How do I receive the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:38
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The Holy Spirit is received as a gift from God through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and baptism in His name — and He is promised to all who ask the Father.
Step 1: Repent (turn from sin)
- Repentance comes first: Peter's command on the day of Pentecost: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
- A change of direction: repentance is turning from sin and self-rule to God; through it sins are blotted out (Acts 3:19).
Step 2: Believe in Jesus Christ
- By faith, not by works: how did the Galatians receive the Spirit? "By hearing of faith," not by works of the law (Galatians 3:2). The purpose is "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14).
- Come to Christ and drink: Jesus promised rivers of living water — the Spirit — to whoever believes in Him (John 7:37-39).
- Sealed upon believing: having heard the word of truth and believed, a person is sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Step 3: Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
- The commanded response: Peter ties baptism together with repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). Ananias told Saul, "Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
- Into one body: by the one Spirit believers are baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).
- The order in Acts varied: sometimes the Spirit came upon hearing the word before baptism (Acts 10:44-48); sometimes after baptism, with prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17; 19:5-6). The consistent elements are repentance, faith, baptism, and prayer.
Step 4: Ask the Father
- A sure promise: the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). Asking is not presumption; it is exactly what Jesus taught.
- Poured out richly: God saved us "through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Titus 3:5-6).
A gift, never a wage
The Spirit comes "not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy" (Titus 3:5). No amount of effort earns Him; He is received the moment a person turns and trusts Christ. If anyone lacks the Spirit, they do not yet belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).
And keep being filled
Receiving the Spirit is the beginning, not the finish. Believers are commanded: "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) — speaking to one another in psalms and hymns, giving thanks always, walking in wisdom. The Spirit distributes His gifts to each one as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is the free gift of God, received by faith in Jesus Christ through hearing the gospel, turning in repentance, and being baptized. God does not sell the Spirit for human effort or merit, but freely bestows Him upon all who trust in the risen Lord and ask their heavenly Father.
Hearing and Faith
The Spirit comes through believing the gospel of Christ
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:2 (NIV)
Paul demonstrates that the Spirit is received exclusively through hearing the message with faith rather than through legal observance.
In Galatians 3:2, the apostle Paul puts a decisive question to the church: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? The answer underpins the entire gospel. The Holy Spirit is never earned through human effort, religious ritual, or legalistic obedience. As Paul reiterates in Galatians 3:14, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law so that the promised Spirit might be received entirely through faith. In Romans 10:17, Scripture confirms that faith itself is birthed through hearing the proclaimed word of Christ. When the truth of the gospel is announced and embraced, God acts immediately.
This reality is underscored in Ephesians 1:13, which declares that having heard the word of truth and believed in Jesus, believers are definitively sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. This seal marks God's ownership and guarantees eternal life. Jesus Himself anticipated this great gift in John 7:38-39, crying out at the feast that whoever believes in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from their innermost being—a promise He explicitly spoke regarding the Holy Spirit whom believers were to receive. We witness the direct historical reality of this truth in Acts 10:44, where the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his entire household while Peter was still speaking the gospel message; simple faith in Christ opened the floodgate of God's presence.
Consequently, the indwelling presence of the Spirit defines every true Christian. Romans 8:9 plainly states that anyone who does not possess the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him at all. Through this divine work, as 1 Corinthians 12:13 affirms, every believer has been baptized by one Spirit into one body and made to drink of that same Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit is therefore not a secondary attainment for an elite few, but the immediate heritage of all who place their trust in the crucified and risen Lord.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Galatians 3:2 | Paul asks the Galatians whether they received the Spirit by works of the law or by the hearing of faith. |
| Ephesians 1:13 | Believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit having heard the word of truth and believed in Christ. |
| Galatians 3:14 | Christ redeemed believers so that the blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Spirit might come through faith. |
| John 7:38-39 | Jesus promises that whoever believes in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from within, speaking of the Spirit. |
| Acts 10:44 | The Holy Spirit falls on all who hear the word while Peter is preaching Christ to Cornelius and his household. |
| Romans 8:9 | Affirms that whoever belongs to Christ has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:13 | States that all believers were baptized by one Spirit into one body and made to drink of one Spirit. |
| Romans 10:17 | Declares that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. |
Repentance and Cleansing
Turning from sin prepares the heart for God's gift
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repentance and conversion are directly linked to the blotting out of sins and the arrival of spiritual refreshing.
