BIG IDEA:
THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – SENT DIRECTLY BY THE EXALTED JESUS — IMPACTS THE WHOLE WORLD WITH THE SUPERNATURAL AUTHENTICATION OF JESUS AS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
INTRODUCTION:
Logical arguments lead to logical conclusions. Peter not only serves as the supreme example of the ultimate Christian preacher but also as the supreme example of a brilliant lawyer. Remember Tom Cruise in “A Few Good Men” – he showed his lawyering skill by making an argument in court that resulted in the exposure of the truth and the indictment of Jack Nicholson. His argument capitalized on emotion and the understanding of human personality and motivation … but it was still a logical argument. We have been studying the tightly constructed historical narrative by Luke regarding the events and significance of the Day of Pentecost:
Review: Four parts to our study so far:
2:1-4 The Experience of the Coming of the Holy Spirit in Power
– Startling – came suddenly – even though they were obediently waiting in Jerusalem
– Impressive and Powerful – sound like a rushing wind; tongues of fire
o Two powerful forces of nature that spread rapidly
– Personally and Profoundly Life Changing
– Impactful on Others
2:5-13 The Explanation by the Assembled Crowd of Foreign Jews
– Communication in known foreign languages regarding the mighty deeds of God
– Varying initial reactions – Amazed, Astonished, Perplexed, Mocking . . .
2:14-24 The Supernatural Explanation rendered by God’s spokesman the Apostle Peter
– Consistent with OT Prophecy – Joel 2 – “this is that” – not complete fulfillment
– Authenticating the Messianic credentials of Jesus
o His Life = Attested to by God with miracles and wonders and signs
o His Death = no surprise but part of God’s sovereign, predetermined plan
o His Resurrection = key; Death could not hold Jesus; God raised Him up
2:22-32 Three Dramatic Implications of the Resurrection
– Puts God’s Stamp of Authentication on Jesus the Nazarene as the promised Messiah
– Transformed Death into a Doorway to a Joyful and Hopeful Eternal Outcome
– The Resurrection of the Messiah was Anticipated by OT Prophecy, Accomplished by God and now Attested to by Many Witnesses
THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – SENT DIRECTLY BY THE EXALTED JESUS — IMPACTS THE WHOLE WORLD WITH THE SUPERNATURAL AUTHENTICATION OF JESUS AS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
2 LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THIS OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I. (:33-35) DRAWING CONCLUSION #1 – THE SUPERNATURAL SOURCE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE EXALTED JESUS CHRIST
“Therefore” — οὖν Passage structured around 2 occurrences of this powerful little connector
How do you explain this phenomenon of the speaking in tongues?
Wiersbe: If the Holy Spirit is in the world, then God must have sent Him. Joel promised that one day the Spirit would come, and Jesus Himself had promised to send the gift of the Holy Spirit to His people (Luke 24:49; John 14:26; 15:26; Acts 1:4). But if Jesus is dead, He cannot send the Spirit; therefore, He must be alive. Furthermore, He could not send the Spirit unless He had returned to heaven to the Father (John 16:7); so, Jesus has ascended to heaven! To back up this statement, Peter quoted Psalm 110:1, a verse that certainly could not be applied to David.
A. Revelation of the Source of the Gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
1. The Out Pouring of the Holy Spirit was Dependent on the Ascension of Jesus
a. Elevated to the Position of Ultimate Power – Where is Jesus now?
“having been exalted to the right hand of God,”
Bruce: the place of supremacy over the universe, in fulfillment of His own assurance to His judges: “From henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69 – testimony to His Deity).
Strange word to apply to a humiliating death on the cross:
George Flattery: The exaltation of Christ preceded the outpouring of the Spirit. Peter uses a Greek word (hupsotheis) which means “having been exalted” or “having been lifted up.” Using various forms of this word, Jesus spoke several times (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-34) of His being lifted up. He was referring to the manner in which He would die. As Peter uses the word, the exaltation of Christ has to do with the resurrection, the ascension, and the seating of Christ at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:32-33; 5:30-31). Jesus was exalted (lifted up) both literally and in the sense of being honored and seated in power.
1) Place of Consummated Accomplishment: (message of Hebrews)
Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens
Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2) Place of Enjoyment of the Presence of God and Access to All Spiritual Blessings:
Acts 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
Ephesians 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God
3) Place of Majesty and Dominion and Victory and Power:
Exodus 15:6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
1 Peter 3:22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Psalm 98:1 A Psalm. O Sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
Psalm 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
4) Place of Deliverance and Salvation and Protection:
Psalm 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven, With the saving strength of His right hand.
Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand upholds me; And Thy gentleness makes me great.
Psalm 44:3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land; And their own arm did not save them; But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy presence, For Thou didst favor them.
Acts 5:31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
5) Place of Security and Happiness:
Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 17:7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them.
6) Place of Favor and Privileged Access and Compassionate Intercession:
1 Kings 2:19-20 “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king arose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat on his throne; then he had a throne set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, ‘I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.’”
Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
7) Place of Knowledge and Righteousness and Power:
Psalm 21:8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
Psalm 45:4 And in Thy majesty ride on victoriously, For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; Let Thy right hand teach Thee awesome things.
Psalm 48:10 As is Thy name, O God, So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Illustration: Reading book by George Stephanopoulos – knew what a privilege it was to serve at the right hand of the most powerful man in the world – the President of the United States – Bill Clinton — “All Too Human – A Political Education”
“When it comes to White House offices, it’s not the size that counts. Location, location, location. Proximity, like celebrity, is a source and sign of power. The closer you are to the president, the more people believe he listens to you. The more people believe he listens to you, the more information flows your way. The more information flows your way, the more the president listens to you. The more the president listens to you, the more power you have.”
Think of the power of Jesus at the right hand of God.
a. Elevated to the Position of Ultimate Power – Where is Jesus now?
b. Endowed with the Promised Gift of Ultimate Power – What is He doing?
“and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,”
Bock: Jesus functions as the “middle” figure in God’s blessing, as the Father directs to and through him. This is not so much subordinationism as associative work in the capacity of a mediator who shares God’s presence and glorious position.
2. The Out Pouring of the Holy Spirit was Executed by Jesus Himself
“He has poured forth this” = Key declaration in the passage
Jesus is alive and directing the affairs of this new Christian church – what does this mean for us?
To give in abundance; to bestow generously
Another passage speaks of God the Father pouring out the Holy Spirit upon His beloved:
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
3. The Out Pouring of the Holy Spirit was Undeniable
“which you both see and hear.”
a. What they saw = tongues of fire
b. What they heard = sound like a mighty rushing wind; speaking in tongues
Peter could bear witness to the resurrection and ascension; but all present could bear witness to the power and effects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit
B. Recognition of the Deity of Jesus Christ by Virtue of His Heavenly Exaltation
1. Ascension Applied to Jesus – not David
“For it was not David who ascended into heaven,”
2. Lordship Applied to Jesus – by David
“but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,’”
3. Honor and Power Recognized by God the Father
“Sit at My right hand,”
4. Dominion and Kingdom Reign Promised by God the Father
“Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”
Matt. 22:41-45 – Jesus applies the same prophecy to Himself – establishes His Deity
Those who are not friends of the Lord are His enemies – quite a harsh sound to this Jewish audience who viewed themselves as privileged children of Abraham and close friends of God
It establishes Jesus Christ as both Christ and Lord – He is who He said He was – ends all debate
Future complete subjugation: 1 Cor. 15:20-28
II. (:36) DRAWING CONCLUSION #2 – THE SOVEREIGN SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AUTHENTICATION OF JESUS AS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
“Therefore” — οὖν
What is God trying to accomplish?
A. Flip-Flopping of Israel’s Sacrosanct Agenda
“let all the house of Israel know for certain” Assuredly, with assurance
Lenski: Any other deduction is false to both the facts and the prophecies.
There can no longer be any doubt about the facts. No room for doubt or uncertainty about who Jesus is. True beyond a shadow of a doubt.
They have imagined themselves to be protected by God; bloated in their own self righteousness; looking down with disdain at the Gentiles; holding to a fierce sense of nationalistic pride and prejudice
B. Fulfillment of God’s Kingdom Agenda – God Established Jesus as Lord and Christ
“that God has made Him both Lord and Christ”
Not making him something He had not been previously but establishing him as Lord and Christ in the eyes of everyone.
