Pentecost (Part 1): A New Era

This summer I have been preaching through the Acts of the Apostles. One of these sermons (here) was on Acts 2:1-21 and the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. I plan to adapt the sermon for this blog, posting it in three parts: (1) a new era, (2) tongues, (3) abiding effects. 

The outpouring of the Spirit was an event that had been prophesied in Joel 2:28-32, which Peter quoted on that day. It was the last days - the prophesied outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh had come. This was indicated by the sound of wind, the appearance of fire, and the church prophesying in tongues at this event. The signs in heaven had taken place at Christ’s death. The signs on earth took place at Pentecost. The last verse of the quotation points to the application: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  

Other prophets had spoken of this too. Isaiah had prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon the messianic Servant of the Lord (11:1-2, 41:1, 61:1), and that the Spirit would be poured out upon his people to revive them and make them like a fruitful field (32:15, 44:3). Ezekiel had foretold how God would sprinkle clean water to cleanse his people and put his Spirit within his people to write his laws on their hearts, restoring his people and building a new temple.

John the Baptist and Jesus had also foretold it. This event was the baptism with the Spirit that they spoke of (Luke 3, Acts 1:4-5, 8). As God told John the Baptist, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33). Jesus was anointed by the Spirit for his messianic task, and when he did his work and sat down at the Father’s right hand, he poured out that same Spirit as a blessing upon his the church. The Spirit was poured out by Christ from heaven, as a consequence of his exaltation and ascension, as Peter goes on to explain in his sermon.

This outpouring of the Spirit inaugurated a new era. The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was a pivotal event in redemptive history, like Christ’s resurrection and ascension. It was an unrepeatable event resulting in a new state of affairs. The covenant of grace was now administered in a new and more powerful way by the risen Christ. The Spirit had been poured out upon the church, and he had come to stay.

1. Pentecost established the new covenant administration.

This event was like the making of the old covenant at Sinai. As the old covenant was made with God’s people at Sinai, so the new covenant was made with God’s people at Pentecost. Both were foundational events. These covenants have the same substance, the same moral law, the same way of salvation. The new covenant is a new administration, with new ordinances and new organization befitting the greater clarity of the gospel and the greater outpouring of the Spirit. By comparison, the new covenant is a ministry of the Spirit (1 Cor. 3).

Jesus had already been setting up the new covenant during his earthly ministry. The gospel, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper were all set in place before Christ ascended into heaven. So how does the outpouring of the Spirit fit into this? Think of it like the filling of the tabernacle in Exodus 40. First Moses delivered the covenant to Israel and the tabernacle was set up. Then God manifested his presence among his people in accordance with his covenant by filling the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Likewise, Christ had proclaimed the new covenant and had instituted its ordinances, but now he sent the Spirit in accordance with it, making it effectual. Having chosen his apostles, he now gave them power to be his witnesses. Having organized his church, he now filled it with the Spirit as the new temple of God. The church is the tabernacle, the temple of the living God.

2. At Pentecost, the Spirit was given to the church in a new way.

The Spirit had already been active among the saints in the Old Testament (Ps. 51, 143, Is. 63). The Spirit had already been active among the disciples (Matt. 16). But at Pentecost, the Spirit was with greater fullness and to all flesh.

The Spirit was "poured out." This indicates a greater abundance, a greater fullness, a more powerful operation of the Spirit. Previously, the church received a trickle, a foretaste, but now the Spirit would be poured out like a mighty river from heaven by the risen Christ.

And this greater fullness was given to "all flesh." This new blessing was not something extra for only some of the people, but it was for those high and low, male and female, rich and poor, young and old. The whole church received it on that day, and going forward, this baptism of the Spirit would be received by all believers (1 Cor. 12:13).

"All flesh" also refers to both Jews and Gentiles. While the Spirit had previously worked among mostly Israelites, and a remnant of them at that, now the Spirit would be given to all nations. The list of nationalities represented on that occasion receives attention in the text (2:9-11). In the old covenant, the Spirit worked to save a remnant of Israelites, that the seed would be preserved, culminating in the promised Christ. At Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out so that this seed would sprout, grow, and bear fruit to the end of the earth. While the Spirit worked to save and sanctify and empower in both eras, now he was given with a new goal, a new focus, a new project. Being poured out by the Christ who had purchased redemption and obtained a kingdom, the Spirit would establish Christ’s kingdom throughout the earth. This work of the Spirit is both more extensive in the earth and also more pervasive and powerful, as Christ gathers and sanctifies his bride, the church.

In the New Testament, the Spirit is given to the church as the downpayment of its inheritance (Eph. 1:14). That is, the church has come of age and has entered into its inheritance. The church existed in the Old Testament, but it was like a child under age, managed by guardians, that is, the ceremonies of the old covenant (Gal. 3-4). But when the Son of God came in the fullness of time, he purchased redemption and sent the Spirit, giving his people the freedom and inheritance of sons. It is no longer under the guardianship of the ceremonial law. It has greater maturity and is under simpler ordinances. It can go about its Father’s business, the mission of bringing salvation to the world.

3. Pentecost was thus a unique, transitional event.

At Pentecost, the disciples entered into the full blessings of the new covenant. It is true that they were already believers, but this does not mean that believers today should expect the baptism of the Spirit as a “second blessing” at a later point after their conversion. These disciples were unique in that they straddled the change from old and new covenant administrations. Now that the Spirit has come, believers enter directly into the new covenant, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit at conversion.

There are a few subsequent extensions of Pentecost recorded by Acts. These are cases of the same new covenant experience being extended to Samaritans (Acts 8), the uncircumcised Gentiles (Acts 10), and the disciples of John (19). The gift of tongues is mentioned with the last two. While both Jews and proselytes were present at Pentecost, proselytes differed from God-fearers like Cornelius. Proselytes had been circumcised and partook of the feasts. But in Cornelius’ house, this same blessing would come upon the uncircumcised. 

Thus, these subsequent events in Acts were part of this unique transition as it rippled out from Jerusalem to Samaria and to the Gentiles (and to the disciples of John who had not yet made the transition to the new era), matching the outline of Acts 1:8. In this way, these groups were incorporated into the new covenant and the one body of Christ. In each case, Pentecost comes through the apostles to a new category of people. This was part of their foundational work, establishing the church of Jesus Christ. Together, these events remain one foundational event, the beginning of a new administration.