The Holy Spirit fills you the moment of salvation

[DeeperStill]

The apostle Paul clearly taught that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. First Corinthians 12:13 declares, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Romans 8:9 tells us that if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having 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.”

These three passages make it clear that the Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. Paul could not say that we all were baptized by one Spirit and all given one Spirit to drink if not all of the Corinthian believers possessed the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 is even stronger, stating that if a person does not have the Spirit, he does not belong to Christ. Therefore, the possession of the Spirit is an identifying factor of the possession of salvation. Further, the Holy Spirit could not be the “seal of salvation” (Ephesians 1:13-14) if He is not received at the moment of salvation. Many scriptures make it abundantly clear that our salvation is secured the moment we receive Christ as Savior.

This discussion is controversial because the ministries of the Holy Spirit are often confused. The receiving/indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life. While we hold that the baptism of the Spirit also occurs at the moment of salvation, some Christians do not. This sometimes results in the baptism of the Spirit being confused with “receiving the Spirit” as an act subsequent to salvation.

In conclusion, how do we receive the Holy Spirit? We receive the Holy Spirit by simply receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 3:5-16). When do we receive the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit becomes our permanent possession the moment we believe.

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T

 

[MahogonySnail]

I agree I don'tl ike to get all hung up over the terminology but I do believe there are two experiences a Christian can have. Well it is only confused because baptism of the Spirit is the name given to the subsequent experience many had (with tongues etc) in the book of Acts, it does actually say "baptised in the Spirit". But baptise simply means to be immersed. I think there are two baptisms of the Spirit, one at salvation as you said, and the other with receiving power from on high.

It's remarkable, I looked to the old testament and both types of workings of the Spirit are spoken of, firstly an inward change or infilling, and secondly an outward "falling upon". One is from within and exclusive only to Christians , the other is for christians but even non-Christians can be baptised in the Spirit from above, and speak in tongues or prophesy or work miracles for a time. That's why even Christ said "I never knew you " to people who did great things in His name, but did not know Him personally. That's why speaking in tongues is not the hallmark of what is a Christian. Salvation is about the heart of a person being changed and that is the inward filling and baptism of the Spirit at salvation.

That's me not being picky. Now if I was to get picky, I personally like to use the term "baptised in the Spirit" to mean only the second experience (not the first of being baptised by one Spirit into the body). Only because baptised in the Spirit means to me to be fully clothed or immersed in the Spirit and that happens subsequent to salvation and it results in a change in the person just like water baptism is supposed to. But I admit the words baptise and receive the Spirit have dual use and meaning, depending upon whether we mean for salvation, or for service (Pentecost).

 

[wattie]

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

born of water-

John 3:6a That which is born of the flesh is flesh;


born of the Spirit-

John 3:6b and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.


More on the water - being born of human flesh (the womb)-

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?


So 'water' is this verse-- is about physical birth..

being born of the Spirit-- is about being born again through salvation in Jesus.


Now..

The Holy Spirit not only indwells people individually.. but also dwells in the midst of His churches.. and this is where the baptism of the Holy Spirit is seen..

Baptism of the Holy Spirit only occurred a few times in the NT.. and at Pentecost.. this was for a group.. a church- the church at Jerusalem..
Every other time you see a group being filled with the Holy Spirit-- or empowered.. this is the Holy Spirit working differently than salvation.. it has no bearing on salvation.. but is the Holy Spirit empowering one of His congregations.

Acts 19:2 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.

Paul is talking to a group when he asks this-- they had already received teh Holy Spirit individually.. Paul was questioning the authority of their baptism.. in what name.. not their salvation..

We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghosts-- meaning.. we do not know if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in the midst of us.

When this group was baptised in the name of Jesus.. this gave them the right baptismal authority to be called one of Jesus' churches.

baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second experience after salvation? Well.. consider that this occurred only with a group of believers.. and only a few times in the NT... and in all instances they were already individuals who had the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them.

I am starting to study this a bit more deeply.. because it is a very topical issue today.. the Holy Spirit's roles have become confused among many christians.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. - baptism of the Holy Spirit for a group.. the church at Jerusalem

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Filled with the Holy Spirit-- as a group.. assembled together..

Act 19:2 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. - baptism for a group

None of these occurrences are for just an individual.

That's my 2 cents worth.. believe what you will..

 

[Graybeard]

I agree I don'tl ike to get all hung up over the terminology but I do believe there are two experiences a Christian can have. Well it is only confused because baptism of the Spirit is the name given to the subsequent experience many had (with tongues etc) in the book of Acts, it does actually say "baptised in the Spirit". But baptise simply means to be immersed. I think there are two baptisms of the Spirit, one at salvation as you said, and the other with receiving power from on high.

It's remarkable, I looked to the old testament and both types of workings of the Spirit are spoken of, firstly an inward change or infilling, and secondly an outward "falling upon". One is from within and exclusive only to Christians , the other is for christians but even non-Christians can be baptised in the Spirit from above, and speak in tongues or prophesy or work miracles for a time. That's why even Christ said "I never knew you " to people who did great things in His name, but did not know Him personally. That's why speaking in tongues is not the hallmark of what is a Christian. Salvation is about the heart of a person being changed and that is the inward filling and baptism of the Spirit at salvation.

That's me not being picky. Now if I was to get picky, I personally like to use the term "baptised in the Spirit" to mean only the second experience (not the first of being baptised by one Spirit into the body). Only because baptised in the Spirit means to me to be fully clothed or immersed in the Spirit and that happens subsequent to salvation and it results in a change in the person just like water baptism is supposed to. But I admit the words baptise and receive the Spirit have dual use and meaning, depending upon whether we mean for salvation, or for service (Pentecost).

I agree, definite difference

 

[MahogonySnail]

The Holy Spirit not only indwells people individually.. but also dwells in the midst of His churches.. and this is where the baptism of the Holy Spirit is seen..

Agreed there is a corporate baptism or annointing of the Spirit but as many churches except more pentecostal ones are not into that sort of thing, God will usually baptise individuals or small groups.

baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second experience after salvation? Well.. consider that this occurred only with a group of believers.. and only a few times in the NT... and in all instances they were already individuals who had the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them.

I doubt that you'd apply that "only a few believers" logic to salvation or evangelism - I hope not anyway. No, the prophetic declaration in Joel that sons and daughters shall prophesy and even servants demonstrates it is intended for everyone - God no longer baptises just a few select people with His Spirit like he did in the old testament.

and in all instances they were already individuals who had the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them.

Exactly which is why it is seen as a second or subsequent experience. Jesus had previously breathed on the disciples and said "receive the Holy Spirit" while he was still with them. Yet he also speaks of the Spirit as if they do not have it yet , which I understand to be the power of the Spirit - not essential to salvation but pretty much essential for effective service and victorious living. Even Christ had two experiences of the Spirit.