14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s word, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
We can receive this the same as them. They already were believers, and they were already baptized in water, Is the person of the Holy spirit filling you. And brings a better christian life, and a closer relationship with the most kindest of persons, this should be the same as pentecost, it says they were filled there too.
The first time the Spirit was poured out on believers was at Pentecost after Jesus was glorified.
John 7:37-39 (WEB)
Bolding mine…
37 “If anyone is thirsty,
let him come to me and drink!
38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said,
from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
The Spirit was poured out on them, just as prophesied. They were filled with the Spirit because they repented, and they believed in Jesus, obeying His commands.
For we only receive the Spirit by an obedient faith:
Acts 5 (WEB)
32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit,
whom God has given to those who obey him.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
John 14:23 (NIV)
23 Jesus replied, “
Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and
we will come to them and make our home with them.
Galatians 3:2 (NIV)
Bolding mine… 2 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 3:5 (NIV)
Bolding mine… 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your
believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:13-14 (WEB)
Bolding mine… 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that
we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (WEB)
13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom,
having also believed,
you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
Acts 2 (WEB)
38 Peter said to them, “
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.
Except for the
- Day of Pentecost,
- the Gentiles,
- the Samaritans,
- those disciples of John (who taught and baptized by John),
everyone else in the Book of Acts was saved (receiving the Spirit) by faith without an outward sign.
Why is that?
Pentecost
The "
tongues of fire" was a sign of the coming Holy Spirit only on the Day of Pentecost to show the Spirit had now been poured out on believers as prophesied.
Gentile Believers
The Jews thought this salvation was only for the Jews. God gave a special vision to Peter to show that even Gentiles were to be saved, and God proved it by giving a sign when the Gentiles believed in Jesus had the hearing of the Gospel - they praised God and spoke in Tongues - although they did not have tongues of fire above their heads as at Pentecost. The Jews conceded and marveled that God also grants Gentiles to repent and believe.
Samaratin Believers
Likewise, the Jews refused to believe the Samaratins could be saved until they saw the sign that they also received the Spirit by the Apostles laying on of hands.
Notice that on the Day of Pentecost, and with the Gentile believers, laying on of hands to receive the Spirit
was not a requirement to receive the Spirit. This step was taken by the Apostles to show that even Samaratins were accepted for salvation by God. For as Jesus said, "
Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven."
Disciples of John only
It was not sufficient to be just a disciple of John and receive John's baptism to be saved. One had to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior - to be a disciple of Jesus. The disciples of John had not even hear of such a thing as the Spirit of God. To prove that only by faith in Jesus, and only by His baptism is one saved, God confirmed through Paul the receiving of the Spirit through a sign similar to the others.
In every other instance throughout the NT Scriptures, the teaching is that whosoever repents and believes in Jesus, vowing to be Jesus' disciple, to listen to and follow Him all receive the Holy Spirit by that faith. That is the teaching of the Scriptures throughout.
The Spirit of God is one. Everyone who repents and believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior receive the Spirit of God - All Christians have that one same Spirit that is from God, and which Lord Jesus also had. We all share in the one Spirit.
You can't get more of the Spirit then you already have by faith. However, to be filled with the Spirit, and to have the Power and Life in the Spirit manifested in and through your life, you must be diligent to walk and live by the Spirit of God, just as
Romans 6 and
Romans 8 teaches.
Also see:
Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:1 (NIV)
3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.
Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV)
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.