Elder David Pyles, pastor of Grace Primitive Baptist church of Pearl, Mississippi, and son of the late Elder Sonny Pyles, wrote the following in "Perfections of Grace: Comparisons & Contrasts of Old Baptist Doctrine & Calvinism" (See here; emphasis mine):
David states the doctrinal position of his group of "Primitive Baptists," but that position is clearly against what the Bible teaches. First, we will call the apostle Paul to the witness stand. He testified:
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3: 1-3 nkjv)
Paul by this language affirms that people become possessed or indwelt by the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ or the gospel. Therefore David is in direct contradiction to the apostle. This is what Paul also affirmed in his epistle to the Ephesians, praying "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Eph. 3: 17 nkjv)
Next, we call our Lord Jesus Christ to the witness stand. Said he:
"Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14: 23 nkjv)
Primitive Baptists like David say that Christ dwells in people who don't even know Jesus, and certainly no one can love or trust in one they do not know. Jesus said that he and the Father will come to make their abode in those who love him and believe his word.
Jesus also often spoke of people believing "into Christ," rather than believing because they were previously in Christ apart from believing. Notice these texts:
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and is believing on him (eis-into him), may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye may be believing on him (eis-into him) whom He hath sent." (John 6:29)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that is believing on (eis, into) Me is having everlasting life. I am that bread of life." (John 6:47-48)
Entering Christ occurs at the same time Christ enters the believer. It would be absurd to say that we enter Christ by faith but then say he enters into us prior to, and apart from, faith.
Christ also said:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3: 20 nkjv)
Christ comes and dwells in the heart when people by faith invite him to come into them.
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him." (John 6: 56 nkjv)
Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, the sacrificial or Passover Lamb, is an act of faith following hearing the gospel that informs about salvation through that sacrifice. David will say that Christ dwells in most people who have not eaten this supper by faith.
Finally, let us call the apostle John as a witness. He wrote:
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (I John 4: 15 nkjv)
If you have not confessed that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior, then God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, do not dwell in you.
So, David is clearly wrong to say that people have Christ dwelling in them apart from knowing, loving, confessing, or believing in Christ.
David also says that one is justified (not condemned) even while in unbelief. Jesus taught differently, however, for he said:
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3: 36 nkjv)
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