Category: Spirit

Last Days, Pentecost, Spirit

IN THE LAST DAYS

David R Maas

The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost signaled the arrival of the “last days,” just as prophesied by Joel – Acts 2:17-21.

Peter applied the prophecy from Joel to the outpouring of the Spirit that began on the Day of Pentecost. The receipt of the Holy Spirit by the fledgling church marked the onset of the age of fulfillment and the birth of the church. As he declared, the arrival of the Spirit was in accordance with Joel’s prophecy about what God would do in the “last days.”

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Lampstands, Spirit

SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

David R Maas

Greetings are sent to the seven churches of Asia from God, Jesus, and the seven spirits of God that are before the throne.

The opening salutation to the “seven churches” is from God, Jesus Christ, and the “seven spirits of God.” The latter phrase is unique to the Book of Revelation, and the idea of God having “seven spirits” creates difficulties since elsewhere Scripture stresses His oneness. Moreover, in Revelation, the “Spirit” always speaks in the singular.

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Spirit, Torah

HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT

David R Maas

SYNOPSIS – The receipt of the Spirit while in an uncircumcised state is irrefutable proof that Gentile Christians are accepted by God – Galatians 3:1-4. 

In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul addressed a growing danger to his congregations. Certain Jewish believers from Jerusalem were claiming that Gentiles must keep at least some of the required deeds and rituals of the Mosaic Law in order to “complete” their faith. They were “compelling Gentiles to Judaize” – To conform to Jewish customs and otherwise “live as Jews.” This included circumcision, the observance of Jewish feast days, and possibly dietary restrictions based on the Levitical purity regulations – (Galatians 2:11-14, 4:10).

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Fulfillment, Gospel, Spirit

FULFILLMENT OF THE FEAST

David R Maas

SYNOPSIS – The outpouring of the Spirit fulfilled what Pentecost symbolized and began the proclamation of the Gospel to all nations – Acts 2:1-4. 

In the book of Acts, the story of the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost stresses the theme of fulfillment – The things foreshadowed in the ancient feast began to receive their substance that very day. The bestowal of the gift of the Spirit by the risen Christ was an epochal event – It marked the start of the messianic age, the age of the Spirit, at least for the people of God. The gift of the Spirit fulfilled what the Levitical feast only symbolized.

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