You know you are in Christ if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, which happens the moment you believe the gospel.
Scripture, as explained by Les Feldick, shows that the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the proof of being in Christ. Romans 8:9 states that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Him. This indwelling occurs automatically when a person believes the gospel, and it brings about visible changes in life, such as changed desires and friendships.
Romans 8:9 — This verse explicitly states that having the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) is the criterion for belonging to Him.
Romans 8:9 provides a clear test: a person is either 'in the flesh' or 'in the Spirit,' and the determining factor is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The verse concludes that anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. This elevates the Holy Spirit's presence as the essential mark of a believer. First John 3:1 affirms that believers are called the children of God, and because of this new identity, the world does not know them. This is a consequence of the new relationship with God through Christ. The transformation is also evidenced in daily life. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, 'old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' This newness includes a change in desires and associations, though it does not mean abandoning everyday responsibilities.
Les Feldick teaches that the moment a person believes the gospel—that Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose again—God the Holy Spirit comes to indwell them. This is not a process or a ceremony; it is instantaneous and automatic. As he explains, 'Every believer the moment he believes, the Spirit comes and indwells.' This indwelling is the solid proof that a person is in Christ, and Romans 8:9 is the criteria. Les emphasizes that this is not a matter of simply saying a prayer or going through religious motions. He warns against 'ease of believism,' stressing that a person must truly understand they are a lost child of Adam and genuinely believe the gospel. Then, as he says, 'God moves in and makes that person a child of His and puts him into the body of Christ.' Furthermore, Les points out that there will be practical changes in a believer's life. He gives an example of a couple who, after believing, poured out their beer and saw their drinking friends disappear. He says this is exactly how it works: 'When you become a believer, the whole circle of your friendships will probably change. Your whole desire begins to change.' These changes are evidence of the Spirit's work within.
According to Les, the definitive proof is the presence of the Holy Spirit. He states, 'If so be, see here's the criteria, here's the proof. Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you? If He doesn't, then you're on pretty thin ice. If He does, you're solid.' This is rooted in Romans 8:9, which Les calls 'the criteria' and 'the proof.'
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit is received at the moment of belief in the gospel. He says, 'first you had to believe the gospel and the Holy Spirit automatically, immediately, the moment we believe.' This is not a separate experience or a later event; it is simultaneous with genuine faith.
Les points to a change in friendships and desires. He shares a story of a couple who, after becoming believers, got rid of their beer and wet bar, and their previous drinking friends disappeared, replaced by a new circle of friends. He says, 'When you become a believer, the whole circle of your friendships will probably change. Your whole desire begins to change, and that's as it should be, because it's two different worlds.'
No. Les clarifies that being heavenly minded does not make us unusable for earthly responsibilities. In the same clip about changed friendships, he says, 'Now that doesn't mean we get so heavenly minded that we're no earth' — indicating that believers still function in the world. The change is in our inner nature and desires, not in our abandonment of duties.
Les uses the analogy of a husband and wife becoming one to describe our union with Christ. He says, 'Christ and this body of believers become one. We are just totally integrated.' He also notes the dual reality: not only are we in Christ, but Christ is in us. This is a mutual indwelling that the world cannot understand.
Les teaches that without the Spirit of Christ, a person 'is none of his' (Romans 8:9). He calls this 'scary' and says people need to be 'shook up' to realize that they cannot simply go through religious motions and hope to spend eternity with God. The Spirit's presence is the guarantee that we belong to Him.
Les references Romans 8:16 where 'the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.' He emphasizes that this is a work of the Spirit within us, confirming our new identity as sons of God, not sons of old Adam.
Changed Life as Evidence
Les uses a real-life example to show that when a person becomes a believer, their friendships and desires change, proving the Spirit's work.
The Criteria: Indwelling Spirit
Les explains that the proof of being in Christ is the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, as stated in Romans 8:9.
Indwelling at the Moment of Belief
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer the moment they believe, citing 1 Corinthians 3 and Ephesians 1.
Becoming a Member of the Body of Christ
Les explains that believing the gospel leads to automatic inclusion into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Union with Christ
Les describes the believer's union with Christ as mutual indwelling, akin to marriage, and notes this is experiential.
Spirit's Witness
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God, confirming our new identity.
Salvation and Entry into Christ
Les emphasizes that genuine belief in the gospel results in God moving in and placing the believer into the body of Christ.
Led by the Spirit
Les teaches that being led by the Spirit is evidence of being a son of God, and that the Spirit's witness confirms this.
Romans 8:9: 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.
This is the key verse that establishes the indwelling Spirit as the test of belonging to Christ.
Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Being led by the Spirit is an evidence of being a child of God.
Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
This verse shows the Holy Spirit's inner witness confirming our adoption.
1 Corinthians 3:16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
This verse declares that believers are God's temple because the Spirit dwells in them.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This verse describes the transformation that occurs when a person is in Christ.
According to Les Feldick, the indwelling Holy Spirit is the definitive proof. He states, 'Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you? If He doesn't, then you're on pretty thin ice. If He does, you're solid.' This is grounded in Romans 8:9.
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit comes the moment a person believes the gospel. He says, 'Every believer the moment he believes, the Spirit comes and indwells.' This is automatic and immediate.
Yes, Les explains that a believer's desires and friendships often change. He shares an example where a couple's drinking friends disappeared after they believed, replaced by new friends. This change reflects that 'it's two different worlds.'
No, Les says this change does not mean we get 'so heavenly minded that we're no earth,' indicating we continue to engage in daily life, but with new priorities and desires.
Watch the Teaching: Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained