The Day of Pentecost changed everything. (Acts 2)

When I say ‘everything’, I mean a new day had dawned and those who claimed to be followers of Christ and were filled with His Spirit no longer had an excuse to explain why they continue to sin.

Gone are the days when we can point to the likes of Abraham, Moses, and David as we ‘comfort’ one another in our sins as we point out their glaring sins and failures...while we remind ourselves how God ‘still used them’ in great ways.

Trying to make a case to justify your shortcomings by pointing out how Peter denied Jesus three times, after being with Him for three years, despite being called a ‘rock’ by Jesus... no longer holds water. (His denial took place prior to the day of Pentecost, and the death and resurrection of Christ for that matter)

We have wasted more time and energy celebrating our flawed humanity instead of looking to the One who came to make us a ‘new creation where old things have passed away and all things become new’. (2 Cor. 5:17)

“Truly, these days of ignorance...God overlooked, but now...commands all men everywhere to repent...” (Acts 17:30)

The so called ‘church’, has done more to coddle ‘saints who continue to sin’, and in turn, have enabled them by failing to declare the whole counsel of God’s truth, that they might be set free...and be free indeed. (John 8:32,36).

Paul continues on there in Acts 17 reminding us that God “has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. (31). And this ‘judgement will begin first...with the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey ...the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17)

So what changed on the Day of Pentecost, starting with a group of some 120 disciples who were told to ‘tarry in Jerusalem’? (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:15). They experienced what Jesus told them would be a ‘game changer’ in John 14:15-18. Please turn and read there that portion of text now. Jesus was encouraging His disciples that He was not going to leave them as ‘orphans’, but that He was ‘coming to them’. But He first reminded them that ‘IF...they loved Him, they would keep His commandments.” (15).

Then came the promise of a ‘Helper’ whom He referred to as the ‘Spirit of truth’ (whom those in the world could not see, know, or receive). (16-17). Now pay attention to this next statement: “You know Him...for He dwells with you ...and will be IN you.”

Jesus is talking about Himself and is telling them...”I’ve been with you but I shall be IN you”. How on earth could we possibly become ‘more than conquerors ‘, able to ‘do all things’ ... without Him abiding in us? So when He told them in both Luke 24 and Acts 1:8 that “after the Holy Spirit is come upon you, you shall receive power...” He was not referring to some ‘feel-good-experience’ where we got goosebumps and chills as we ‘spoke in tongues ‘ while jumping a pew or two in the process. This ‘power’ He spoke of comes from a Greek word (dunamis) that clearly implies a ‘miraculous’ working power that enables us to ‘do the will of God’ (which is no small factor- Matt. 7:21) and that begins with breaking free from the power of ALL sin.

Do you recall how Paul expressed deep concerns that we might be deceived in the same manner in which Eve was by the serpent and could actually receive ‘another gospel and a different spirit’ that leads us to following ‘another Jesus’? (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Let’s talk about that ‘other spirit’ for a moment.

How would a person know for certain...that they had the ‘real deal’ and not the ‘counterfeit’? You might start with 1 Cor. 13 where Paul holds back no punches stating that while you may ‘speak with the tongues of men and angels...but have not love, then you are no more than noisemaker who is banging a bunch of clanging cymbals together (or pots and pans). He goes on there in vs. 1-3 listing other examples that ‘spirit filled believers’ like to boast about. But then he drives home the point once more...all that is pointless and unprofitable if the genuine love of Christ is not being manifested in you. And let’s not forget that Jesus distinguishes the difference between two kinds of fruit trees (good vs bad) and says it cannot... produce both kinds of ‘fruit’. (Matt. 7:17-20)

I’ve said it before and will say it again: We spend more time and energy making excuses for and/or justifying our sins instead of overcoming them; as in all of them.

How did the Day of Pentecost change everything? Paul writes in Romans 8: “IF...IF...IF the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (11). Now go look back at vs 9- “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit...IF...IF...IF indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

Why is that? Because those who belong to Christ...have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal. 5:24). And that is exactly what the power of His Spirit will be leading us to do IF...we are being led by Him. (Rom. 8:13). And yes, there will be some ‘suffering’ involved as we ‘put him to death’...but look what Peter lays down as another ‘marker’ to those who have this same mindset- we will have ‘ceased from sin so that we might live for the will of God’. (1 Pet. 4:1-2) And that includes to ‘go and sin no more’.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, and fair warning...this may ‘sting’ a bit, but it needs to be said: If you claim to be filled with His Spirit, yet continue to walk in the flesh, you are walking in what Paul refers to as a ‘form of godliness...but denying its power’. (2 Tim. 3:5).

We need to understand that “IF...anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and behold all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

I dare to say that if anyone of us traded in our old car that leaked oil, was pushing 250k miles and backfires constantly when it was being driven...that if you traded it for a brand new vehicle...and as you drove it off the lot, that new expensive car started backfiring and leaking oil, you would turn it around on the spot, return to the dealership... and demand some answers.

It’s time we start doing that in our ‘churches’ that are telling us one thing, when the Bible clearly says something entirely different.

John says whoever is born of God no longer practices sin. (1 John 5:18; 1 John 3: 6,9).  Peter says we were supposed to have 'died to sin'. (1 Peter 2:24) Which then leads us right back to what Paul asked: "How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:2)