Galatians 3:1-3

You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!  The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?

We receive the Holy Spirit by believing the message about Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Only in obedience to the gospel will we be able to remain in Christ and not fall captive to judgment according to the law. It is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus that we are saved and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. No amount of “following rules and traditions” has drawn the Holy Spirit to live in us. God loves us, and He wants relationship with us. It is the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross, His life, death, and resurrection. It is because Christ Jesus succeeded in His mission and took His rightful place at the right hand of God that we are able to share in communion and community with the Triune God. It is only by His blood, and only by His mercy.