The obvious answer to the question is that the Galatian Christians received the Spirit by
“the hearing of faith.” Referring back to Galatians 2:16, it is clear that the context of this passage is
salvation. When the gospel is “heard” and “faith” in Jesus Christ is exercised, then the Holy Spirit is
received. Note how that in each of the following verses which speak of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,
the context is referring to the salvation of believers and not to a point in time after their salvation.
