The question of how to receive the Holy Spirit is one of the most vital inquiries for a believer's journey. Many people seek clarity on this subject, and perhaps you are one of them. This article is designed to cut through confusion and point to the foundational, biblical truth about receiving the Holy Spirit.
It may interest you to know that the process of receiving the Holy Spirit is often presented as far more complex than it truly is, according to scripture.
What is the Holy Spirit? Defining the Divine Presence
Before exploring the process, we must first understand who we are receiving.
Due to the manifold activities of the Spirit described in the Bible, people often form different ideas about the Holy Spirit's identity. But let us ground our understanding in the written Word of God:
- The Spirit of God is God Himself: The Spirit is not merely an influence or a force; the Holy Spirit is considered the third person of the Trinity. As Jesus affirmed, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
- The Spirit is Holy: Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God's holiness (“Be ye holy; for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:16). Since God is a Spirit and is Holy, the term Holy Spirit points directly to the nature of God.
For believers today, the Holy Spirit is the active, indwelling presence of God. When we speak of receiving the Holy Spirit, we are speaking of receiving God with us and in us, specifically for those who believe in Christ Jesus.
“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (1 John 3:24)
How to Receive the Holy Spirit: By Faith, Not Works
Understanding the nature of the Holy Spirit makes the method of reception clearer. It is crucial to establish that receiving the Holy Spirit is not achieved through human effort, rigorous works, or a complex formula.
The Apostle Paul challenged the Galatian believers on this very point, asking a crucial question that defines the principle of reception:
“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2)
The answer is explicit: the Holy Spirit is received by the hearing of faith.
The Gospel: The Channel of Reception
The hearing of faith is synonymous with hearing and believing the Good News—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This foundational truth was reaffirmed by the early apostles. Peter, addressing a dispute about the inclusion of Gentiles, confirmed the role of the Gospel:
“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us, by purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:8–9, emphasis added)
The Holy Spirit is received as we hear and embrace the message of Christ.
Receiving Christ is Receiving His Spirit
The Gospel centers on the person and work of Christ Jesus, the Savior. When a person believes the Gospel and receives Christ as Lord and Savior, they simultaneously receive the Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).
Therefore, the Holy Spirit is inherently linked to the message of Christ. This means:
- The moment of genuine salvation is the moment of reception.
- The primary way to receive the Spirit is by believing the Gospel message.
Is that not a marvelous truth? The power and presence of God are accessed not through striving, but through simple, trusting faith in Jesus Christ.
