Christians believe in and embrace a triune Godhead (comprised of a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit) when it comes to divinity. The Holy Spirit is given to Christians when they pray and embrace Jesus Christ as their savior.
To truly embrace and trust the Holy Spirit, they must first understand who He is and what He does before they can open their hearts and minds to receive and rely on Him fully.
The Holy Spirit
Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit are common. It is a prevalent misconception that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal entity. Others see it as divine healing or protection that only those who trust in the power of God have access to. However, what does the Bible teach about the Holy Spirit? When we read the Bible, we learn that the Holy Spirit is not merely an impersonal power or force but is, in fact, a human being. The Holy Spirit is a manifestation of God’s very being. In several passages of Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, the Holy Spirit is used interchangeably with God.
Receiving the Holy Spirit
After atoning and being baptized, the Bible states that we obtain the Holy Spirit. After Jesus Christ’s death, he assured his followers that they would get the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecostal, the birth of the Christian church was declared by spectacular miracles, and Peter delivered an inspired sermon on how we might get the Holy Spirit.
According to these verses, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer at the time of salvation. If not most of the Corinthians believers had the Holy Spirit, Paul could not argue that we were baptized by the same Spirit and given the same Spirit to drink. If a person doesn’t have the Spirit, they don’t belong to Christ, according to Romans 8:9. This is much clearer in Romans 8:9. That’s why being filled with the Holy Spirit is an indicator that you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. Since salvation involves an act of repentance, the Holy Spirit can’t serve as a “seal of salvation” without being received at that time. According to numerous scriptures, receiving Christ as Savior is a sure way to be saved.
Filling of the Spirit
With the promise of John 14:16 from Jesus, we may grasp the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of believers and that it will be a long-term thing. If you don’t understand this distinction, you’re missing out. It is not a privilege reserved for a few but all Christians. Numerous Scripture passages lend credence to this idea. When it comes to receiving the Holy Spirit, there are no strings attached, and it is a special gift to all Christians regardless of their level of adherence to the religion of Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39). At the time of salvation, the Holy Spirit is granted to the believer (Ephesians 1:13).
Similarly, Galatians 3:2 says the seal and indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurred when one first accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Finally, the Holy Spirit is a permanent part of the believer’s body. Those who trust in Christ are given the Holy Spirit as a prepayment or guarantee of their ultimate glorification (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30).
While Ephesians 5:18 refers to a spiritual fullness, this is a stark contrast. If we are truly surrendered to the Holy Spirit, He can inhabit us and fill us. He lives inside every believer, as stated in Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 1:13-14, but He can be hurt (Ephesians 4:30), and His work within us can be stopped if we allow it (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We miss out on the entirety of the Spirit’s work and power in and through us when we allow it to happen in our hearts. For us to be filled with the Spirit means allowing Him full access to our lives, allowing Him to lead and direct us as He sees fit. We can use His power to accomplish God’s purposes through our efforts. One’s innermost thoughts and reasons are just as important as external deeds. When I pray, may the words I speak and the thoughts I ponder be acceptable to you, O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer, says Psalm 19:14.
Obeying God is the only way to keep the Holy Spirit filled; sin prevents this. We are commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit, but it is not via prayer that we are filled with the Spirit. God’s spirit can only freely work in us when we obey his commands. Our sinful nature makes it hard for us to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. Confession and renewal of our commitment to the Holy Spirit are essential when we fall short of God’s standards.
Our Final Thoughts
However, some believe that a new believer must wait before receiving the Holy Spirit. This is contrary to what the Bible says, however. People receive the Holy Spirit by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. The following are some of the things we can say.
As a matter of fact, the Bible makes it clear that individuals who place their faith in Jesus already possess the Holy Spirit. As a general rule, there are no exceptions. Because they lack the Holy Spirit, individuals who do not believe are labeled unbelievers. People with the Holy Spirit are Christians, and people without it are non-Christians. This is obvious.
In every New Testament epistle, believers are addressed as if they possessed the Holy Spirit. Many of those raised in carnal churches, such as those in Corinth, can attest to this. It was claimed that each of them had received the Holy Spirit.
Nowhere in the New Testament says that a Christian should pray to receive the Holy Spirit. In other words, you don’t earn the Holy Spirit by having faith or doing good deeds.
As a result, Scripture clarifies that when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their savior, the Holy Spirit immediately enters their body.
