God's Indwelling Presence Quotes

“In the old covenant God faithfully remained with His people, accompanying them in a pillar of fire and cloud, then dwelling among them in the tabernacle and the temple. Under the new covenant, the only temple is the believing community itself, and God dwells not only among the community corporately (Matt 18:20; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16), but also in each member individually (John 14:17; Rom 8:9–11; 1 Cor 6:19). This is the overarching thesis this book seeks to establish.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“In other words, why does Luke tell his readers that certain Christians are prophets (e.g. 11:27; 13:1; 15:32) if in fact all Christians have the Spirit of prophecy?”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“Luke describes Stephen, Barnabas, and the disciples as “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:5; 7:55; 11:24; 13:52) and notes that the deacons were expected to be the same (6:3).33 This pipe is made not for a wind that comes in explosive power resulting in extraordinary deeds, like the mighty rushing on the day of Pentecost (2:2). Rather, this pipe is designed for the continual presence of the Spirit which transforms people downcast by persecution into those who experience the unexpected emotions of joy (13:52), contentment (7:59), and forgiveness for their persecutors (7:60). This is not the music of ecstatic utterance but of characteristic constancy.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“Regeneration and indwelling thus have important implications for God's new temple, the church. Only the regenerate should be members of the church, and indwelling necessitates church discipline. The regenerate members of the church, who are inhabited by God and constitute His temple, serve as priests. These priests make God known by proclaiming the truths of the Bible so that more might be regenerated, and they forgive and retain sin that Christ's bride might be pure. Truth is to lead us to godliness (Tit 1:1).”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“Unfortunately, it is more difficult to get on a city bus than it is to join most Southern Baptist churches. This circumstance makes church discipline all but impossible. History shows us that things have not always been this way.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“If old covenant believers were regenerated by the Spirit, what is new about the new interiority promised in Jer 31:31–34? The newness does not consist in the Spirit's regenerating ministry of enabling people to hear God's word and believe. What is new is the indwelling ministry of the Spirit and the spiritualized view of the temple.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

“The indwelling of the Spirit is God's favorable presence abiding with those who enjoy His merciful establishment of a covenant relationship. John Frame explains, “God is not merely present in the world; he is covenantally present. He is with his creatures to bless and to judge them in accordance with the terms of his covenant.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments