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the text here seems to refute the fact that the people in OT times did not have the Spirit within them here it is... 1Pe 1:11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
now this seems to say the apposite of what many believe and claim, how does one reconcile this text if they claim the men of old did not have the spirit dwelling in them? and please understand this is not an attack but rather a sincere question to see what the answer would be...
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
now this seems to say the apposite of what many believe and claim, how does one reconcile this text if they claim the men of old did not have the spirit dwelling in them? and please understand this is not an attack but rather a sincere question to see what the answer would be...
We recognize that the Spirit of God has always ministered to and in the hearts of men, but, in view is eternal Redemption and eternal indwelling. Christ taught the disciples that something new woiuld take place after the Comforter was sent, which would only take place if He departed. This establishes that what He would do was not taking place at that time.
Here are a few things that would be accomplished by the Comforter:
Eternal indwelling: the Lord said He is with you but shall be in you;
Glorifying of Christ: even in Christ's day the Gospel of Christ was not being preached. When Christ did give them the Gospel...the disciples sorrowed (hence "Let not your hearts be troubled");
Conviction of sins in relationship to Christ and the Gospel: prior to this Age the revelation provided to them veiled the mysteries that the Spirit revealed.
We cannot look at the ministry of the Son of God through Prophets to negate what else we are told:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1:11-12&version=KJV
We see in the following verse that the Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven, Who is the Comforter, is the One Who revealed what the Prophets ministered. They ministered, not to the!selves, but to us (those of Peter's day and following).
Peter understood that Christ the Son of God was the Source of their prophecy, but they, nor the Angels, did not.
The Spirit of God did minister through men prior to Pentecost, but we look to the teaching of Christ in John 14-16 to distinguish what was yet to come.
God bless.