I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Galatians 3:2 (NIV)
This is a crucial question: How do you receive the Holy Spirit? How do you receive the new life that comes from above? Not by the law—the law cannot impart life—but “by believing what you heard.” This is the gospel. Those who believe the gospel receive the Spirit.
There is no such thing as a Christian who does not have the Spirit. If you have forgiveness, then you have life. Why? Because both come from being joined to Christ, who died to forgive your sin and rose to give you life.
You cannot have half of Christ. You cannot have forgiveness without life or life without forgiveness. Jesus died for you. He was raised to life for you, and the promise of the gospel is that He will forgive your sins and give you His Spirit, as you have faith in Him.
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9). If you have not received the Spirit, you are not yet a Christian in terms of the New Testament, so don’t tell yourself that you are.
If you want to discern if a person has really grasped the gospel, don’t ask him or her: “Are you a Christian?” To many people, this is the same thing as asking: “Are you a good person?” The majority of the people you talk to will say “yes” and be slightly offended that you should ask!
A better question might be: “Have you received the Holy Spirit? Does the Spirit of God live in you?” Some people who think of themselves as a Christian will be completely puzzled by that question. It is because they haven’t really grasped the gospel.
Have you received the Holy Spirit? Does the Spirit of God live in you?
