Acts 8:14-17

An incomplete gospel is better than no gospel at all. The people of Samaria had heard part of the good news, and they accepted it. They believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that he died in order that they might live. They accepted by faith that his resurrection meant that they might be born again and never die.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard of the good work that Phillip was doing in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to verify that what they were hearing was true. They found a group of believers that marked themselves as followers of the Lord Jesus by baptism. They were not ashamed of the gospel, and they were not afraid to let the world know that Christ was Lord. However, they had only heard part of the gospel; they had not heard that when we accept Christ as Savior, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a guide and counselor. They were attempting to live lives that were righteous, but were doing so without the help that the Holy Spirit gives.

Peter and John prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. That prayer served the purpose of letting them know that the Holy Spirit was available to them. Once they knew that Christ not only wants to be our Savior, but He also offers to give us the Holy Spirit, they wanted all that Christ had for them. They said yes to God’s entire plan.

The apostles, in the style of the Old Testament patriarchs, laid hands on them and they received God’s blessing. They received the gift that Jesus intends for every believer to receive; they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When we present the complete gospel, the hearer knows that accepting Christ as savior means receiving the Holy Spirit. When a person believes, they accept Christ as Lord and the Holy Spirit as counselor. Nobody needs to give Christians the Holy Spirit; Christ has already done that.