Is receiving the Holy Spirit necessary to go to heaven? What sign must I look for to know I have received?
Receiving the Holy Spirit is a frequently occurring theme in the Book of Acts. See Acts 2:38
Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
; 8:15, 17-19; 10:47; 19:2. This expression refers basically to receiving power for witness (Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
-Jesus' words). Receiving the Holy Spirit is not for salvation ("to go to heaven") but for those who are saved a special endowment of power to bear witness to Christ. Speaking in tongues is often a sign that the endowment has been received. See Acts 2:4
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,* as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
; 10:46; 19:6. In our present day, great numbers of believers testify that their speaking in tongues is clear evidence of their having received the Holy Spirit.
When does a person receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit who is everywhere present indwells those who believe in Christ. Jesus said to His disciples about the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) that "He abides with you, and will be in you" (John 14:17
He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.*
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
). Later in the Upper Room, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22
Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
). They had come to faith in the risen Christ so that now His Spirit dwelt within them. Later they were to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,* as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurred at the moment of a living faith in Christ. So with us.
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About The Author
Rodman
Williams
J. Rodman Williams (1918–2008), was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina (A.B. degree), of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (B.D. and Th. M. degrees), and Columbia University in New York (Ph.D. degree in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics). He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Marine Corps, taught philosophy and religion at Beloit College in Wisconsin, pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Rockford, Illinois, taught theology and philosophy of religion at Austin Presbyterian Seminary in Texas, and served as president and professor of theology at Melodyland
