Today there are many non-biblical views of what is the work of the Holy Spirit. Does the Holy Spirit come upon people without their permission and act upon them in such a way that causes them to be saved? Does the Holy Spirit indwell physically in humans today? Just what does the Bible explain as the work of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus taught His apostles that He would send the Comforter (or Holy Spiri0 to them after He returned to the Father (John 16:7). When one studies the context of John 16, especially the next seven verses, one can get an understanding as to the nature of the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, '54nd when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" (John 16:8). Then Jesus went on and gave more details as to why and how the Holy Spirit would work. "Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
The above verses point out the why and Jesus continued with the how in John 16:13, "Howbeit whell he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak oJ himself,' but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." Was this promise made for all believers, even for us today? One must go back to the thirteenth chapter of John to answer that question. In John chapter thirteen, Jesus was having supper with His twelve apostles. Jesus' discourse on the Holy Spirit begins in John 13:31 and continues through all of chapter 17. The Holy Spirit was promised to these men alone in this type of miraculous indwelling, and not to everyone who would become a Christian.
How does the Holy Spirit dwell in Christians today? Through the word of God according to 1 Corinthians 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" How are we the temple of the Holy Ghost? Remember just as God does not literally dwell in temples made of hands (Acts 17:24) neither does the Holy Spirit literally dwell within a person. But, we see His influence in the lives of Christians, just as we see the influence of God and Jesus Christ in the lives of Christians. Where do we learn of the Holy Spirit? From God's word, fi.om the same place that faith is to come according to Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' As a person searches God's word and looks at the work of the Holy Spirit today, you will find that God's word and the Holy Spirit does the same thing.