How Do I Know If I Have Received the Holy Spirit?

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. 1 Cor 12:13

We get into the body of Christ by being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is our initiation so to speak into the church of the living God. It does not come by us making a decision for Christ though there is a part in that, it is by God making a decision for us. God gives the Holy Spirit to you and then you are a member of the church not by going through new member classes and then officially joining so your name is in the church member book, but by the Holy Spirit baptism.

After the last few writings I had several people ask how to know if they have the Holy Spirit. This is a very important question to ask yourself. However, there is a fine line because many who do have it begin to question themselves based upon the fact that they still have struggles in their life that they need to overcome. Receiving the Holy Spirit does not make you a person that lives a life without any sin. John wrote in 1 John 1:8-9 that, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Sin will always be present while we are in these “vile” bodies. It is a part of the curse. We are going through a process of sanctification. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 Beholding the glory of the Lord is not a one time event, it is something that we do over our lifetime and it changes us from one glory to another glory. This is a process not an immediate event like salvation. But how do I know if I have it?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:17

The Holy Spirit baptism is likened unto a new birth by Jesus in John 3. It changes you from what you were in this sinful flesh to being a new creation, the old things of evil, wickedness and bad attitudes pass away and all things become new. God by a miracle of his Spirit turns you from walking daily in sin to walking in the Spirit of love and joy.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:21-23

The word fruit is a euphamism for results. In other words what grows from the Spirit as a fruit grows out of a tree or vine. The results of the Spirit in your life is love, joy, peace, etc. Will you still have struggles with these things? Sure. There will be a distinct transformation in your life from desires for drunkeness, envying, partying, anger, malice, backbiting, gossip, etc. to the love, joy and peace of the Spirit.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13 Another indication of the Spirit in your life is being led into all truth. If in your life God is continuously revealing more of his word to you and you are always open to receive truth from him then this is an indication you have received the Spirit. This does not mean that you will accept any idea or be the kind of person that waffles from one opinion to another. It means you know the truth that the Spirit is revealing and you have a ready and willing mind to receive everything that the Scriptures teach no matter how hard or how much it hurts.

These are four things that can help you identify the Holy Spirit in you.

1. You are being transformed into the image of Christ from glory to glory as you behold the glory of God.
2. You are a new creature. Your life has changed completely.
3. You have the results of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
4. The Spirit of truth is guiding you into all truth.

Sometimes when you grow up in a Christian home and your parents taught you right from wrong you had a less distinct experience of becoming a new creation. If you have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and you see the other three things manifesting in your life then just pray through to God and make sure that you know that you know you have received it. If you receive the assurance from the Lord that you have received it don’t let the devil lie to you anymore that you don’t have.

Saved By Faith Alone

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is to be received as a gift from God. There is nothing at all we can do within ourselves to merit salvation. The righteousness of God demands that sin be punished. He is holy, perfect, just and righteous. He cannot forgive anyones sin based upon whether they did good works or were kind to their neighbor. When a sin is committed death is the punishment for it. But not just death per se, the punishment ensues after death when you enter into the suffering of hell. Your sin has offended an infinitely holy God and the just reward for sin is weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell. It’s not because God is cruel. It is because of His perfect holiness that goes way beyond anything we can even imagine.

But, God is also rich in mercy. He sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be an atonement. An infinitely holy God required a perfectly righteous sacrifice. From the very beginning God required repentance and a sacrifice to cover sins. If he requires it once he must always require it to be just. That is exactly what was done. We deserve death and punishment and seperation from God. This is exactly what Jesus Christ did for us.

The Almighty God his Father poured out his wrath and our just desert upon Jesus. He took the punishment of God for our sins. He stood in our place and God can now be righteous and just as he looks upon us filthy sinners, deserving of hell and forgive our sins. He took our sins and put them on Jesus Christ and through faith He takes Christ’s righteousness and gives it to us.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

But, again, not everyone is automatically forgiven. How can MY sins be forgiven?

“For by grace are you saved through faith…” It is a gift given to us by God, freely, through sovereign grace. What part do we have in it? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9 It is faith, even that faith is a gift from God. Nonetheless we are saved by faith. That faith is evidenced by a true repentance and a confession in baptism leading to a complete and total transfomation given to you freely by God. It is what is known as the new birth.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you need to experience salvation through Jesus Christ please get in touch with me at jdemars@presenttruthmn.com or call me at 763-302-9270 I’d love to pray with you.