54. The Coming Of The Holy Spirit Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 54 - THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we talked about Jesus breathing on His disciples, in effect commissioning them as His apostles or envoys to represent Him in taking the Gospel to the world.

• After His resurrection and prior to His ascension Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem but wait for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit.

• Finally that day arrived.

• Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

• As explained last time, this was a dramatic change in God’s dealing with humanity.

• He had dwelt with Israel in a corporate sense in the past, but now God is dealing personally with individuals as prophesied in the Old Testament (Joel 2:28-29).

• The reason He is able to do this, is as a result of Jesus’ saving work.

• As we have learned, It was through the “blood of Jesus” that we have been “justified” and “reconciled” to God (Romans 5:9-10).

But God’s work of redemption is not completed until humanity stands glorified in His presence.

• Jesus, through His atoning sacrifice, has overcome sin, the devil and death on our behalf. The world is no longer under the domain of the devil, but Jesus Christ.

• But as yet, we do not see “all things put under His feet” (Hebrews 2:8).

• To go back to Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. The first part of this verse has been accomplished in that God has been faithful in delivering us from evil.

• Jesus Christ has paid the death penalty for our sin so God’s righteous judgment against sin has been satisfied.

• In addition, Jesus has responded faithfully to God the Father in being a worthy and faithful son on behalf of mankind.

• From God’s point of view, there is now no impediment on His part in preventing a full restitution of sonship.

• Christ has died for every human being. He has credited His righteousness to every human being, so there is no longer enmity between God and humanity, but only divine love (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15,19-21; Ephesians 2:5).

• Through Jesus’ incarnation and atonement, the gift of salvation has been graciously prepared, gift-wrapped and is now ready to be offered to a mainly ignorant humanity.

The emphasis now switches to preparing a holy people.

• This is where the work of the Holy Spirit comes in.

• The purpose of the Spirit is to reveal to blind and broken humanity knowledge of this precious gift and to bring them to the point of accepting this gift.

• Again, we see our faithful God taking the initiative in restoring the relationship with mankind and preparing a holy people to share in the life and love of the Godhead.

• This, in effect, is the second phase of redemption.

• The first phase occurred when we were redeemed from the guilt of sin through the “blood of Christ.”

• Now through the “Spirit of Christ” we are redeemed to share in the life of God.

• Earlier we spoke of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of love that intimately binds the persons of the Godhead together.

• Now through the granting of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, that circle of love or mutual indwelling is expanded to include humans.

• Through the Spirit they would be gathered up, embraced and included in the life and love of the Godhead.