From these passages this much is learned: That the man who receives the Holy Ghost becomes a temple thereof, even the temple of God; and since it is decreed that if a man defiles the temple of God him will God destroy, it may be reasonably inferred that the Holy Ghost dwells not in unholy temples; hence, through faith in God, sincere repentance of all sins, and baptism for the remission of them, man cleanses the prospective temple of the Holy Ghost, his body, that it may be a fit place for the indwelling of the Divine Spirit.
3. The World Cannot Receive the Holy Ghost: Just previous to his crucifixion, Jesus said to the apostles: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him."[A]
[Footnote A: John xiv:16, 17.]
It is evident from this that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost. And now, who are the world? I answer, those who have not yet put on Christ; or, in other words, those who have not yet entered into the Kingdom of God, through faith in God and Christ, repentance and baptism. They are the world; and, according to the word of the Master, they cannot receive the Holy Ghost.
Again: When Peter and other apostles were brought before the senate of the Jews, accused with intent to bring the blood of Messiah upon them, Peter answered: "The God of our Fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."[A]
[Footnote A: Acts v:30-32.]
Not, mark you, to them who have not obeyed him. This is in harmony with the statement that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost, and also with the other cases we cited above where the order in presenting the gospel to the people was faith in God and Christ, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, and then the reception of the Holy Ghost.
4. Distinction Between "Immanent Spirit" and the Holy Ghost: At this point we may note and justify the course followed in this treatise in making a distinction between the "Spirit" or "Light," which "lighteth every man that cometh into the world," and the Holy Ghost. The first "Spirit," or "light," "lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The Holy Ghost is given to those who obey God, that is, to those who obey the Gospel. The world cannot receive the Holy Ghost; but the "Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" seems not so restricted in its contact with men and things; since besides being the "light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," this "light of Christ,"[A] is also a universal, vital spirit, that "proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. The light which is in all things; which giveth life to all things; which is the law by which all things are governed: even the power of God."[B] Which spirit or "light is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made; as also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon and the power thereof by which it was made";[C] and so with reference to earth and stars. But from what we learn in the Word of God, as already set forth in this treatise, the Holy Ghost is a special spirit-witness for God the Father, and of God the Son, to those who are especially prepared to receive him by faith in, and obedience to, the gospel of Jesus Christ; who have repented of their sins and received baptism in water for the remission of them, thus giving evidence of faith in God and acceptance of the Atonement of the Christ by receiving the symbols thereof.[D] To those thus especially prepared, and to such only, is witness and union with the Holy Ghost possible; while no such especial preparation for contact with and even enjoyment of the all-immanent Spirit is anywhere insisted upon; although, as we have seen in a previous lesson,[E] those who are most in harmony with righteousness, who hunger and thirst after it, and who seek to draw near to God, will undoubtedly, by the great law of spiritual affinity, enjoy closer union with the Spirit of God—the Immanent Spirit—than those who have no such longings for the pure and the good.
[Footnote A: See Lesson II.]
[Footnote B: Doc. & Cov. lxxxviii:12, 13.]