BC - Day 313

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.  He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  Acts 1:1-3


Footnote:  Luke says that the disciples were eyewitnesses to all that had happened to Jesus Christ -- his life before his crucifixion, and the 40 days after his resurrection as he taught them more about the kingdom of God.  Today there are still people who doubt Jesus' resurrection.  But Jesus appeared to the disciples on many occasions after his resurrection, proving that he was alive.  Look at the change the resurrection made in the disciples' lives.  At Jesus' death, they scattered -- they were disillusioned, and they feared for their lives.  After seeing the resurrected Christ, they were fearless and risked everything to spread the Good News about him around the world.  They faced imprisonment, beatings, rejection, and martyrdom, yet they never compromised their mission.  These men would not have risked their lives for something they knew was a fraud.  They knew Jesus was raised from the dead, and the early church was fired with their enthusiasm to tell others.  It is important to know this so we can have confidence in their testimony.  Twenty centuries later we can still be confident that our faith is based on fact.  


For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Acts 1:5


Footnote:  At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus.  We receive the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus Christ.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the light of his total work in Christians.


1.  The Spirit marks the beginning of the Christian experience.  We cannot belong to Christ without his Spirit (Romans 8:9); we cannot be united to Christ without his Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17); we cannot be adopted as his children without his Spirit (Romans 8:14-17); Galatians 4:6,7); we cannot be in the body of Christ except by baptism in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).


2.  The Spirit is the power of our new lives.  He begins a lifelong process of change as we become more like Christ (Galatians 3:3; Philippians 1:6).  When we receive Christ by faith, we begin an immediate personal relationship with God.  The Holy Spirit works in us to help us become like Christ.


3.  The Spirit unites the Christian community in Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22).  The Holy Spirit can be experienced by all, and he works through all (1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:4).


JUST KEEP READING............

All notes in italics taken from Life Application Study Bible, New International Version.