There is a very important promise given to those who were baptized in Acts chapter two, where we read, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38 NAS95)But what is meant by “the gift of the Holy Spirit”?
Some have said that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift that the Spirit gives to the one who is baptized. Earlier in Acts 2, the apostles, by the power of the Spirit, spoke in tongues so that all of those gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost could hear the message of the gospel in their own language. And so, it is concluded by some, that “the gift of the Holy Spirit” is the gift of tongue speaking. This gift, it is claimed, was bestowed upon those who were baptized that day by the laying on of the apostle’s hands after they were baptized.
Others have said that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit Himself. In other words, God gave the Spirit as a gift to indwell the believer at the moment of their baptism.
Which of these is the correct interpretation? Let’s look at some related passages and strive to let the Bible interpret itself. Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans 8:9 NAS95) Note carefully from this passage that the Spirit’s indwelling makes us children of God. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) he is not a child of God. Or consider this verse, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6 NAS95)Do you see here that the Spirit’s indwelling and sonship go together? Because we are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. If we did not have His Spirit in our heart, it would mean that we are not His son or daughter.
Because of this, we must conclude that “the gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 is the Spirit Himself coming into our hearts. If that is not the case, then those who were baptized on that day did not become children of God at the moment they were baptized. Why? Because no indwelling equals no sonship. Could it be that they received the indwelling of the Spirit before they were baptized? No, because that would indicate that they became children of God before they were baptized, and that the Spirit came to indwell them before their sins were forgiven.
The gift of the Holy Spirit’s is the Spirit Himself who was given to dwell in our hearts. Each one of us received Him at the moment we were baptized into Christ. Praise God for His wonderful gift!
—Scott Colvin
Posted by Scott Colvin 
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