In Acts 3:19, Peter proclaims the vital call of the gospel: repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. The reception of God's promised Spirit is fundamentally tied to turning away from sin and yielding in allegiance to God. Repentance is not an act of self-atonement or a work that earns grace; rather, it is the deliberate renunciation of our rebellion, opening the heart to receive God's cleansing and renewed life. Jesus established this necessity in Luke 24:47, commissioning His disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name to every nation.
This total surrender is captured in Acts 5:32, where the apostles declare that God bestows the Holy Spirit on those who obey Him—a posture of humble submission to the Lordship of Christ. For this reason, Paul summarized his entire ministry in Acts 20:21 as testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 26:20, he reiterates that genuine repentance inevitably demonstrates itself in a transformed walk, bearing fruit worthy of the grace received.
This inner transformation fulfills the ancient covenant promise of Ezekiel 36:26-27, where the Lord foretold: 'I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you... and I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.' Before the Spirit takes residence, the heart must be cleansed through the blood of Christ. As 1 John 1:9 reassures us, when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, making our hearts a fit temple for His holy presence.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Acts 3:19 | Peter commands repentance and conversion so sins may be blotted out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord. |
| Luke 24:47 | Jesus commissions that repentance and remission of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations. |
| Acts 5:32 | The apostles declare that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. |
| Acts 26:20 | Paul preaches that people should repent, turn to God, and perform deeds consistent with repentance. |
| Acts 20:21 | Testifies to the essential pairing of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus. |
| Ezekiel 36:26-27 | Promises a new heart and God's Spirit placed within to cause obedience. |
| 1 John 1:9 | Promises forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness upon confessing sins. |
Baptism and Covenant
Scripture connects baptism with the reception of the Spirit
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 (NIV)
Peter presents repentance, baptism in Christ's name, forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit as an inseparable promise.
On the day of Pentecost, when the convicted crowd asked what they must do, Peter delivered God's clear pattern in Acts 2:38: repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter immediately extended this covenant invitation in Acts 2:39, assuring them that the promise is for them, their children, and all who are far off—everyone whom the Lord our God calls. Water baptism stands as the outward sign and solemn seal of this inward reality, marking our public pledge and entrance into the new covenant body of Christ.
Throughout the book of Acts, faith, baptism, and the Spirit remain intimately joined. In Acts 8:12, when the Samaritans believed Philip preaching good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus, they were baptized, both men and women. In Acts 10:47-48, after the Spirit fell on the Gentiles, Peter immediately ordered them to be baptized in water, affirming that those who receive the Spirit must not be denied the sign of the covenant. Likewise, Ananias urged Saul of Tarsus in Acts 22:16 to rise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. When Paul encountered disciples in Ephesus who had only known John's preparatory baptism, Acts 19:5-6 records that they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus, after which the Spirit came upon them.
This connection between baptism and spiritual rebirth is emphasized by Jesus in Mark 16:16, stating that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. In Titus 3:5, Paul explains that God saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly through Christ. Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 3:21, explaining that baptism saves not as the removal of physical dirt, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through Christ's resurrection. Finally, Romans 6:3-4 reveals the profound spiritual reality underlying baptism: we are buried with Christ into death, so that just as He was raised, we too might walk in newness of life by the power of His indwelling Spirit.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Acts 2:38 | Peter commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit. |
| Acts 2:39 | The promise of the Spirit belongs to believers, their children, and all who are far off whom God calls. |
| Acts 8:12 | Men and women in Samaria are baptized when they believe Philip preaching the kingdom and the name of Jesus. |
| Acts 10:47-48 | Peter commands water baptism for Cornelius and his household because they had received the Holy Spirit. |
| Acts 22:16 | Ananias exhorts Saul to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. |
| Mark 16:16 | Jesus declares that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. |
| Titus 3:5 | God saves believers through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit poured out through Christ. |
| Acts 19:5-6 | Shows disciples baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. |
| 1 Peter 3:21 | Describes baptism as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus. |
| Romans 6:3-4 | Explains baptism as union with Christ in His death and burial into newness of life. |
Asking the Father
The Father delights to give the Spirit to those who ask
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:13 (NIV)
Jesus assures His followers that the heavenly Father will unfailingly give the Holy Spirit to those who petition Him.
