Divine Presence: How God and His Son Dwell in Believers

Yes, it is a glorious truth that the Father dwells in His Son in all His fullness by giving Him the Spirit without measure, and together they abide in the believer through the Holy SpiritGCB December 1895, page 632.3+1. This spiritual union is not a mere theory but the very essence of Christianity, where the infinite Godhead connects with finite beings through a divine representativeSOTW 73.2.

The Fullness of the Father in the Son

The scriptures declare that it pleased the Father that in Christ all fullness should dwell Colossians 1:19GCB December 1895, page 632.3. This "fullness of the Godhead bodily" is the indwelling of the Father Himself through the agency of the Spirit Colossians 2:9GCB December 1895, page 632.3.

• A Shared Life: God was in Christ as His indwelling life and power, working through Him to reconcile the world to HimselfGCB December 1895, page 632.3.

• The Medium of the Spirit: The Father dwelt in the Son by giving the Spirit to Him without measure; thus, the working power in Christ was the presence of the FatherGCB December 1895, page 632.3.

• Eternal Bosom: The only-begotten Son has His abode in the "bosom of the Father" and is a part of the Godhead even while on earth John 1:18CHR 15.2.

The Holy Spirit as the Presence of Both

The Holy Spirit is the actual representative of Jesus Christ, and through Him, both the Father and the Son make their home in the human heartGCB December 1895, page 632.3+1.

• The Comforter's Advent: The coming of the Comforter is the fulfillment of Christ's promise, "I will come to you" John 14:18SOTW 73.2.

• A Concrete Union: This advent is a concrete exposition of the bond of spiritual unity between the Father, the Son, and the believing discipleSOTW 73.2.

• The Abode of the Trio: If a person loves Christ and keeps His words, Christ promises that "we"—referring to both the Father and Himself—will come and make our abode with him John 14:23GNT 211.2.

The Divine Presence in the Believer

The influence of the Holy Spirit is described as the life of Christ in the soul, and it makes the heart a temple for God's presence12MR 261.1+1.

• Christ in You: This "mystery hid for ages" is Christ in you, the hope of glory, rendered possible by the operation of the Holy Spirit Colossians 1:26-27SOTW 73.2.

• Living by Another's Life: Just as Christ lived by the life of the Father, we are to live by the life of Christ dwelling in usGCB December 1895, page 632.3.

• The Temple of God: Our bodies are designed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is the presence of the invisible persons who constitute the Godhead 1 Corinthians 6:19SOTW 73.2.

The Agency of Omnipresence

While the Father and Son are personally in the heavenly sanctuary, they are invisibly present on earth through the Holy SpiritTDOC 221.3.

• Representative Power: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, the representative of Christ, who works to effect wonderful transformations in human hearts1888 1493.2+1.

• Everywhere Present: Though the Lord's throne is in heaven, by His Spirit He is everywhere present, possessing an intimate knowledge of all His works Psalms 11:4EGWSRGES 11.4.

• The Life-Giving Influence: This sanctifying influence is the "life-giving, sanctifying Spirit" that Christ gives to all who believe1SM 238.1.