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キリスト教信仰に関するFAQ

主題2: 御霊

2-2. Does the Holy Spirit dwell within a born again person all of the time if he or she believes in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, or does the Holy Spirit hover around them and come into them whenever they ask for help?

The Holy Spirit is the Helper, in other words, the Spirit of truth whom God has given to all righteous people who have been born again of water and the Spirit, ever since Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, died on the Cross and resurrected (John 15:26). Ephesians 1:13 says, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” The Holy Spirit comes upon the righteous who have received forgiveness for their sins by believing in Jesus Christ and thereby seals them as children of God. 
In John 14:16, the Lord said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” Jesus’ disciples received forgiveness for all their sin by believing that Jesus took on all the sins of the world through His baptism. This was why John the Baptist said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
“The sin of the world” are all the sins that all the people of this world have been committing from the beginning until the end of the world. He accepted all the sins of the world at once, died on the Cross, was resurrected and thereby made us righteous forever. In Hebrews 10:12-14 it’s written, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by the offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
The Lord was baptized by John, was crucified then resurrected, and thereby made us righteous forever. We were forgiven for all our sins at once and became God’s children through Jesus, and this truth is immutable for all eternity. Those who have become righteous through faith don’t have sin in their hearts. Even though people cannot help but sin due to their weaknesses, they have no sin forever because Jesus took away all their sins. Therefore, they can never become sinners again. 
The Holy Spirit dwells eternally in the hearts of the righteous who have been sanctified. We cannot but sin due to our insufficiencies; but if we would become sinners every time we sin, then the gift of Jesus Christ, who made us righteous forever, would be wasted, and He would have to die for us again after accepting our sins. This is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:26-29). 
Accordingly, the Holy Spirit dwells within the righteous who have received forgiveness for their sins and have been born again by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit. Paul said, “For you are the temple of the living God. As for God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people’” (2 Corinthians 6:16).
The Holy Spirit always dwells in God’s children who have been sanctified forever. The word “dwell” here doesn’t mean that He hovers around us then comes to us whenever we pray and call for Him; instead He “always abides in us.” He always lives in those who have been born again of water and the Spirit, teaching them all things and leading them to know God’s words (John 14:26). 
Therefore, anyone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit of God is not His (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit dwells in those who are purified and sinless, teaching them all heavenly things and testifying that they are the children of God. It is not true that the Holy Spirit is near us, coming to us as a price for our own efforts; instead He always dwells in God’s children who have been born again by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. 
However, many people lack knowledge of this and try to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with their sinful hearts. As a result, they think that He comes upon them when they put effort into fervent prayers of repentance, but that He leaves when they sin. This is the faith of those who have not received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Those who have true faith believe that they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a gift through the forgiveness of sins. One should forsake one’s own thoughts and return to the faith in God’s word.