When do we receive the Holy Spirit?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the moment you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit took up residence in your heart, sealing you as God's own child. This is not a prize you earn later; it is the guarantee of your salvation and the source of your new life.
The Spirit's presence means you are never truly alone (Question 49). He is the divine power who convicted you of sin, pointed you to Jesus, and now empowers you to live a holy life (Question 43). Rest in the amazing truth that the power of God now dwells within you, transforming you from the inside out.
The Simple Answer
The Bible is clear: Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit at the exact moment of salvation.
The Holy Spirit's immediate work is called indwelling and sealing:
Indwelling: The Spirit comes to live inside you, making your body His temple.
Sealing: The Spirit acts as God's guaranteed down payment (or promise) that you will receive your full inheritance in Heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Therefore, there is no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit. If you have Jesus, you have the Spirit.
The Deeper Dive
While the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event that happens at salvation, the filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeated, ongoing command for the Christian life.
1. The Indwelling: A Universal Gift
The Apostle Paul confirms that receiving the Spirit is the universal mark of every believer:
"And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." — Romans 8:9b (NIV)
This verse makes it a point of doctrine that if a person is a Christian, they have the Holy Spirit. You do not have to wait, pray for it separately, or achieve a certain level of holiness to receive Him. It is part of the package deal of salvation.
2. The Filling: An Ongoing Command
The filling of the Spirit refers to being continually controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit, leading to greater power and obedience.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit..." — Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
This verse is a command and indicates an ongoing action (in the Greek). It tells us that we must constantly yield to the Spirit's control, rather than being controlled by our own desires or worldly influences (like alcohol). We are filled with the Spirit by consistently reading the Word, praying, and obeying God's commands.
3. The Purpose of the Spirit's Presence
The Holy Spirit is not given just for emotional experience; He is given for specific purposes:
To Convict you of sin (John 16:8).
To Guide you into all truth (John 16:13).
To Produce spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) in your character (Galatians 5:22-23).
To Empower you to witness and serve (Acts 1:8).
God's Assurance
God assures you that the moment you believed, He made an unbreakable commitment to you through the Spirit.
"When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:13b-14 (NIV)
You are assured that the Holy Spirit is God's seal, guaranteeing that your salvation is secure and that your final home is with Him.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not seek a second receiving of the Holy Spirit; instead, seek a continual filling of the Spirit you already possess. Every day, pray this simple prayer: "Holy Spirit, I yield control of my thoughts, words, and actions to You today." This conscious surrender will allow His power to flow through you, bringing about the godly transformation you desire.
