This outlined lesson is about God's presence with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Presence - Lesson Outline

1. God was Present When Jesus Was on Earth

(a) Emmanuel, one of the names given to Christ, means "God with us" (Mtt 1:23)

(b) The Word dwelt among men as a man (Jhn 1:1-3,10,14)

2. What About When Jesus Ascended to Heaven?

(a) Jesus said he was going to heaven (Jhn 14:2-3)

(b) The disciples saw him ascend (Acts 1:9, Mrk 16:19)

(c) Peter preached that Christ was at God's right hand (Acts 2:32-33)

(d) Christ now represents us in heaven (Rom 8:34, Heb 9:24)

(e) Question: Is God no longer present with us?

3. The Promise of Another Helper

(a) Jesus promised another Helper would replace him (Jhn 14:15-21)

(b) The Holy Spirit is Christ's representative on earth. Through the Spirit abiding in us, we enjoy the virtual presence of Christ.

    (i) When the Holy Spirit came, Christ came representatively (Jhn 14:23).

    (ii) When the Holy Spirit indwells us, Christ indwells us representatively (Rom 8:9-10, Eph 3:16-17)

4. The Promise for the Christian Age

(a) The Holy Spirit came as was promised, but we do not read that he ascended into heaven. He is still with us.

(b) Christ promised, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Mtt 28:20). His representative, the Holy Spirit, therefore remains indwelling Christians throughout the Christian age.

(c) Look back to John 14:6, and note that the Spirit was to be with Christians "forever".

(d) Peter applied the promise of the Holy Spirit to all Christians down through the generations (Acts 2:38-39).

5. God's Presence in All Christians

(a) The world by itself is unable to know or receive the Holy Spirit so that Christ and the Father can come to make their abode (Jhn 14:17-24).

(b) However if anyone will love God and Christ, and not the world, and will keep God's word, they will have the blessing of the Holy Spirit (Jhn 14:23, 1Jn 2:15-16, 4:4-6).

(c) The presence of the Holy Spirit is not a general presence in the world, but an indwelling presence enjoyed by every Christian (Jhn 7:37-39).

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