The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is a gift from God that a Christian can and should receive after their becoming a Christian.
The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is NOT the same as the “gift of salvation” (which is also known as the “gift of eternal life”).
When a person gets “saved,” it is said that the person has received the “gift of salvation.” Ephesians 2:8 says,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
In this verse, we see that salvation (getting saved) is referred to as a “gift of God.”
This “gift of God” is also called the “gift of eternal life.” Romans 6:23 says,
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
However, this “gift of salvation” or “gift of eternal life” is NOT the same as the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is a different gift.
Everything that God gives is a “gift.” But God has many gifts. God doesn't have just one gift!
If a person has been saved (has received the gift of salvation, has received the gift of eternal life), this means that the Holy Spirit has recreated the person's spirit and the Holy Spirit has taken up residence inside the person's newly recreated spirit. Such a person is a Christian, and they will go to Heaven when they die.
Any person can choose to get saved (receive the gift of salvation, receive the gift of eternal life, become a Christian).
But receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is something different. Only a person who is already a Christian can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is not necessary to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to be a Christian and to go to Heaven. It is only necessary to get saved (receive the gift of salvation, receive the gift of eternal life) to be a Christian and to go to Heaven.
But if a Christian wants more than just to go to Heaven when they die, if a Christian wants to grow in the things of God and wants to follow and obey God, then that Christian needs to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit also.
“Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit” is also known as “getting baptized with the Holy Spirit” or “getting filled with the Holy Spirit.” These three terms are interchangeable in the New Testament. (see What is Being Filled with the Holy Spirit?)
(more to come)