In Luke 11:13, Jesus gives an unfailing guarantee regarding our approach to God: if you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! God does not withhold His presence from the hungry heart. Unlike earthly fathers who are limited and flawed, the heavenly Father possesses boundless benevolence and delights to grant His very Spirit to those who seek Him in earnest prayer. This promise rests upon the universal invitation in Matthew 7:7-11, where our Lord insists that everyone who asks receives, whoever seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Jesus Himself prepared the way for this outpouring. In John 14:16-17, He promised: 'I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.' In John 16:7, He explained that His departure through death, resurrection, and ascension was necessary so that the Helper would come to convict the world and guide believers into all truth. Following His resurrection, John 20:22 shows Jesus breathing on His disciples, commanding them to receive the Holy Spirit, foreshadowing the full torrential outpouring soon to follow.
The early church understood that the Spirit's fullness is sought and sustained through persistent, united prayer. In Acts 1:14, the disciples gathered in the upper room with one accord, devoting themselves continuously to prayer until Pentecost arrived. Later, in the face of intense threats, the believers gathered to petition God again; Acts 4:31 records that when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. We receive the Spirit by asking in faith, trusting entirely in the generosity of our Father and the finished work of His Son.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 11:13 | The heavenly Father is declared much more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him than earthly parents give good gifts. |
| John 14:16-17 | Jesus promises to ask the Father to give believers another Helper, the Spirit of truth, to dwell with and in them. |
| Acts 1:14 | The disciples gather together in devoted prayer in the upper room before the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost. |
| Acts 4:31 | After the believers pray together, the place is shaken and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit to speak boldly. |
| John 20:22 | Records Jesus breathing on the disciples and commanding them to receive the Holy Spirit. |
| John 16:7 | Asserts Jesus must depart so the Helper, the Holy Spirit, can be sent to believers. |
| Matthew 7:7-11 | Assures believers that asking and seeking leads to good gifts from the Heavenly Father. |
The Laying on of Hands
God imparts spiritual gifts and presence through apostolic prayer
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:17 (NIV)
It shows the Holy Spirit received through prayer and the laying on of hands.
In Acts 8:17, the apostles Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritan converts, and they received the Holy Spirit. This moment marked a critical boundary crossing in redemptive history, confirming that despised Samaritans were fully welcomed into the unified body of Christ alongside Jewish believers. Luke records in Acts 8:14-17 that although Philip had proclaimed the gospel and baptized these converts in the name of Jesus, God reserved the outward impartation of the Spirit until the apostolic leadership from Jerusalem prayed over them and laid hands upon them, visibly binding the church into one fellowship.
God repeatedly uses this deliberate act of communal prayer to confer both spiritual filling and functional enablement. When Saul sat blind and fasting in Damascus, the humble disciple Ananias entered the house, laid his hands upon him, and announced that Jesus had sent him so that Saul might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). The outward touch was accompanied by immediate spiritual fullness and divine commission. Years later, the apostle Paul exhorted his younger colleague to fan into flame the gift of God which had been imparted through the laying on of Paul's hands (2 Timothy 1:6). The author of Hebrews even numbers the laying on of hands among the elementary, foundational principles of Christian life and doctrine alongside repentance, faith, and resurrection (Hebrews 6:2). Through this practice, God visibly affirms the believer's inclusion within the fellowship and equips servants with the supernatural grace needed to edify the congregation.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Acts 8:14-17 | Apostles lay hands on the Samaritans and pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. |
| Acts 9:17 | Ananias lays hands on Saul so that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Timothy 1:6 | Paul reminds Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God given through the laying on of hands. |
| Hebrews 6:2 | Lists the laying on of hands among the elementary foundational teachings of the faith. |
Adoption and Assurance
The Spirit seals adoption and guarantees our inheritance
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)
It reveals the internal witness of the Spirit confirming adoption as God's child.
