John 14:16-17 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
When Jesus spoke these words the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to indwell believers. That’s why our Lord told His disciples that the Spirit was currently WITH them, but soon would be IN them. Those are important prepositions to understand because our relationship to the Holy Spirit reveals whether or not we are children of God. (Romans 8:9)
If you have received all that Jesus has done for you on the cross then you have received the Holy Spirit to indwell you. He is the “Helper to be with you forever.” What a blessing to know that God’s very presence is with us every step of every day.
