Acts chapter 2 is not only relevant in its teaching and application, but it forms the
basis for the proper understanding of other portions of the New Testament. Let us
analyze some of the positive truths found in Acts chapter 2.
First, we learn who was "filled with the Holy Spirit" on the day of Pentecost. It
was not the one hundred twenty persons mentioned in Acts 1:15. Jesus did not
promise one hundred twenty persons that they "will be immersed with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now." He was speaking to his apostles. (Acts 1:1-5)
Matthias and the eleven apostles are the ones mentioned in the immediate context.
(Acts 1:26) The words "they were filled with the Holy Spirit" indicate a direct
fulfillment of the Lord's promise to them. The ones who were "filled" are the ones
who received power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The ones who received
power are the ones who were told to wait in Jerusalem. The ones who were filled,
received power, and were told to wait are the apostles, not the one hundred
twenty. (Luke 24:33,44-49; Acts 1:2-5)
Second, we learn about the "tongues" that were spoken on the day of
Pentecost. They were not gibberish.They were not unintelligible multi-syllable
chatter void of meaning. They were not some sort of mumbo jumbo that sprang
from hyper emotional activity. They were actual languages. The Greek word
translated tongue is glossa, and in this context it refers to "a distinctive language
system." (The Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament,
page 80, Frederick William Danker) The New Revised Standard Version and
the Holman Christian Standard Bible say "languages" in their texts. (cf. Acts 2:
4,6,8,11) The apostles spoke the word of life to people in their own languages.
Third, we learn who did the preaching on the day of Pentecost. Verse 14
tells us, "But Peter standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed
them." When the people were cut to the heart they "said to Peter and the other
apostles, 'Men, brothers, what should we do?' " There were no women
preachers addressing the multitudes on the day of Pentecost. All the apostles
were men. This was in harmony with the plan of God. God does not allow
women to teach or have authority over men in the religious realm. ( 1 Timothy
2:11-12) We should respect God's plan and govern ourselves accordingly.
God's will is always right. His wisdom is perfect and those who humble
themselves and are faithful servants will be blessed.
Fourth, we learn that Christ will not return to the earth in order to establish
a kingdom and reign for a thousand literal years. He is king and reigning over the
kingdom now. His reign began when he was raised from the dead and ascended
to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Peter said "God had sworn with an
oath that he would set one of David's descendants on his throne, he foresaw
and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah." (2:30-31) About whom is
he speaking? "This Jesus God raised up...being exalted therefore at the right
hand of God...God has made him both Lord and Messiah." (2:32,33,36)
Please note the following: Christ is on David's throne, but Christ is in heaven
at the right hand of God, so David's throne is in heaven at the right hand of
God! Since the throne is in heaven, it is not on earth and never will be! If
Jesus is on David's throne and if the throne is in heaven, then Jesus is surely
reigning over his kingdom. In order to reign over the kingdom, the kingdom
has to be in existence! Therefore, there will be no future kingdom established
on earth.
Fifth, we learn there is no need for a direct, supernatural, mysterious
operation of the Holy Spirit on a sinner's heart in conviction and conversion.
Were the people on Pentecost influenced by the Holy Spirit to obey the
gospel? Yes. That is not the question. The question is, was there a direct
operation of the Holy Spirit on their hearts in conviction and conversion?
The answer is a resounding "NO!" The Holy Spirit used Peter's message
as the means by which the people were taught, drawn, convicted, and
converted. Peter said, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know with
certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus
whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the
heart..." (Acts 2:36-37) This is what I call "word impact." The Holy
Spirit's message through Peter's mouth is what convicted them! We are
told in verses 40 and 41, that Peter "testified with many other words and
exhorted them, saying, 'Save yourselves from this crooked generation.' So
those who received his word were immersed..." The influence that the Holy
Spirit exerted was through the word of God. (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12)
The same is true with regard to every case of conversion in the New
Testament. There are no exceptions.
Sixth, we learn that immersion is essential to salvation from past sins.
When the Jews asked Peter and the other apostles, "What should we do?"
He responded, "You must change and let every one of you be immersed in
the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven." (2:38) Many people
believe they were to change and be immersed because they had already been
forgiven. If such is true, neither God who stipulated it, the Holy Spirit who
revealed it, Peter who preached it, Luke who wrote it, or the people on Pentecost
who asked about it ... knew it! They were to change and be immersed in order
to be forgiven of their sins.According to the New Testament, one is immersed
into Christ (Galatians 3:27), into his death (Romans 6:3-4), into one body
(1 Corinthians 12:13), and in order to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21)
The foregoing are just some of the positive truths found in Acts chapter 2.
These should suffice to show that the gospel of God is a positive message.
It positively obliterates all that opposes it and upholds everything that is in
agreement with it. (2 Corinthians 10:1-6)
RD
Copyright 2010
Great job, Ron! Thanks for your study and for sharing it with others. What thoughts do you have about Acts 2:38 and the gift of the Holy Spirit? Phil
ReplyDelete38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
ReplyDelete39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off , even as many as the Lord our God shall call .
Paul talking to the church in the book of Romans:
1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
And in another place:
2 Corinthians 1:
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed , ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
And another:
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
And another:
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
If somebody wants to say that the Spirit dwells in us by the Word only, please give that scripture.
The truth is that Christ dwells in us by the Spirit:
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with 'all the fulness of God.'
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
In this comment, I have just written what the Word of God says about this matter. Therefore, by faith in what this word tells us here, we can know what is happening to children of God - each member from the first moment of the new birth until the end of that life, or the end of time.
The gift given by the apostles to the early church members was only given by the apostles, according to what the scriptures say. Even those who received those gifts could not pass them on. So, when the last apostle died, and the last individuals who had received those gifts died, there was no more giving of gifts or gifts like that. (Rest of comment to follow.)
But remember Peter said this:
ReplyDeleteRepent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off , even as many as the Lord our God shall call .
The 'for' in verse 19 modifies 'the promise' which was 'the gift of the Holy Spirit' - and what was promised in this verse was to continue 'as long as the Lord our God shall call.'
Question:
Is the Lord our God still calling today? He calls through His Word, and is that Word still calling people out of the world and into the church?
One other thought: If having the word in the heart is the only way the Holy Spirit can dwell in the heart, what about those in the world who have memorized the Word and keep it in their hearts, and some of them know and keep more than some members of the church! Who would dare say they had the Holy Spirit or Christ dwelling in them, knowing that they have not obeyed the gospel and therefore are not 'in Christ' according to the commands of Christ to His apostles on the day of His ascension?
Just some thoughts and scriptures that go along with them.
Phil, thanks for your comments. The "gift
ReplyDeleteof the Holy Spirit" in Acts 2:38 will
likely be a topic for study sometime
in the future. It may be that it has
reference to the miraculous manifestation
of the Spirit that was operative during
and limited to the age of the apostles.
This may especially be true in light
of Peter's allusion to Joel 2:28-29
within the immediate context.
Cherchura:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your posts. Acts chapter 2
along with the entire New Testament
teaches that in conviction and conversion,
the Holy Spirit operates by means of the
word of the living God. The Holy Spirit revealed God's word through the apostles
and others who wrote and spoke
in the first century. The influence
the Spirit exerts on the lost and the
saved is through the message of faith.
As stated in the blog, there is no direct, supernatural, mysterious influence wrought
upon the heart of the sinner or the saved person by the Spirit. (Romans 1:16;
Hebrews 4:12)