The apostle Paul reveals the most intimate dimension of this gift in Romans 8:15-16, declaring that believers have not received a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Holy Spirit Himself bears direct witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Receiving the Spirit is not merely receiving power for service; it is the miraculous interior transfer into the royal family of the living God, destroying the dread of condemnation and awakening the instinctive cry of a beloved child.
This familial status is grounded in the Father's eternal purpose. Paul confirms in Galatians 4:6 that because believers are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, establishing an affectionate, unwavering intimacy between the believer and heaven. Furthermore, this indwelling presence serves as God's unbreakable pledge. In 2 Corinthians 1:22, Scripture proclaims that God has placed His seal of authentic ownership on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment or guarantee, assuring us that every future promise will be delivered in full. For this reason, Paul urges believers in Ephesians 4:30 not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom they were permanently sealed for the day of final redemption. The Spirit's presence in the heart is both the legal seal of divine ownership and the living guarantee of eternal glory.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Galatians 4:6 | Because believers are sons, God sends the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying Abba. |
| Romans 8:14-16 | The Spirit of adoption bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. |
| 2 Corinthians 1:22 | God sets His seal on believers and gives His Spirit in their hearts as a guarantee. |
| Ephesians 4:30 | Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel | 1 · Ezekiel 36:26-27 |
| Matthew | 1 · Matthew 7:7-11 |
| Mark | 1 · Mark 16:16 |
| Luke | 2 · Luke 24:47, Luke 11:13 |
| John | 4 · John 7:38-39, John 14:16-17, John 20:22, John 16:7 |
| Acts | 15 · Acts 10:44, Acts 3:19, Acts 5:32, Acts 26:20, Acts 20:21, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:39, Acts 8:12, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 22:16, Acts 19:5-6, Acts 1:14, Acts 4:31, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 9:17 |
| Romans | 4 · Romans 8:9, Romans 10:17, Romans 6:3-4, Romans 8:14-16 |
| 1 Corinthians | 1 · 1 Corinthians 12:13 |
| 2 Corinthians | 1 · 2 Corinthians 1:22 |
| Galatians | 3 · Galatians 3:2, Galatians 3:14, Galatians 4:6 |
| Ephesians | 2 · Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30 |
| 2 Timothy | 1 · 2 Timothy 1:6 |
| Titus | 1 · Titus 3:5 |
| Hebrews | 1 · Hebrews 6:2 |
| 1 Peter | 1 · 1 Peter 3:21 |
| 1 John | 1 · 1 John 1:9 |
The story in order
- New Covenant Promise (c. 590 BC) · Ezekiel 36:26-27 · God promises a new heart and His Spirit to enable obedience.
- Jesus commissions repentance (AD 30) · Luke 24:47 · Repentance and remission of sins to be proclaimed to all nations.
- Jesus promises the Spirit (c. AD 30) · John 7:38-39 · Believers will have rivers of living water, speaking of the Spirit.
- Jesus breathes the Spirit (AD 30) · John 20:22 · Jesus breathes on disciples, commanding them to receive the Holy Spirit.
- Pentecost: Spirit poured out (AD 30) · Acts 2:1-4 · The Holy Spirit comes mightily upon the disciples.
- Repentance and Spirit gift (AD 30) · Acts 2:38 · Repent, be baptized for forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit.
- Spirit falls on hearers (c. AD 40) · Acts 10:44 · The Holy Spirit falls on those hearing Peter preach.
- Apostles lay hands for Spirit (c. AD 35) · Acts 8:14-17 · Apostles lay hands on Samaritans; they receive the Holy Spirit.
- Spirit seals believers (c. AD 60) · Ephesians 1:13 · Believers sealed with the Spirit after hearing and believing.
- Spirit as guarantee (c. AD 55) · 2 Corinthians 1:22 · God sets His seal and gives the Spirit as a guarantee.
- Spirit of adoption (c. AD 55) · Galatians 4:6 · God sends the Spirit of His Son into believers' hearts.
