Holy Spirit Received - Ephesians 1:13-14

A person receives the Holy Spirit after they hear and then BELIEVE THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).

There are religions that teach a person receives the Holy Spirit when they are water baptized. What does the Bible say when a person receives the Holy Spirit? “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:36-48 KJV). Cornelius did not receive the Holy Spirit when he was baptized. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit when he believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was being preached by Peter. Once Cornelius believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he immediately received the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is only for the saved -the ones who trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Water baptism is not for the lost (unsaved) -the ones who have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. If a person chooses to get water baptized, it comes after a person believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What about the men who were disciples of John the Baptist, when did they receive the Holy Spirit? Did they receive Holy Spirit at water baptism or when they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believed? “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve” (Acts 19:1-7 KJV). John the Baptist disciples received NOT the Holy Spirit when they were water baptized. These men received the Holy Spirit after they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ being preached to them by Paul. Once these men believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they immediately received the Holy Spirit and the Spirit baptized them into the Body of Christ: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” I Corinthians 12:12-13 KJV). A person receives the Holy Spirit when they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These men heard the Gospel and immediately received the Holy Spirit guaranteeing their inheritance into Heaven. These men didn’t receive the Holy Spirit from Paul when he “laid his hands upon them”; these men received the Holy Spirit when they believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When should a person get water baptized? Let us read what the Bible says: “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea” (Acts 8:26-40 KJV). Only after a person believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, now a person can get water baptized if they choose to or not. Water baptism is a testimonial to the world that they believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation: believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins (person submerged under water), believe in His burial (person under the water), and believe in His resurrection (person lifted out of water). Water baptism has never saved anyone and will never save anyone; water baptism is a testimonial to the world that this person’s faith is in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is an outer expression of an inward belief.

The process of receiving the Holy Spirit does not change for any circumstance. First, a person must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit. This is the process of receiving the Holy Spirit. Religions teach the following: Religions teach one can confess one's sins to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can say a sinners prayer to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can ask Jesus into your heart to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can “surrender your life” to Jesus to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can “stop sinning” to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can feel sorry for your sin to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can turn away from your sin to get saved, this is NOT the Gospe; Religions teach one can walk to the front of the church and get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can get water baptized to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can get infants baptized to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can be a member of a certain church organization to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can give enough money to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can make Jesus “King and Lord of your life” to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can follow the Ten Commandments or keep the law to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can “outweigh the good over the bad” one has done in one’s life to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can just believe in God (a higher power) to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can submit to Jesus to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can partake in confirmation to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can partake in communion to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one can pray to idols like Buddha, Mary, and other idols to get saved, this is NOT the Gospel; Religions teach one has to work and show “he is saved” to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel; and, Religions teach one can kill infidels to be saved, this is NOT the Gospel. None of these items listed is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A person can put their faith in these items; however, none of these items will ever save a person or give a person the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus Christ can save, only Jesus Christ can forgive sin, only Jesus Christ can wash, only Jesus Christ can cleanse from sin: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2 KJV). Once you believe, then you receive the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel is: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV). After a person hears the Gospel, a person then believes the Gospel (believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection), and once a person believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they immediately receive the Holy Spirit of Promise: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).

If you have not believed, what is stopping you right now from believing? God loves you and has already died and resurrected to meet you. Believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, burial, and resurrection and receive the greatest gift ever which is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die, eternal life starts the very second you believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Why not trust in Jesus Christ today for salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)

If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.

Lance Edminster

The Good News Voice

Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com

Once Saved, Always Saved -"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28-30 KJV)