Someone recently asked whether babies can be born-again in the womb, given that God ordained Samson as a Nazirite at conception (see Judges 13:5) and John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb (see Luke 1:15).
I began by explaining that, according to Scripture, no one can be born again without confession of sin, repentance, and trust in Jesus for salvation. Consider what the Bible says about these facts:
Acts 3:19 says, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Matthew 4:17 states, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
I John 1:9 proclaims, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
John 1:12-13 declares, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 5:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
John 3:5-7 states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
With that said, it is possible for God to sovereignly set apart some babies in the womb for a specific purpose, filling them with the Holy Spirit (as with John the Baptist), because that occurrence is different from them being indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament records numerous instances where the Holy Spirit came upon certain individuals to accomplish specific tasks. Some of these people were the 70 elders in Numbers 11:25, Balaam in Numbers 24:2, Othniel in Judges 3:9-10, Gideon in Judges 6:34, Jephthah in Judges 11:29, Samson in Judges 14:6, 19, and 15:14, and Amasai and Jahaziel in 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit filled various individuals in the New Testament to accomplish certain God-ordained tasks. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb in preparation to go before Jesus “in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
The disciples were also filled with the Holy Spirit shortly after Jesus ascended to Heaven. Jesus said in Acts 1:5, “For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now,” and stated in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Jesus’ promise was fulfilled at Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-4), which was different from the disciples receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit (see John 20:21-22).
Additionally, Peter and John (along with numerous others) were once again filled with the Holy Spirit after their release from prison for preaching the gospel. Acts 4:31 states, “The place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Consequently, the Holy Spirit coming upon individuals in the Old Testament, filling John the Baptist in his mother’s womb, and filling Jesus’ disciples and others in the New Testament was not the same as Him indwelling them, since that event only occurs upon one’s profession of faith in Jesus for salvation (see Galatians 3:2-5, 3:14, and 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14 and 3:16-17, and John 14:16-17).
I hope this information helps clarify the difference between the Holy Spirit indwelling versus filling someone to accomplish specific God-ordained tasks.
