Teaching: The Answer To Living The Christian Life Is The Holy Spirit
I really wished someone had told me early on in my walk as a believer, “Okay, now that you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the next thing you have to do is get to know the Holy Spirit because you need Him to become more like Jesus and live the Christian life.”
That would have not only made it clear where to focus my efforts, but it would have made everything easier and better. I think I wouldn’t have ended up backsliding had I been walking in the power of the Spirit instead of mine.
It would have launched me into asking the right questions and seeking the answers for how to live out my Christian life. Questions such as:
- Who is the Holy Spirit?
- What’s the role of the Holy Spirit?
- How do I get to know the Holy Spirit?
- How do I receive the Holy Spirit?
It’s admittedly intimidating to write about the Holy Spirit because of how important He is and how misunderstood He is. Thankfully, the answer is to ask Him for guidance and listen to how He wants me to introduce you to Him.
It’s impossible to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit, so let’s start with identifying “What is the Christian Life?”
What is The Christian Life?
The Scriptures tell us that a Christian is someone who has:
- Heard the good news (Gospel) of salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17)
- Believed in their hearts that Jesus is the Son of God who died for their sins and rose again (John 3:16; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10)
- Confessed with their tongue their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32)
- Repented—turned away from sin and toward God through faith in Christ (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19)
- And has been baptized in water into Christ—united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection, and added to His body, the Church (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41)
Christians are called to live according to God’s Word, allowing Scripture to teach, correct, and shape their thinking and behavior (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22-25).
Becoming a Christian is not only about accepting Jesus as our Savior to receive eternal life. As I’ve heard it said, it’s not about getting “fire insurance to stay out of hell.” It’s about becoming more like Jesus, representing Him, and honoring Him in all we think, say, and do.
The weightiness, implications, and challenges of understanding and living the Christian life are impossible on our own strength, willpower, ambitions, and drive. It takes the Holy Spirit.
The Christian life is not powered by human strength, but by the Holy Spirit who leads, equips, convicts, and empowers believers to become more like Jesus (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:13-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
Through salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the believer becomes a new creation. The old life is gone, and a new life begins—one marked by transformation, renewal, and purpose in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Titus 3:5-6).
If you have yet to be introduced to the Holy Spirit, let’s explore those questions I would have been asking myself.
Who Is The Holy Spirit?
The best person to introduce us to the Holy Spirit is Jesus. During the Last Supper, Jesus spoke to His disciples about what was to come. We find Him telling His disciples in John 14:12 how important it is for Him to go:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” — John 14:12
Jesus was preparing them for a transition—from walking beside Him to living with His Spirit within them. In the very next verses, Jesus reveals why it’s better for Him to leave: so that the Helper—the Holy Spirit—can come.
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” — John 14:16–17 (NASB)
Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit as a Person—another Helper just like Himself, who will take up residence in every believer. He is the One who would continue Jesus’ work, teaching, guiding, comforting, convicting, empowering, and transforming. The Holy Spirit isn’t a distant power but God Himself, sent to dwell in us, lead us, and make us more like Christ from the inside out.
The Holy Spirit is not distant or passive. He is near. Personal. Relational. Present.
Getting to know the Holy Spirit is getting to know God Himself—and He is the one who will guide you in becoming who you were created to be in Christ.
Not only is the Holy Spirit our Helper, but He is also the guarantee—the seal—of our inheritance in Christ. When we believe in Jesus, we are not only saved, we are marked by God’s Spirit as His own. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of the fullness that is to come—the evidence that we belong to God and will receive all He has promised.
“In Him you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” — Ephesians 1:13–14 (NASB)
The Holy Spirit is not just power for today—He is the evidence of our eternal destiny. He assures our hearts that we are children of God (Romans 8:16), He leads us in God’s will, and He prepares us for the day we will be fully united with Christ. His presence within us is a daily reminder that our lives are no longer our own—we have been bought with a price and sealed with a promise.
What’s the Role of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God’s empowering presence in the life of every believer. Even Jesus, though fully God, chose to live as fully man while on earth. He humbled Himself and set aside His divine privileges (Philippians 2:6–8), choosing instead to live in full dependence on the Holy Spirit. At His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove (Luke 3:21–22), and from that moment forward, Jesus was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1), empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:14), and fulfilled His ministry in the power of the Spirit (Acts 10:38).
Jesus set the example for us—not just in how to love, serve, and obey, but in how to live by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t merely assist us—He enables us to live the Christian life. Without Him, we cannot walk in obedience, grow in spiritual maturity, or become like Christ. Just as Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Father’s will, so must we.
