Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
According to W.E. Vine’s Expository dictionary of New Testament Words, the word habitation is a form of the Greek word oiketerion which is a combination of oiketer meaning an inhabitant (in this case God) and oikos meaning a dwelling (in this case the believer).
The apostle Paul is telling the Ephesian Christians that they, along with all other believers, are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (NASV).
When does the indwelling of the Holy Spirit occur?
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:8 & 9
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs at the time of belief or regeneration according to verse 9b of Romans 8. It is a very simple explanation. If anyone does not have the Spirit, he/she does not belong to Christ. In other words, one cannot be a Christian and not have the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.
There is a distinction between the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one time action that occurs at the time of belief or regeneration. The believer is placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at that time.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I Corinthians 12:13
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is continuous action that lasts throughout the life of the believer. This function does not change regardless of the genuine believer’s behaviour.
John Walvoord, in his book The Holy Spirit, makes the following observation: Sinning Christians possess the Holy Spirit. Never in the dispensation of grace are Christians warned that the loss of the Holy Spirit will occur as a result of sin. On the contrary, in the notable case of the Corinthian church, they are exhorted to live a godly life because they are indwelt by the Spirit: “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19)
Walvoord continues: The inference is plain that the presence of the Spirit abides even in the hearts of Christians who are unyielded and living in sin. While yieldedness remains a condition for the filling of the Spirit, the indwelling of the Spirit is unconditional for genuine Christians. (Emphasis added)
Note: Assurance of salvation comes from the promises of Scripture authored by the Holy Spirit. A Christian continuing in sin has broken fellowship with God. As a result, he/she will lose his joy in the Lord, his/her assurance from the Spirit of God, and will invite the chastening of the Lord into his/her life.
Walvoord also writes: Indwelling is the abiding presence of the Spirit, while the filling of the Spirit indicates the ministry and extent of control of the Spirit over the individual.
…….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…….