The proof is the Holy Spirit's indwelling—a gift received when you believe the gospel.
Romans 8:9 makes the Spirit's indwelling the test: if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. Ephesians 1:13-14 adds that after believing the gospel, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick calls this 'the criteria, the proof': if the Spirit dwells in you, you are solid; if He does not, you are on thin ice.
Romans 8:9 — This verse directly states that having the Spirit of God dwell in you is the proof of belonging to Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14 — These verses describe God sealing believers with the Holy Spirit of promise after they believe the gospel.
The Bible's proof of eternal life is the Holy Spirit's presence in the believer. Romans 8:9 says, '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 makes the Spirit's indwelling the test of belonging to Christ. Ephesians 1:13-14 shows how this happens: 'In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.' The believer is sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit.
Les Feldick points directly to Romans 8:9 and says, 'Here's the criteria, here's the proof. Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you?' He warns that if the Spirit does not dwell in you, you are 'none of His' and 'on pretty thin ice.' He also reminds his listeners that Paul writes only to believers, so this proof belongs to those who have trusted the gospel. Les connects this to Ephesians 1:13-14, teaching that after you believed—'period, plus nothing'—God sealed you with the Holy Spirit of promise. He explains that the sealing is part of the salvation experience and that the Holy Spirit indwells, empowers, and keeps the believer. On assurance, Les says salvation is not just a fire escape; it is a day-by-day assurance that you are His, and you know it because the book says so.
Romans 8:8-9 says the one in the flesh cannot please God, but the believer is not in the flesh if the Spirit of God dwells in him; if a man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. Ephesians 1:13-14 adds that after hearing the gospel and believing, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of their inheritance.
Les points to Romans 8:9 and says, 'Here's the criteria, here's the proof. Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you?' He warns that if He does not, you are 'none of His' and on 'pretty thin ice.' He also notes Paul writes only to believers, so this proof is for those who have believed the gospel.
Les takes Ephesians 1:13 to mean that sealing comes after believing: 'after that you believed, period, plus nothing.' He contrasts it with church membership, catechism, baptism, and confirmation—none of those are the moment; faith in the gospel is. At that same moment, the Holy Spirit indwells, empowers, and keeps the believer.
Les says salvation is not just a fire escape; it is day-by-day assurance that you are His and He is yours. How do you know it? 'Because the book says so.' He also lists what God has already done—forgiveness, redemption, justification, translation, reconciliation, glorification—and asks, 'How can you doubt?' The response is to claim it by faith.
Believers Are Not in the Flesh
Les applies Romans 8 to believers, showing that a saved person is no longer 'in the flesh'—his position in Christ has changed.
The Proof: The Indwelling Holy Spirit
Les directly states that the proof of belonging to Christ is whether the Holy Spirit dwells in you; if He does, you are solid, and if not, you are none of His.
Sealed After Faith, Not After Ritual
Les contrasts sealing with the Holy Spirit with rituals like church membership, catechism, baptism, and confirmation—it happens after you believe.
Assurance from the Book, Not Feelings
Les teaches that salvation is day-by-day assurance and that you know it is true because the book says so.
Sealed and Marked by the Spirit
Les says being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise is part of the salvation experience; the Spirit marks the believer.
The Core Is Believing the Gospel
Les points to Ephesians 1:13-14 as verses that open hearts, emphasizing that the core of eternal life is believing the gospel.
How Can You Doubt?
Les lists all the salvation realities God has done—forgiveness, redemption, justification, translation, reconciliation, glorification—and says the believer should claim them rather than doubt.
Believed, Plus Nothing—Then Sealed
Les stresses 'after that you believed, period, plus nothing,' then God seals with the Holy Spirit, who indwells, empowers, and keeps the believer.
Romans 8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Les quotes this as background to the proof—before showing that believers are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.
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 central proof verse: the indwelling Spirit marks a person as belonging to Christ.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
It shows the exact moment: after hearing the gospel and believing, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The Spirit is the earnest, or down payment, of the believer's inheritance, which Les calls part and parcel of the salvation experience.
The proof is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 says if the Spirit of God dwells in you and you have the Spirit of Christ, you belong to Him. Ephesians 1:13-14 says after you believed the gospel, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
When they believe the gospel. Les Feldick stresses 'after that you believed, period, plus nothing' (Clip 7). Church membership, baptism, catechism, and confirmation do not do it; faith in the gospel does (Clip 2).
Yes. Les Feldick repeatedly points believers to the Word: 'How do we know it? Because the book says so' (Clip 3). After listing what God has done in salvation, he asks, 'How can you doubt?' and tells believers to claim it (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained