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Important changes took place on the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church. The way of salvation was not changed, always having been by grace through faith. But the relationship of the Holy Spirit among the people of faith changed in important ways which are unique to the church age. An awareness of the historic significance of the Day of Pentecost helps us to appreciate important distinctions in God’s historic plan of redemption.
What didn’t change: the way of salvation.
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Way of Salvation (unchanged at Pentecost) |
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Element |
Before Pentecost |
After Pentecost |
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Man’s Condition |
spiritually dead, |
spiritually dead, totally depraved3 |
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Means of Regeneration |
born of the Spirit4 |
born of the Spirit5 |
|
Object of Faith |
God |
God |
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Basis of Salvation |
blood of Christ6 |
blood of Christ7 |
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Requirement of Salvation |
by grace through faith8 |
by grace through faith9 |
What changed: the ministry and relationship of the Holy Spirit with believers and the role of believers in God’s historic plan of redemption.
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Divine Program: Role in Redemptive History (changed at Pentecost) |
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Element |
Before Pentecost |
After Pentecost |
|
Content of Faith |
progressive revelation of a coming redeemer10 |
Jesus Christ the Redeemer11 |
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Expression of Faith |
follow the Mosaic law, offer animal sacrifices12 |
follow the law of Christ, practice the sacraments, walk by the Spirit13 |
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Holy Spirit Baptism |
not yet given14 |
yes, body of Christ15 |
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Relation to Spirit |
indwells, seals18 |
|
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Spiritual Gifting |
as needed, individually19 |
all believers20 |
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World Evangelism |
no21 |
yes22 |
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God’s Dwelling Place |
within Holy of Holies23 |
within believers, the church24 |
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Priesthood |
Levites25 |
all believers26 |
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Jew/Gentile Separation |
Mosaic Law27 |
one new man28 |
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2 Gen. 2:17; Jer. 17:9; John 3:3
3 John 3:3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:13
4 John 3:5,10. “Whatever salvation was wrought in Old Testament times was wrought by the Holy Spirit...” Lewis S. Chafer, Systematic Theology (Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary, 1976), 6:74.
5 1 Pet. 1:3, 23; 1 Jn. 5:1
6 Gen. 3:21; Ex. 12:13; Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53:10
7 Mat. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:9
8 Gen. 15:6; Hab. 2:4
9 Eph. 2:5-8; 2 Tim. 1:9
10 Gen. 3:15; 15:6; 22:14; 49:10
11 John 1:29, 36; 1 Cor. 5:7
12 This is but one example of works resulting from saving faith (operative after the giving of the Law at Sinai). The expression of faith differs in various dispensations.
13 Rom. 8:1, 4-6; 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 5:16; Gal. 6:2
14 Mat. 3:11; 16:18; Luke 11:13; John 7:38-39; John 14:17-20; John 16:7; Acts 1:5,8
15 Acts 2:2-4; Acts 11:15-16; Rom. 6:3; 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13, 27; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:2-6; Col. 1:18
16 Num. 24:2; Jdg. 3:10; 6:34; 1S. 10:6; 19:20; 2 Chr. 15:1; 20:14; Luke 1:67
17 1S. 16:13-14; Ps. 51:11
18 John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13
19 Ex. 31:3; Num. 11:17, 25; Jdg. 3:10
20 1 Cor. 12:7,11; 1 Pe. 4:10. Gifts given at Christ’s ascension, Eph. 4:8-12
21 Mat. 10:5-6; Mat. 15:24. Israel was to be a holy nation and demonstrate the reality of Jehovah as a nation, but never was given the Great Commission of the church.
22 Mat. 28:19-20
23 Ex. 25:8, 22; Num. 7:89; 1 Sam. 4:4; Isa. 37:16
24 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21
25 Ex. 28:1; Luke 1:5
26 1 Pe. 2:5-9; Rev. 1:6. “Old Testament priests were Levites. New Testament priests wear levis!”
27 Post Sinai.
28 Rom. 11:25-26, 32; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Gal. 3:28; 6:15; Eph. 2:15; Col. 3:11. “There are no longer any special qualifications like nationality. All such barriers have been removed..” Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1985), 1038.
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