Scripture References: Romans 8:8-9
It is very plain to see that if we do not have the Spirit of Christ abiding in our heart, then we are none of his meaning we don't possess Christ in our life.
If you will notice carefully in what the apostle Paul is telling us in these two scriptures, you should be able to see that the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ are the one and self same Spirit of God. So what is the difference is trying to show you how to receive the Holy Spirit, or trying to show you how to receive the Spirit of Christ? How many Spirits are there? Let Paul answer this question in what he tells us in Ephesians 4:4 that says, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling." Do you have a problem with what Paul tells us here? Since there is but one God and one Spirit, then you should be able to see and understand that to receive the Holy Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost, is also receiving the Spirit of Christ. If the Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost, which it is, then the Spirit of Christ is that one self same Spirit, or otherwise there would be two Spirits, which would contradict what Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:4.
How then do we receive the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ? Does Gods word tell us how to receive the Holy Ghost? Of course it does, but if we don't do exactly what Gods word says concerning this, then can anyone truly receive the Holy Ghost if they will not obey the instructions? Of course not.
Where in Gods word does it tell us what we have to do in order to receive the Holy Ghost? There are two places found in Gods word that tells us how, but if we don't understand what is said and do exactly what it says, then we cannot truly receive his Spirit. One place is found in Luke 11:13 that says, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Notice that Jesus clearly tells us that God will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him for it, right? But are you aware of the fact that when we ask God for something we must ask for it in faith? Do you know what it means to ask God in faith? If you don't then allow James 1:5-7 to tell us that says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James reveals to us here that when we ask God for something, which certainly includes the receiving of the Holy Ghost, we must ask in faith, which means that we must believe that God will give us what we ask for "if" we ask in accord with what his word says about it. Does Gods word just tell us that he will give his Spirit to those that merely ask for it without doing anything else? Is there any strings attached to it other than just to ask and instantly receive it? In other words, do we have to do a certain thing first before we receive the Holy Ghost other than just believing we received it? Well is it not a fact that multiplied millions of confessing Christians today believe they have the Holy Ghost and yet live in and commit sin?
Is it not a fact that they just merely believe (with a head knowledge only) that they possess the Holy Ghost, based only on a certain time in their life when they confessed to have received Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior? Did they find out exactly what Gods word reveals what must be done in order to receive Christ truly into their heart? Do we just merely ask Christ to come into our heart and save us, or does Gods word go further into this truth and reveals a deeper truth concerning it? Yes it does, so now let us look at the other scripture that deals with how to receive the Holy Ghost, and not just to take one verse of scripture (which is Luke 11:13) out of context by placing our own interpretation to it by thinking all we have to do is ask and automatically receive what we ask for like millions have done. The other verse of scripture is found in Acts 2:38 that says, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." This scripture is referring of course to the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost could now be received only "if" we do exactly what is stated by the apostle Peter that had the keys to the kingdom, as Jesus said he did. Notice that Peter told these certain Jews that had assembled themselves on this day of Pentecost when asked him what they must do, and then we find Peter telling them to "do" two things in order to receive the Holy Ghost. These two things that Peter told then to do was (1) to repent, and (2) to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which was for the remission of sin, right? And then Peter went on to say that they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, right? So why did Jesus say to ask for the Holy Spirit, as stated in Luke 11:13 and God will give the Spirit to them that ask him, but here in Acts 2:38 we can clearly see that Peter did not tell them just to ask for the Spirit to receive it, but rather he told them to do two things, which was to repent and be baptized and then the Holy Ghost would be received. Is this a contradiction in Gods word? No it is not, but you must understand that if you would ask God in faith for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus said to do, God would then direct you to what Peter said here in Acts 2:38. God will give you his Spirit if you ask in faith, which means according to his word, and if you do what his word says, then he will give you his Spirit. Most people don't know how to operate in faith in order to receive from God. Now consider how many people today believe that they posses Christ by just merely asking him into their heart taking for granted that he did come into their heart. Is there any wonder why these people are still in their sins and no change whatsoever has taken place in their life?
The Spirit of Christ is not received in the heart by merely asking him to come into your heart, but rather you must hear his voice, which is his word, and open your hearts door to that word and do what it says and then Christ will come into your heart. Did not the Holy Ghost fall all those people in the house of Cornelius that "heard the word of God' as stated in Acts 10:44 that says, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." Did not these people hear Gods word and then they received the Holy Ghost? Listen to what Jesus says concerning this as stated in Revelation 3:20 that says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Notice that Jesus said he will come into your heart "if" you hear his voice, which is his word, and do what his word tells you to do, and then he will come into your heart. But listen to what millions are doing today by just merely asking Christ to come into their heart by a simple invitation without doing exactly what Gods says to do. There will be no change in your heart whatsoever until Christ truly comes into your heart, and this is why millions of confessing Christians are still dead in their sins living in their sin and rebellion against God.
Now if you are one that has taken for granted that you received Christ into your heart by just asking him to come in your heart, and you are basing your salvation on what Luke 11:13 says, then allow me to tell you that you have taken that scripture out of its context and you are relying on your own understanding of it. You are not doing what Proverbs 3:5 reveals that says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." You put your own interpretation to that scripture, which is your own understanding and not the revealed truth of the matter. It takes more than one scripture to come to the truth of any subject taught in Gods word, but millions base their beliefs on what a certain single scripture says, without rightly dividing the word of truth properly. The scripture of Acts 2:38 is a single scripture telling us to repent and be baptized for remission of sins and we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Will a person receive the promised gift of the Holy Ghost if they obey what Acts 2:38 says? Well lets look at Acts 2:41 that says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Can a person be added to the church that does not truly possess Christ in their heart? Did not Paul tell us that if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, then he is none of his, or of God? So I am telling you that if you do not truly repent of sin and be baptized in Christ's name, as Acts 2:38 commands us to do, then you are none of his and Christ does not abide in your heart and life. Listen closely to all the millions of confessing Christians there are today claiming to be born again and still live in sin and rebellion against God. Are you going to believe them or believe what Gods word has to say concerning this? If they are born again, then why do they continue to sin instead of sinning no more, as Jesus told the woman taken in adultery not to sin anymore? And why do confessing Christians today fail to wake to righteousness and sin not, as Paul tells us to do as stated in I Corinthians 15:34 that says, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." I will tell you why they don't which is simply because they are totally void of possessing Christ in their heart and life; and so therefore without him they can do absolutely nothing that Gods word commands us to do. They are totally helpless, hopeless, and powerless, simply because they are Christless. They have not been told scripturally how to truly receive Christ into their heart and life. They have only repeated a simple sinners prayer or by saying they receive Christ by a mere invitation of him into their heart. If you cannot see this, then may God grant you repentance to the acknowledging of the truth so that you can begin to recover yourself out of the snare of the devil, as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. Amen