The Spirit as a Gift
| God's Initiative | Human Response | Result: The Spirit | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| God gives the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) | Those who obey Him (Acts 5:32) | The Holy Spirit is given (Acts 5:32) | Acts 5:32 |
| Father willing to give the Spirit (Luke 11:13) | Those who ask Him (Luke 11:13) | The Holy Spirit given (Luke 11:13) | Luke 11:13 |
| Christ redeemed us for the promise (Galatians 3:14) | Through faith (Galatians 3:14) | The promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:14) | Galatians 3:14 |
| God saves through washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5) | Through faith (Titus 3:5) | Renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) | Titus 3:5 |
Key words
- Faith (pistis, πίστις)
- Trust and belief in Jesus Christ and His finished work. · Galatians 3:2
- Gospel (euangelion, εὐαγγέλιον)
- The good news of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. · Ephesians 1:13
- Repentance (metanoia, μετάνοια)
- A turning away from sin and toward God. · Acts 3:19
- Baptism (baptisma, βάπτισμα)
- An outward sign of inward cleansing and union with Christ. · Acts 2:38
- Holy Spirit (pneuma hagion, πνεῦμα ἅγιον)
- The third person of the Trinity, God's presence and power. · Luke 11:13
- Gift (charisma, χάρισμα)
- Something freely given, not earned. · Luke 11:13
If you desire to receive the Holy Spirit, look to Jesus Christ through the gospel, turn from sin in genuine repentance, and follow Him in baptism. Rest in the promise of God that the heavenly Father delights to give His Spirit to all who come in faith.
40 passages, each cited once.
How the major Christian traditions read this
All major Christian traditions confess that the Holy Spirit is God's sovereign gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, without which no one can belong to Him or walk in new life (Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:2, 14).
Catholic
In the Catholic Church, we teach that the Holy Spirit is first given in Baptism, which washes away original sin and imparts the grace of justification (Titus 3:5). This initial gift of the Spirit is deepened, strengthened, and perfected through the sacrament of Confirmation by the laying on of hands and chrism, as seen when Peter and John laid hands on baptized believers in Samaria so they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). The Spirit is thus received through the sacraments instituted by Christ and administered through the Apostolic Church.
Scripture: Titus 3:5, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 2:38
Orthodox
In the Orthodox Church, the Holy Spirit is received through the holy mysteries of initiation into Christ's body. Through Baptism, we die and rise with Christ, and immediately through Chrismation—the 'seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit'—we receive our personal Pentecost, being anointed as prophets, priests, and kings (1 John 2:20; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). We hold that the Spirit's uncreated grace enters the soul through this sacramental seal, calling the believer to continually acquire the Holy Spirit throughout life through prayer, ascetic struggle, and participation in the Divine Liturgy.
Scripture: 1 John 2:20, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Acts 2:38
Lutheran
We confess that the Holy Spirit is received entirely through external Means of Grace—specifically the preaching of the Gospel and the Sacraments. As Scripture declares, 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17), and in Holy Baptism, God works regeneration and gives the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts, and sanctifies us through these tangible means instituted by Christ (Galatians 3:2).
Scripture: Romans 10:17, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:2
Reformed & Presbyterian
We believe that receiving the Holy Spirit is an act of sovereign grace. Before a person can even turn to Christ, the Holy Spirit sovereignly regenerates the dead heart, granting repentance and saving faith (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:5-8). Every true believer receives the indwelling Spirit at the moment of faith, being united to Christ and sealed for eternity (Ephesians 1:13-14). Baptism serves not as the cause of this new birth, but as the visible covenant sign and seal of the Spirit's inward work, which occurs according to God's electing purpose.
Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 3:5-8, Ephesians 1:13-14
Anglican & Episcopal
In the Anglican tradition, we hold that the Holy Spirit is received through faith and the sacraments of the Gospel. In Baptism, the Spirit brings new birth and engrafts us into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). In Confirmation, the bishop prays for the strengthening of the Holy Spirit and the sevenfold gifts of grace upon the candidate, following the apostolic pattern of prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 8:15-17; 2 Timothy 1:6). Believers are called to continually cultivate the Spirit's presence through Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Communion.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:13, Acts 8:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:6
Baptist
We believe that the Holy Spirit is received at the moment an individual repents and puts personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Galatians 3:2; Ephesians 1:13). When a sinner believes the Gospel, the Holy Spirit immediately regenerates, indwells, and seals them forever into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Water baptism does not confer the Spirit; rather, believers' baptism by immersion is an outward testimony of the inward reality of having already received the Spirit and been buried and raised with Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
Scripture: Galatians 3:2, Ephesians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3-4
Methodist & Wesleyan
We teach that the Holy Spirit works in all people through prevenient grace, enabling them to respond freely to the Gospel call. When a person repents and trusts in Christ, the Spirit imparts justifying grace, regenerates the heart, and bears direct inner witness with their spirit that they are children of God (Romans 8:16). Beyond this initial reception, we believe the Holy Spirit continues to work in believers, empowering them toward entirely sanctified lives characterized by perfect love for God and neighbor (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Scripture: Romans 8:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Galatians 3:14
Pentecostal & Charismatic
We hold that every believer receives the Holy Spirit for regeneration and salvation at the moment of faith in Christ (John 20:22; Titus 3:5). However, we distinguish this initial indwelling from the 'baptism in the Holy Spirit,' a distinct, subsequent empowerment for ministry promised by Jesus (Acts 1:8). As seen throughout Acts, this baptism of power is accompanied by the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6). Believers receive this fullness by asking the Father in expectant faith (Luke 11:13).
Scripture: Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, Acts 19:6, Luke 11:13, John 20:22
Non-denominational & Evangelical
We teach that you receive the Holy Spirit the moment you place your personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior (Ephesians 1:13). The Scripture is clear that whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him (Romans 8:9); therefore, all who trust in Christ are simultaneously born again, indwelt, and baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Believers are then commanded to remain submitted to the Lord and continually be filled with the Spirit throughout daily Christian life (Ephesians 5:18).
Scripture: Ephesians 1:13, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:18
Where they differ
The moment the Spirit is received
- Catholic
- Given in water baptism and perfected through the sacrament of confirmation.
- Orthodox
- Given in baptism and sealed immediately through the mystery of chrismation.
- Lutheran
- Conferred through the Word and sacrament of holy baptism.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Effected sovereignly by God upon the elect through regeneration.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Imparted in baptism and strengthened through prayer and confirmation.
- Baptist
- Received entirely at the moment of conscious faith in Christ.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Given at regeneration when responding in faith to prevenient grace.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Indwelling happens at salvation, with a subsequent baptism in power.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Instantly indwells every person the moment they believe the Gospel.
Scripture: Acts 2:38, Acts 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13
The role of physical sacraments
- Catholic
- Sacraments physically confer the Spirit through the signs instituted by Christ.
- Orthodox
- Sacramental mysteries convey the uncreated energies of the Holy Spirit.
- Lutheran
- Sacraments are external means through which the Spirit creates faith.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Sacraments are signs and seals, not the cause of regeneration.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Sacraments are effectual signs of grace conveying the Holy Spirit.
- Baptist
- Sacraments are outward ordinances testifying to prior inward Spirit baptism.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Sacraments are means of grace assisting faith, not absolute prerequisites.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Ordinances symbolize grace; the Spirit is received through faith directly.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Water baptism symbolizes the inward baptism already accomplished by faith.
Scripture: Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 12:13
Subsequent baptism in the Spirit
- Catholic
- Deepened sacramental grace occurs through confirmation and ongoing holy life.
- Orthodox
- Rejects a second baptism; ongoing acquisition of the Spirit occurs.
- Lutheran
- Rejects a second baptism; believers live out their baptism daily.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- All believers receive full Spirit baptism upon initial union with Christ.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Distinguishes initial regeneration from ongoing renewal and episcopal confirmation.
- Baptist
- There is one baptism in the Spirit; ongoing fillings follow.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Emphasizes an ongoing work culminating in entire sanctification.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Teaches a distinct second work evidenced by speaking in tongues.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Rejects a two-stage baptism, emphasizing continuous filling for daily obedience.
Scripture: Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:18
Your pastor can tell you where your church stands.
Scripture cited
- Acts 2:38
- Acts 22:16
- Acts 3:19
- Acts 2:38-39
- Galatians 3:1-14
- Luke 11:9-13
- Romans 8:9-11
- Acts 10:44-48
- Ephesians 1:13-14
- Ephesians 5:15-21
- Acts 8:12-17
- Acts 19:1-7