John 14:18-20 The Holy Spirit Baptizes into Christs Body Jesus told His disciples, I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (v.18). This arrival occurred on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). How do we know this? First, the word comfortless in verse eighteen literally means orphans. The disciples were orphaned at Jesus ascension, not prior to His departure. Second, Jesus said, At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you (v.20). At that day of Pentecost, the disciples knew that Jesus was in them and they were in Him. In verses 22-23, Jesus explained how He would manifest Himself only to believers and not to the entire world-He would come unto believers and abide with them. Christs reference to God being in the believer and the believer in God is the mystery of the church explained to the disciples for the first time! The apostle Paul later addressed the reality of Jesus being in us in Colossians 1:25-27. The church began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended and indwelt all who believed in the person and work of Christ/ Notice the following chronology; First, Jesus foretold the future inception of the church (Matt.16:18). Second, prior to Pentecost, the disciples anticipated the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 1:5). Third, the Spirit arrived on Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Fourth, Peter affirmed that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred at Pentecost (Acts 11:15-16). Fifth, the Bible equates the church with the body of Christ and the baptism of the Spirit (Col.1:18; Eph.1:22-23; Gal.3:26-28). Finally, the Bible says believers are added to Christs body by the baptism of the Spirit (1 Cor.12:13). The Spirit had to arrive before the church could exist! MDC
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 03:39:38 +0000
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