Growing up evangelical I was taught that true believers can perceive the presence of Christ dwelling within them. At times I felt Christ’s presence, at other times I didn’t. I’d be curious to hear the experiences of others. Is there any way to be 100% certain that the resurrected Jesus Christ dwells within you?
Consider collecting and studying CT and MRI scans. Maybe they’ll show something.
Spirits are invisible, according to the Bible, so CT and MRIs aren’t going to help, Terry.
So don’t you think that you’ve answered your own question?
1 Like
Yeah but the feeling would show up surely?
I don’t believe there is any test or imaging study that will prove that a spirit lives inside your body. In fact, I don’t think there is any objective method to prove such a claim. Yet, most evangelical Christians that I know believe that they can perceive Jesus’ presence within them.
Why do they believe this? Is it a sixth sense?
If you can perceive/feel Jesus’ presence within you; if you believe that Jesus communicates with you in a still, small voice each and every day, what historical evidence would ever convince you that Jesus is dead and that the New Testament is false?
The traditional view is that it is the Holy Spirit, the Spiit that was in Jesus that comes to us so perhaps the terminology of the OP is not helpful.
Furthermore Paul calls us leaky vessels so that the amount of Spirit can vary.
The only physcal manifestations of the Holy Spirit would be through the “gifts” of which not all are tangible as Spiit driven and those that are, rarely appear in an environment that science could work let alone measure. Especially as those involved are not interested in scientific proof. For us no proof is needed. For science no proof is available whether enough or not.
So the answer is
Technically Yes, but practically No.
Richard
Thank you for serious response, Richard.
How confident are you that the spirit which you believe dwells within you and communicates with you in an inaudible voice is the resurrected Jesus? 100%?
1 Like
100%, However, there is no audible voice, usually.
From my understanding there is no need for Jesus to be involved, as they are both just aspects (persons) of God
Richard
What is it that makes you 100% convinced of Jesus/the Holy Spirit’s presence within you? What evidence?
When you say “not usually” are you stating that you have heard Jesus speak to you audibly? What did he say?
Hey, Chat! Has any technology ever been devised to measure or identify objective physical effects of “the presence of God” or the “indwelling Christ”?
Chat says: “Short answer: no.
There’s no instrument that can detect “the presence of God” or the “indwelling Christ” the way a thermometer detects heat. What we can measure are human correlates when people report feeling God’s presence—but those are normal brain–body signals, not proof of a divine agent.
Here’s the lay of the land:
-
Brain activity: fMRI/EEG during prayer, worship, contemplation, glossolalia, etc., show changes in networks for attention, self-processing, language, and emotion. Interesting, but not specific—similar patterns appear in meditation, music, or flow states.
-
Autonomic signs: heart-rate variability, respiration, skin conductance can shift during prayer/adoration—again nonspecific arousal/calm markers.
-
Neurochemical angles: hypotheses about dopamine/serotonin/endorphins exist; nothing uniquely “theophanic.”
-
Induction experiments: Persinger’s “God Helmet” (temporal-lobe magnetic stimulation) reportedly evoked a “sensed presence,” but findings are contested/not robust.
-
Prayer-for-healing trials: randomized, blinded studies of intercessory prayer show mixed or null results overall; none yields a reliable, reproducible “God effect.”
-
Miracle vetting: places like Lourdes use medical review to rule out known causes, but that’s clinical documentation, not detection of divinity.
Bottom line: current technology can track the human side (neural and physiological correlates of religious experience), but it cannot verify or falsify the divine side. Theologically, many would say that’s expected: God’s presence is personal and relational, not an impersonal force with a measurable signature.”
None whatsoever of course. Passion enslaves reason after all.
Richard, would you agree or disagree with this statement:
“I am 100% certain that I perceive the presence of the spirit of God (Jesus/the Holy Spirit) living inside me. Therefore, no amount of historical evidence could convince me that Jesus is dead and that the resurrection never happened.”
I have been a part of a few “miracles”, but any evidence to them is long disapeared, I am reluctant to talk about them beause they are to the glory of God not me.
As for that still small voice. - Again I do not consider such things to be in the public domain .I am not here to prove or disprove either the Holy Spirit’s influence or the methodology of it, sorry and all that.
Richard
So that was your agenda or goal? to prove to yourself that the resurrection never happened?
Thanks for the answer, Richard. Your answer is the most common answer I receive to this question: “I know it is Jesus living within me because he answers my prayers and performs miracles for me.”
What criteria do you use to determine that an answered prayer or a miracle has occurred? Have you ever experienced a perceived answered prayer or miracle which could not possibly be explained by natural means or pure chance?
I’ve asked many evangelical Christians this question and the overwhelming majority say they are 100% certain that the presence they perceive within them is Jesus/the Holy Spirit. The evidence they give for this belief is answered prayers and miracles. However, I have never had one of these evangelicals provide a “miracle” that couldn’t be explained by non-supernatural means. You prayed that Uncle Joe would not die of end stage cancer and Uncle Joe got better. Can you really claim that is a miracle?
They can yes. Nothing can change that. Unless something tilts inside of itself. As it did with me. I’ve been in some very odd places in my head, grasped the strangest of straws in my drowning.
1 Like
My goal is to find the truth.
LOL! Tell you what, Gary. When I die and see Jesus face-to-face, I’ll tell him that you’re waiting and I’ll ask Him to let me come back for just moment, long enough to see you personally, and say: “Is this enough truth for you?” How’s that sound to you?