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FAQ on the Christian Faith

Subject 2: The Holy Spirit

2-1. I believe in Jesus, and I think I have received perfect remission of sins. I also believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within me. I know that a person who has been saved is a temple of God. Every time I go astray and commit a sin, the Holy Spirit restores my relationship with God anew, by accusing me and helping me to confess my sin to obtain forgiveness for it. I learned that if I didn’t do this, God would punish me. Is it really true that the Holy Spirit does not dwell within us for a while unless we confess our sins and are forgiven for them?

This is definitely not the case. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit does not depend on us, whether we do something righteous or not. In other words, it doesn’t depend on our will or wishes. Then how can it be achieved? The Holy Spirit doesn’t dwell in a person because he or she confesses their sins and is pardoned for them; instead the Holy Spirit dwells within someone forever when he or she receives forgiveness for sins by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a person who possesses even the slightest amount of sin.
However, many people think that the Holy Spirit dwells in them only if they confess their sins and beg for forgiveness, and that if they don’t, He won’t dwell within them. This is definitely wrong. The Bible says that He came on the apostles on the Day of the Pentecost. But we should keep in mind that they received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit not through their prayers, but because they were forgiven for their sins by having come to believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and He comes upon the righteous who have been sanctified by receiving forgiveness for their sins. What the Bible means by the word “holy” is to “be apart from sin.” Taking away your sins by confessing and praying for forgiveness whenever you commit a transgression is not perfect forgiveness in the sight of God. How dare anyone say such that he can confess all his sin without omission before God?
Only those who believe that Jesus was baptized by John and shed His blood on the Cross according to God’s plan for their salvation receive perfect forgiveness of their sins together with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God. However, the reason why many people try to receive the Holy Spirit through their own efforts is because they haven’t received perfect forgiveness for the sins in their hearts.
The true Holy Spirit doesn’t come upon people through confession. He automatically comes upon them only when they are forgiven for all their sins by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit. This is an essential element of faith in order to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit before God. 
The Holy Spirit doesn’t come by any kind of effort or deed on our part. He comes upon a person if his sins are forgiven perfectly by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit. We are forgiven for all our sins by believing that Jesus took on the sins of the world through His baptism by John in the Jordan River almost 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit can only dwell in a person who exhibits this kind of faith.
He cannot dwell in a person who has sin in his heart. This is the truth. If a person asks for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through confession every time he sins instead of faith in the true gospel, he can never receive the Holy Spirit. This only shows that he still has sin in his heart even though he believes in Jesus.
Satan is the one who condemns us. In Romans 8:1, it is written, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” 
Even though one claims to have definitely received the forgiveness of sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, if one hasn’t been forgiven for all sins by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, sin remains in the heart. This is why you have to have accurate knowledge of the gospel of the water and the Spirit in order to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If you want to learn about the gospel of the water and the Spirit in more detail, we cordially recommend you to read Paul C. Jong’s first volume, “Have you truly been born again of water and the Spirit?”