Not our acts, not the ritual of water baptism; but only what Jesus did for us (taking all of our sins upon Himself; resurrected from death, the consequence of our sin) makes us righteous before God.
Therefore, God’s Word also tells us that we are saved because of the faith in the finished work of Jesus:
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.“ (Romans 5:1-5; NIV; emphasis added by me)
It is frightening how many “Christians” beg God for the Holy Spirit, which He has already given us (and indeed generously; see Titus 3:4-7). He who does not have the Holy Spirit is not saved. For the moment we accept the work of Jesus in faith, He gives us the Holy Spirit.
We do not have to feel the Holy Spirit; In God’s kingdom, faith is the determining fundamental law (spirit), not our feelings (soul).
