How can I get the Holy Spirit in me? I gave my life to Jesus about two years ago at a church camp, but now a friend of mine is saying I need to get the Holy Spirit also or I'm not going to be saved. She has me worried, so maybe you can explain what I need to do. — V.McF.

I'm sure your friend sincerely wants to help you—but she has apparently misunderstood what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that if you have truly given your life to Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit already is living within you.

You see, the Bible teaches that we can't even come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, convicting us of sin and convincing us that the Gospel is true. Jesus said, "When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). Then when we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit continues His work in us and we are spiritually reborn (see John 3:1-8).

From that moment on, the Spirit lives within us continually. The Bible says, "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:9). Even if you don't feel His presence, by faith you know He is still there. Thank God that He now lives within you by His Holy Spirit!

But why has God come to live within you? One reason is because He wants to change your life from within, so that you will become more and more like Christ. You can't change yourself—but God can by His Spirit, and He will as you yield your life to Christ and to His Word every day.