‘He is risen!’- Part 2

The Holy Spirit was given to regenerate them, to make them new creatures in Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:17). This “receiving” of life from the Spirit preceded both their receiving the authority of Jesus (Jn 20:23) and their baptism in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).

(4) Prior to this time, the disciples were technically true believers and followers of Jesus and were saved according to the old covenant provisions. Yet they were not regenerated in the full new covenant sense. Not until this point did the disciples enter into the new covenant provisions, based on Jesus’ death and resurrection (see Mat 26:28; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; Eph 2:15-16; Heb 9:15-17). It was also technically at this time and not at Pentecost that the church was born. The spiritual birth of the first disciples and the birth of the church are one and the same.

(5) This passage is crucial in understanding the Holy Spirit’s ministry to God’s people. These two statements are true: (a) the disciples received the Holy Spirit (i.e., were indwelt and regenerated by the Holy Spirit) before the day of Pentecost, and (b) the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2:4 was an experience occurring after their regeneration by the Spirit. Their baptism in the Spirit at Pentecost was, therefore, a second and distinct work of the Spirit in them.

(6) These two separate and distinct works of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus’ disciples are normative for all Christians. That is, all believers receive the Holy Spirit at the time of their regeneration, and either at that point (Acts 10:44-47) or at a subsequent time must experience the baptism in the Spirit for empowering them to be His witnesses (Acts 1:5,8; 2:4; see 2:39).

(7) There is no Scriptural foundation to suggest that Jesus’ bestowal of the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 was simply symbolical prophecy of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The use of the aorist imperative for “receive” (see above) denotes reception at that moment and in that place. What occurred was a historical reality in space and time, and John records it as such.

Note carefully, technically, the church was born, when Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit on His disciples (Jn 20:22). The spiritual birth of the first disciples and the birth of the church are one and the same.

The Significance Of The Resurrection To The Church
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central fact of Christian history. On it, the church is built; without it, there would be no Christian church today. Jesus’ resurrection is unique. Other religions have strong ethical systems, concepts about paradise and afterlife, and various Holy Scriptures. Only Christianity has a God, Who became human, literally died for His people, and was raised again in power and glory to rule His church forever.

Why is the Resurrection so important? (1) Because Christ was raised from the dead, we know that the kingdom of heaven has broken into earth’s history. Our world is now headed for redemption, not disaster (Mat 4:17; Rev 11:15, 15:3; 19:16). God’s mighty power is at work destroying sin, creating new lives, and preparing us for Jesus’ second coming. (2) Because of the Resurrection, we know that death has been conquered, (1 Cor 15:54,55) and we too will be raised from the dead to live forever with Christ (1 Cor 15:12-19). Death is not the end—there is future life. (3) The Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world.

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