“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5–6
Someone recently asked me if we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. The question inspired this devotional.
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, He was pointing to a profound truth about salvation: it is fully an act of God. To be “born of the Spirit” means that salvation is not a physical act—it’s a supernatural act: the Spirit of God makes our soul and spirit alive. A dead person cannot give themselves life. Salvation is not simply turning over a new leaf, trying harder, or adjusting our habits. The part of us that is eternal—our soul and spirit—is made alive by God.
Nicodemus was a deeply religious man, but Jesus shattered his law-based assumptions about reconciliation to God. Without the Spirit’s work, no amount of religious effort could bring him into God’s kingdom. And the same is true today. Salvation is not gained through moral performance or ritual. It comes when the Lord gives us faith and repentance and enables us to know that Jesus is Lord, as we surrender our entire being to Him for salvation.
When we are born of God, we receive a new nature (Christ’s) along with new desires, new strength, and a new heart.
The Apostle Paul makes this truth unavoidable in Romans 8:9: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Belonging to Christ is inseparable from having the Spirit. The Spirit is not given later, as an optional “extra” for advanced believers; He is the very seal of salvation. Without Him, no one belongs to Jesus. With Him, we are marked as His forever. The Spirit is not a temporary visitor—He is a permanent resident in the heart of every true believer.
Paul reinforces this in his letter to the Ephesians: “Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:13–14). The moment you placed your trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit took up residence in you, sealing you as God’s own possession. That seal is more than a symbol; it is a divine pledge, God’s guarantee that you are His child and He has secured your eternal life. It cannot be broken by your weakness, undone by your failures, or stolen by the enemy. You are secure because God is who He says He is, and His seal on you cannot be broken.
Paul explains the nature of this transformation to Titus: “…according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5–6) Notice the language—washing, regeneration, renewing, pouring out. This is not about human effort but divine action. God does not sprinkle the Spirit lightly upon us; He pours Him out abundantly. In Christ, our sins are washed away, our hearts are made new, and the Spirit continually renews us from within.
So what does it mean, practically, to receive the HOLY Spirit at salvation?
We are a new creation in Christ. We have new desires—to love, follow, and glorify Christ. What was once impossible—obedience, holiness, love for God—becomes possible because He empowers us. God’s presence dwells within us. The Spirit is not merely an outside force; He is the very presence of God dwelling in the believer. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” You are now a living temple, carrying God’s presence wherever you go.
We have complete assurance of our eternal salvation. Romans 8:16 tells us: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” When doubts creep in, the presence of the Spirit confirms the truth of God’s promises and reminds us that we belong to the Father.
We are empowered to carry out our divine purpose. The Spirit strengthens us to resist temptation, comforts us in trials, and produces His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23) This fruit is not the result of gritting our teeth and making it happen, but the overflow of the Spirit’s life within us. The Spirit equips us not only to live holy lives but also to serve others, advancing the kingdom of God through His power.
Receiving the Spirit, then, is not a small detail of salvation—it is the essence and proof of it. The Spirit brings us to life, assures us of our adoption, and empowers us to live for God.
Reflection Thought
Consider the wonderful truth that the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation now dwells within you. Ask yourself: Do you live as though that reality is true each day?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit at salvation. Thank You for making me alive in Christ, sealing me as Your child, and guaranteeing my eternal life. Forgive me when I try to live in my own strength instead of walking in Your power. Teach me to trust Your leading, rely on Your renewal, and rest in Your strength and wisdom. Help me to live each day fully aware that YOUR Spirit dwells in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.