Bible speaks of. So, for the first several years (maybe 10), the church consisted of only Jewish converts. But God sent Peter to the house of Cornelius to open the door of the kindom (church) to the Gentiles. As a matter of fact, Peter makes it clear that the Holy Spirit was "poured out" on the Gentiles as it was on the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 10: 44-46). Being filled with the Spirit in Acts 10 meant that the Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Point #3: Using Cornelius as an example, we see that a person can be very religious and devout, yet still lack the necessary obedience for salvation. Cornelius and his household received salvation in the same way that the Jews did on Pentecost: through obedience to the command to be baptized. Acts 2: 38. In Acts 10, after demonstrating God's acceptance of the Gentiles by the baptism of the Holy Spirit ( speaking in tongues), Peter asked a very pointed question: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" They were then baptized in water for the remission of their sins just like the Jews did on Pentecost.

So, being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 10 had to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was the fulfilling of Joel's prophecy, the acceptance of the Gentiles into the church, and the knowledge that obedience is essential to salvation.

I hope this helps answer your question. If we can be of any other help, please let us know.

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