Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Question 58:

“Why, in 1 Timothy 3:15, do we get the ‘Living’ God? Why ‘Living?’”

Answer 58:

“The Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16-17) is what the Church was built upon. It is the power which has brought it above dying man, and withal is abiding. It is a term of power and dignity above idols, above death in man. He trusts in the living God (1 Timothy 4:10). We are converted to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 4). See Acts 14:15: We “preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God,” etc. Well, this is His assembly on earth (1 Timothy 3:15).

Question 59:

As believers, the Holy Ghost dwells in us. Having believed, we are sealed until the day of redemption, and He is the earnest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). He will eventually quicken our mortal bodies, as we find in Romans 8:11. Is there any thought in Scripture as to His dwelling in us for ever?

Answer 59:

There are no specific Scriptures that I know of which state that the Holy Ghost will abide in us for ever. But His action in spiritual power is essential to our power in life. The Spirit is life, and it surely is not to be taken away as power of enjoyment in heaven. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free.” We are to be fully conformed to the image of God’s Son, and we find Him, a Man risen from the dead, giving commands through the Holy Ghost after His resurrection (Acts 1:2). We shall have the Holy Ghost thus after our resurrection, and His divine energy will be wholly free to guide and direct in the service committed to us by our God, and in unhindered power of joy and worship. This is now checked, because of His now giving power to restrain and mortify the flesh in us.