How does one receive the Holy Spirit? What must they do? - The Byzantine Forum
biblical basis - According to the Bible how does one receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? - Christianity Stack Exchange
How do I receive the Holy Spirit?
Explain to me how exactly you get the holy spirit?
My personal belief is simple. You must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I believe you will know when it is true. I believe it will change you and it will feel like a flood of overwhelming emotion and love. I believe if you truly accept him he will come and you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt in that moment that you are saved by the Lord. In my church baptism is purely a way to signify your rebirth as a member of the church.
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No, believers do not receive Holy Ghost automatically after they accept Christ or get baptized. These are two separate and important steps. Also laying on of hands not a requirement. Not the physical contact will makes one accepting the Spirit, but it reinforce the ones faith and the Spirit can cooperate with this, so it is better to take part in laying on of hands.
KJV - John 16,7
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
This shows that Jesus didn't let the space behind Him be empty after he gone. He sent the Holy Ghost that is better because it isn't physically limited like Jesus was because of His body during His services in the Earth.
KJV - Acts 2,1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Again receiving the Spirit and baptism is two different act. There can be short time in the between the two but it isn't automatic. The later doesn't follows unconditionally the previous.
KJV - Acts 8,13-15
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
This was just another example, and the following passage will show a requirement.
KJV - Acts 5,32
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
The Spirit is given for those who obey Him. We have to be thirsty there should be a desire for it.
KJV - Acts 19,1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Also in these passages, baptism and taking the Holy Ghost are two different events and we can observe in this and the previous citations too that accepting the Spirit has signs. They started to speak in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 8:15 actually provides the answer:
“Who, when they (Peter & John) were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost”
Prayer is the key ingredient that enabled the reception of the Holy Spirit, however, there is more to the story, because there was one there that believed that the laying on of hands was the agent of release of the Holy Spirit rather than prayer and his name was Simon beginning in verse 9 lets focus on Simon and ultimately Peter’s response:
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries... Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done… And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Simon wanted to subjugate the Holy Spirit to himself. This is always a sign of a false teaching for then God would be confined to the availability of a man for the laying on of hands. We know that Jesus Christ Himself sends the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
So the answer to this question is that prayer was the effective agent and only Simon the Sorcerer believed that it was subject to the laying on of hands.
When Cornelius and his guests received the Holy Spirit it was without laying on of hands and prior to baptism.
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.