Here are just a few of the vital ways the Holy Spirit operates in our lives:
- Convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8)
- Reveals truth and reminds us of Jesus’ words (John 14:26; John 16:13)
- Gives us understanding of the Scriptures and spiritual insight (1 Corinthians 2:10–12)
- Testifies about Jesus and glorifies Him in us (John 15:26; John 16:14)
- Transforms our character, producing spiritual fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)
- Empowers us with spiritual gifts for ministry and the building up of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Romans 12:6–8)
- Helps us pray, even interceding for us when we don’t know what to say (Romans 8:26–27)
- Leads and guides us in the will of God (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18)
- Comforts and encourages us in trials and suffering (Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4)
- Sanctifies us, making us holy and shaping us into the image of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
The Holy Spirit does not work apart from Jesus, the Word, or the Father—He reveals Jesus, empowers us to follow Jesus, and helps us obey the Word of God.
His role is both relational and functional. He teaches, reminds, prompts, corrects, empowers, and comforts. He doesn’t just show up during spiritual highs or crises—He is present in our daily decisions, inner nudges, convictions, and shaping of our thoughts and desires.
He is not just the source of power; He is the source of intimacy with God.
To live the Christian life is to walk with the Holy Spirit, listen to Him, respond to Him, and rely on Him. Without the Spirit, we’re left striving in the flesh. With Him, we are transformed from the inside out.
How Do I Receive The Holy Spirit?
You receive the Holy Spirit when you believe in Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and are born again through salvation. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to those who believe:
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 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 (NIV)
“When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” — Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. You don’t have to earn Him. He is a gift from the Father, and the presence of the Holy Spirit is what marks you as God’s own (Romans 8:9, 14-16).
But the Scriptures also reveal that there is more.
In addition to water baptism, Christians are also baptized with the Holy Spirit—an immersion into God’s empowering presence. This is what Jesus told His disciples to wait for after His resurrection:
“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 1:5 (NIV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” — Acts 1:8 (NIV)
This baptism in the Holy Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), and it didn’t stop there. Throughout the book of Acts, believers continued to receive this empowering experience—often after salvation (Acts 10:44–47; Acts 19:1–6).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not about receiving “more of God” as if He comes in parts—it’s about surrendering more of yourself so that the Holy Spirit fills, leads, and empowers you for a life of purpose, holiness, and bold witness. It’s a deeper release of His presence and power in your life.
This baptism is promised to all believers and is essential for living the Christian life, giving us the power to witness, grow in holiness, walk in obedience, and operate in spiritual gifts (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:4; Romans 8:9–11).
How Do I Get To Know The Holy Spirit?
Getting to know the Holy Spirit is not a one-time experience—it’s a daily relationship. Just as we grow closer to people through time, conversation, and shared experiences, we grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit the more we welcome Him into our lives.
The path to knowing God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—always begins with the Word and continues through fellowship. Though the Trinity is one God, each Person is distinct. The Father is our Creator and Source. Jesus is our Savior and Lord. And the Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Guide who dwells within us.
Here are some practical ways you can begin deepening your relationship with the Holy Spirit:
- Invite Him Daily
Begin each day by inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you, lead you, and speak to you. He’s not distant—He desires closeness. The more you acknowledge Him, the more aware you become of His presence. - Spend Time in God’s Word
The Holy Spirit is the one who inspired the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). As you read the Bible, ask Him to help you understand, apply, and be transformed by what you read. He will illuminate truth and make it personal. - Listen for His Voice
The Holy Spirit speaks—through Scripture, prayer, conviction, peace, and even a gentle prompting in your spirit. Learning to discern His voice takes practice, but He promises to lead you. - Obey Promptly
The more you respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading, the more sensitive you become to His guidance. Obedience strengthens the relationship. - Pray and Worship in the Spirit
The Holy Spirit draws us into deeper fellowship with God through prayer and worship. Whether through words, silence, groaning (Romans 8:26), or even praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2), He empowers our connection to the Father. - Desire More of Him
The more you hunger and thirst for righteousness, the more you will experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Father gives the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask (Luke 11:13).
Closing
Getting to know the Holy Spirit is about relationship, not ritual. He is not far off or silent—He is near, active, and deeply personal. He desires to be known, to be welcomed, and to walk with you through every part of life.
The more time you spend with the Holy Spirit, the more you will recognize His presence, discern His voice, and experience His power. You’ll begin to notice how He shapes your thoughts, convicts your heart, brings Scripture to life, and draws you closer to Jesus.
And just like any relationship, the more you give yourself to it, the deeper and more beautiful it becomes.
So don’t wait. Start today. Invite Him. Acknowledge Him. Talk to Him. And trust that He’s already drawing near.
We’ll explore more about the Holy Spirit in future Teaching posts.