Question from a friend of WordTruth Ministries:

WordTruth.Com Response:

No this is incorrect. For instance, the Bible tells us in John 7 that the Holy Spirit was not given to indwell believers until after the payment for sin had been accomplished:

"Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:38-39, NIV)

And the Bible is also clear that the Holy Spirit is sealed in you after you hear and believe the gospel:

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV)

So it is pretty clear that the Holy Spirit does not indwell an unsaved man but comes to take up permanent residence at the moment of salvation. What your friend may be thinking is that every person has an eternal soul that survives the death of the body. We know this is true because otherwise there could be no judgment for unbelievers in an eternal Hell (John 20:11-15).

May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!

Rev. Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries