A Closing Note

-On the Day of Pentecost, just days after the ascension of Jesus, He fulfilled His promise of

 sending the Comforter upon the apostles (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

            -“And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly

             there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where

             they were sitting.  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and

             they rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to

             speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4, NASB).

-With Jews “out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) present in Jerusalem for Pentecost, there

 was much confusion initially.  “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said

 unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and

 hearken to my words” (Acts 2:14). 

            -Peter first explained that the things being witnessed on that day were in fulfillment of the

             prophecy given aforetime by Joel (2:28-32).  He then focused upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ –

             “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth…”

            -Peter presented the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and concluded:

             “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,

             whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). 

-Those who heard and believed were “pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37, NASB) and asked “Men

 and brethren, what shall we do?”

            -Upon responding to Peter’s command to “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name

             of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38), “…the same day there were added unto

             them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). 

            -The Lord’s spiritual kingdom – the church – had been established.  “And the Lord added to the

             church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). 

-We, too, have the message of the Gospel of Christ.  And, upon our decision to humbly submit to it

 in obedience in accordance with God’s inspired word, we are added to the Lord’s church.

-What an opportunity and privilege to be a part of the church for which Jesus died – the church over

 which He is the head (Eph. 1:22-23)!

            -When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he indicated that “…the manifold wisdom of God might now

             be made known through the church…in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried

             out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11).

-In all of eternity’s past, God’s purpose was to carry out His plan of salvation which led to Jesus

 serving as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind and the establishment of His spiritual kingdom, the

 church.

-Let us never take that fact lightly!  Let us serve the Lord faithfully with zealous fervor!  May we

 never grow complacent or apathetic toward the church – the eternal purpose of God!

            -“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved , let us have grace, whereby we