Tony Clark's Page

The Bible very strongly teaches that when someone has been born again, the Holy Spirit of God resides in his heart!

This wonderful and miraculous fact is rarely denied, but usually ignored by modern evangelicalism.

 First of all, we should establish that the Holy Spirit is God.     He is as much God as the Father is God and the Son (Jesus) is God.  Many people today talk about the Holy Spirit as if he were a puppet.  For example someone might say, "I'm going to tell the Spirit to do such and such a thing."  This is a very irreverent thing to do or say.  We cannot force the Holy Spirit to do anything.  He is God. It is very arrogant to think we can force the Holy Spirit to do anything.  Please refer to Matthew 28:19 and Matthew 3:16-17.

 For info about the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I refer you to my notes on Holy Spirit conviction. 

 When someone is saved, the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer.

1 Corinthians 3:16 states, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

 This verse teaches us that we who have been born again are temples of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.  This should cause us to desire to keep from sin and to serve Christ.

Ephesians 1:13 states, "In 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,"

 There are many other verses that agree with these.  The Holy Spirit seals the heart of the believer.

Most evangelicals agree with what I have written thus far.  

 What I argue is that one can know he is saved because a true believer can feel the Holy Spirit in his heart.

 Now, I realize that many say that there is no feeling in salvation.  What they should say is that as far as they know, there is no feeling in salvation.  Such folks like to say that feelings are fluid.  One can feel hungry, eat, and then feel full.  One can feel sad at the news of the death of a loved one, only to rejoice when he discovers that his loved one was confused with someone else.  These are not the feelings I am talking about.  Of course, as a child of God, I can feel happy, angry, and sad all in one day.  However, the Holy Spirit resides in my heart through it all, and can always feel his presence in my heart.  When someone tells me that there is no way to feel saved, I tend to think he simply has not experienced the new birth.

 Are there any Bible verses to back up my belief?

 1 John 3:24 states, "...And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

 Now, let us be honest.  This verse is teaching that one way that we can know that we are saved is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This verse would make no sense -- unless we could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 Romans 8:16 states, " The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

 This plainly teaches that we can know we are children of God because the Holy Spirit testifies to us that we are.  Again, this verse would make no sense if there were no feeling in salvation.

 Furthermore, the Holy Spirit leads and directs his children.  

 Romans 8:14 states, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

How can one be led by the Holy Spirit, if there is no feeling to it?  On many occasions, the Holy Spirit has led me to do things that I myself did not want to do!  Sometimes, I obeyed.  Sadly, I have not always obeyed Him.  

One more scripture to look at -- John 3:8 -- "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is like the wind.  Strictly speaking, you cannot see the wind.  You can see the effects of the wind, but you cannot see the wind.   You can, however, feel the wind.  Similarly, you cannot see the Holy Spirit.  You can see the effects of the Holy Spirit.  However, if you have been born again, you can feel the Holy Spirit in your heart.

 Since the Bible teaches that we can know we are saved by feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit, why do so many argue differently?

 I can tell you from experience that I am so happy that I know I'm saved.  Every day, I am grateful that the peace, love, joy, and even reproof of the Holy Spirit reaffirm to me that I am a child of God.  I'm glad I know I'm saved.  Why would anyone not want to believe that he can know he is saved?  The only reason I can come up with is that there are many many unconverted and unregenerate Christians who do not feel the Holy Spirit and want to still think that they are saved.  They do not want to admit they are deceived.  They do not want to admit they are wrong, kneel before God in humble repentance and faith, and seek him until He lets them know they are saved.  They prefer a pleasant fiction over the true experiential comfort of God.

I once heard  Jewish commentator say, How do Christians know you have had enough faith in order to be saved?  My answer is in 1 John 3:24, " "...And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."