The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Regeneration Difference between O.T. & N.T.

I disagree with your assessments of things. There is a difference between the O.T. and N.T. concerning the indwelling of the Spirit.

The difference between the O.T. and the N.T. is how God worked. In the O.T. God was in the midst of the people. He could be know by the people because He revealed Himself to them. They had the light of God's glory in the midst of them. Today, that light is the Holy Spirit which is given to us. No longer is the light in the Temple, but e are not the Temple of God. The church is to be the light to the world, in other words, His temple is in the midst of a lost world. Sadly, the light is slowly dying.

If the O.T. saints had the indwelling presence of the Spirit, then they would not have been so concerned if the Glory of the Lord departed the Temple. They had knowledge of God because of His revealing Himself to them. Going back to the temple, the only way that the people could approach God was thru sacrifices, they were necessary for more than just point to Christ as you say.

John 14:17 Christ tells the disciples, but you know Him because He abides WITH you, and will be IN you. This clearly shows the difference of with and indwelling. Christ was with the disciples, so the Spirit of Truth was with them, not in them, not until the work of Christ was accomplished.

So this doesn't get too lengthy, two ending questions, if the indwelling Spirit is the same in the O.T. and the N.T., then why did David pray: Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me Ps. 51:11? and for Saul, if he was indwelt and the Spirit of the Lord departed 1 Sam. 16:14, then apparently we can lose our salvation. This is contrary to the rest of scripture.

Ending, the comment about suggesting that I read Hebrews and Romans wasn't very kind by way of implication.