The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to believers in Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in Christ, God gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us, guide us, and transform us into Christ’s image. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is given to us when we believe in Jesus and are born again. Let’s explore what the Bible says about how we receive this precious gift.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Before Jesus ascended to heaven after his death and resurrection, he promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to them. Jesus told them, “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). He also said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power to be His witnesses to the world. The gift of the Holy Spirit was essential for the disciples to carry out the mission Jesus gave them. This promise was not just for the first disciples, but for all believers. God desires for every Christian to receive the power and help of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
The Holy Spirit was first poured out on believers at the Day of Pentecost, just as Jesus promised. Pentecost was a Jewish festival held 50 days after Passover. The book of Acts describes what happened on the Day of Pentecost shortly after Jesus’ ascension:
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)
The Holy Spirit descended from heaven and filled the believers, and they were empowered to speak in foreign languages they had not learned. The tongues of fire and the miracles showed the power and presence of God’s Spirit at work in them. This fulfilled Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Indwells All Believers
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the first believers. After this, we also see the Holy Spirit coming upon new groups of people as the gospel spread beyond the Jews to the Gentiles. However, a key difference developed – the Holy Spirit’s presence was now permanent in believers. While in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would come upon people for a specific time and purpose, now the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of believers in Jesus. The Holy Spirit indwells and seals all Christians.
The apostle Paul explains this well. He asks the Ephesian believers, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). This shows receiving the Spirit is part of our initial conversion. Paul goes on to say we were “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” when we believed in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). 1 Corinthians 6:19 says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us.
The Indwelling Spirit Transforms Us
The fact that the Holy Spirit lives in us provides incredible benefits and changes us deeply. Romans 8 describes key functions of the indwelling Holy Spirit:
- Gives us new life in Christ (v. 11)
- Leads and guides us in God’s paths (v. 14)
- Assures us of our adoption as God’s children (v. 15-16)
- Helps us pray and intercede for others (v. 26-27)
- Conforms us to be like Jesus Christ (v. 29)
Having God’s presence within us transforms our hearts, minds, and lives. The Holy Spirit grows spiritual fruit in us like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Receiving the Holy Spirit by Faith
How do we receive the Holy Spirit and experience the Spirit’s power in our lives? The clear pattern in Scripture is that we receive the Holy Spirit by faith when we believe in Jesus.
In the book of Acts, receiving the Spirit always accompanied conversion. The Samaritans “believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, [and] they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). Later, Peter and John came and “prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:14-17).
This passage shows the Samaritan believers were converted when they heard the gospel preached by Philip. They trusted in Christ and were baptized. But they still needed to receive the Spirit by faith through prayer. When Peter and John prayed for them, they received the Holy Spirit. This pattern holds true throughout Acts.
The Example of Cornelius
One detailed example is the story of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile who sought God. One day an angel appeared to him and told him to send for Peter. When Peter arrives, he preaches the gospel saying, “everyone who believes in [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (v. 43).
As Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and all his household: “And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles” (v. 45). Seeing they had received the Spirit and believed the gospel, Peter declared they should be baptized (v. 47-48).
This story clearly demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is received by faith in Christ at conversion. As Peter preached the gospel, Cornelius believed and immediately received the Holy Spirit before being baptized. God poured out the Spirit in response to their faith.
Ask and Receive God’s Gift
One key lesson stands out in all these accounts – to receive the Holy Spirit, we must ask and receive by faith. Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). It pleases God to generously give the Holy Spirit to His children when we ask in faith.
The example of the Ephesian believers in Acts 19 powerfully illustrates this. When Paul met them, he asked if they had received the Holy Spirit. When they said no, Paul explained the gospel and that we receive the Spirit by believing. “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:5-6).
The Ephesians received salvation and the Spirit through a simple process – believe the gospel, be baptized, then ask and receive the Holy Spirit by faith through prayer. We can follow their example. As we believe in Christ, we can humbly ask our Father to fill us with the Holy Spirit so we can experience His powerful presence in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is for All Believers
The book of Acts shows the Holy Spirit being poured out on different groups – Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, men, women, young, old. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the gift of the Spirit is for all believers:
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39)
There are no exclusions or special qualifications here. The gift of the Holy Spirit is part of the inheritance for all of God’s children. Young and old, male and female – if we have put our faith in Christ, we can receive the Spirit.
A Unified Body through the Spirit
This universal gift establishes unity in the diversity of the Church. Paul explains, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13). There cannot be first and second-class Christians. The same Spirit indwells us all.
However, our maturity and experience of the Spirit’s power can differ. We grow in responding to the Spirit’s lead like children progress from infancy to maturity. But God makes His Spirit available to all, not just a select few.
Speaking in Tongues?
You may have noticed speaking in tongues accompanying receiving the Spirit in Acts. Many Christians believe this provides a pattern for receiving the Holy Spirit. They teach that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence that one has received the indwelling Spirit.
However, this is not consistent biblical teaching. Nowhere does Jesus or the apostles teach that tongues are the sole proof of receiving the Spirit. Tongues brought public attention to the pouring out of the Spirit, but the gift of tongues itself was not the evidence.
Paul is clear that not every Christian has the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:30). But he is equally clear all Christians have received the Holy Spirit: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9). Biblically, every believer receives the Spirit at conversion but not every believer speaks in tongues.
God’s Purpose for Tongues
Scripture defines the purpose of tongues – they are a miraculous gift that enables speaking human languages not learned naturally. On Pentecost, tongues enabled preaching the gospel in many foreign languages. Paul also describes tongues as “a sign not for believers but for unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22).
Clearly, God can still gift tongues today for ministry purposes. But the gift of tongues is not the proof or goal of receiving the Spirit. The true evidence is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in transforming our hearts – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).
Be Filled with the Spirit
While we receive the Spirit at salvation, we can continually be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). This happens as we walk in faith and obedience, surrender more of our lives to God, and ask for His Spirit’s power and control in us.
Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event. Even the apostles experienced new fillings of the Holy Spirit at key moments (Acts 4:8, 31). The Holy Spirit is a gift we can go on unwrapping throughout our lives!
Here are some ways we can seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit:
- Confess and repent of any known sin which grieves the Spirit (Eph 4:30)
- Present yourself fully to God, holding nothing back (Rom 12:1)
- Ask God to fill and empower you for service (Luke 11:13, Acts 4:31)
- Thank God for pouring out His Spirit in you (1 Thess 5:18-19)
- Step out in faith based on His promises and gifts (Gal 5:5, 16)
As we walk in step with the Spirit each day, He will transform us into the image of Jesus and empower us to serve God’s kingdom.
Conclusion
The Holy Spirit is God’s promised gift to every believer in Jesus Christ. We receive the Spirit at conversion as we put our faith in Christ. The Spirit indwells us permanently to empower and change us. Though the Holy Spirit may manifest in different ways, Scripture shows receiving the Spirit is by faith alone.
The wonderful promise of Scripture is that our loving Heavenly Father desires to give His Spirit to all His children. As we put our faith in Christ, we can trust God to fill us with His very presence and power to live as vibrant and fruitful followers of Jesus.