Church

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost caused a great commotion and much consternation in Jerusalem – Joel 2:4-13. 

In Acts, the presence and activity of the Spirit are essential for the life and growth of the church, from its inception on the Day of Pentecost until the return of Jesus at the end of the age. The church began in Jerusalem with the initial outpouring of the Spirit, then quickly spread beyond Judea to Samaria, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and finally, to the city of Rome at the very heart of the empire.

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WHEN PENTECOST ARRIVED

/ David R Maas / 3 Comments

On the day of Pentecost, the long-anticipated time of fulfillment arrived when Jesus bestowed the Spirit on his church – Acts 2:1-4. 

The second chapter of Acts stresses fulfillment, the things foreshadowed in the Hebrew scriptures were actualized when the disciples were “filled with the Spirit,” beginning with the Feast of Pentecost. The arrival of the Spirit was the key event that marked the inauguration of the Church and the age of the Spirit and set the stage for the proclamation of the gospel.

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BETWEEN LAW AND SPIRIT

/ David R Maas / 1 Comment

Between the ascension and the gift of the Spirit, the apostles tarried in prayer and appointed Matthias to complete their number – Acts 1:12-26. 

After the ascension, the apostles returned to Jerusalem to wait for the “promise of the Father,” the gift of the Spirit. In the interim, they appointed Matthias to the apostolic office held previously by Judas. As the representatives of the new people of God, they needed twelve representatives to demonstrate continuity with the covenant established by Yahweh.

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Tarry In Jerusalem

/ David R Maas / 3 Comments

The book of Acts begins IN JERUSALEM with the ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit. It concludes with Paul preaching the gospel in the heart of the World Empire, the city of Rome. Following his resurrection, Jesus ascended to reign “at the right hand of God.” He then bestowed the gift of the Spirit on his church to empower them to proclaim his gospel to all nations.

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REIGN OF THE SAINTS

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Overcoming saints reign as a “kingdom of Priests” during the “thousand years,” having overcome the “beast” – Revelation 20:4-6.

During the “thousand years,” Satan is imprisoned, and the victorious saints begin to reign. Ironically, the “rest of the dead” do not live until the “second death” at the “Great White Throne of Judgment.” Behind the image of the saints’ reign is Daniel’s vision of “one like a Son of Man” who received the “kingdom” from the “Ancient of Days.”

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