Longenecker: The verb translated “made” has sometimes been taken as implying an adoptionist Christology, as though Jesus became ontologically what he was not before. But in functional contexts, epoiesen has the sense of “appointed” (cf. 1 Sam 12:6 LXX; 1 Kings 12:31 LXX; Mark 3:14; Heb 3:2), and it is in just such a context that Peter uses it here. He is proclaiming not an adoptionist Christology but a functional one with ontological overtones – viz, that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is God’s open avowal that the messianic work has been accomplished and that Jesus now has the full right to assume the messianic title; that the exaltation of Jesus is the proclamation of his lordship, which God calls all to acknowledge. . .
“Lord” came to have particular relevance to the church’s witness to Gentiles just as “Messiah” was more relevant to the Jewish world. So in Acts Luke reports the proclamation of Jesus “the Christ” before Jewish audiences both in Palestine and among the Diaspora, whereas Paul in his letters to Gentile churches generally uses Christ as a proper name and proclaims Christ Jesus “the Lord.”
1. Significance of Jesus as Lord
You don’t want Jesus to rule your life?? Then you don’t want Jesus period! You don’t want to be a Christian; you don’t want to be His disciple. Lordship is the only relationship Jesus offers.
Stedman: “Lord” means ruler of all things, king over all men, the One who holds the key to life and death, heaven and hell, in his hands. All power in heaven and in earth is committed unto him. And there is no authority or power that exists which does not take its direction and its limitation from him. “Christ,” of course, means “Messiah.” We say the words, “Jesus Christ,” and many of us think that Jesus is his first name, and Christ his last. But that is not the case. Jesus is his name; Christ is his title. Christ means Messiah — the promised One, the Deliverer, the only hope that mankind has ever had. Suddenly all this made perfect sense to this multitude. The full force of Peter’s arguments thudded home, and they realized that they were in a very precarious position. This One whom he had proven, by indisputable evidence, to be Lord, was the One they had crucified 50 days earlier.
2. Significance of Jesus as Christ = Messiah = Anointed One = Prophet, Priest, King
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Are you going to listen to the teachings of Jesus as the authoritative Word of God and obey them”
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Are you going to worship the Father through the one Mediator He has appointed, our great high priest who offered up Himself as the Lamb of God, the only sufficient sacrifice for our sins”
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Are you going to submit to Jesus as the anointed King who will return to earth to establish His physical kingdom and rule over all nations?
Bruce: He was exalted not only as Messiah, but as Lord. The first apostolic sermon leads up to the first apostolic creed: “Jesus is Lord” (cf. Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11) – “Lord” not only as the bearer of a courtesy title, but as bearer of “the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). To a Jew, there was only one name “above every name” – the Ineffable Name of the God of Israel, represented in synagogue reading and in the LXX text by the title “Lord.” And that the apostles meant to give Jesus the title “Lord” in this highest sense of all is indicated by the way in which they do not hesitate on occasion to apply to Him passages of OT scripture referring to Jehovah. Indeed, in this very context it may well be that the promise “that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32) is viewed as being fulfilled in those members of Peter’s audience who repentantly invoke Jesus as Lord.
BBC Pulpit Ministry: Despite the pluralism of our day, despite the high level of biblical ignorance, we must proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Christ. He is the rightful King over every aspect of our lives, and Savior who brings us into right relationship with God.
C. Frustration of Israel’s Killing Agenda – Jews wanted Jesus Dead
“– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
God wanted Him to die also – but for a far different reason; and on a temporary basis
Great contrast between how men treated Jesus and how God treated Him. You have killed your promised Messiah.
What does man bring to the table to contribute to his own salvation and to establish a right relationship with God? Nothing
CONCLUSION:
Are you willing to submit to Jesus as both Lord and Christ? There can be no salvation apart from repentance of sin. Our next message will examine this required response of repentance from sin.
Do you believe that Christ is right now at the right hand of God the Father and actively exercising power and influence over what happens here on earth and in our lives today? The Head of the Church is actively shepherding His flock. He has poured out the Holy Spirit to give us power and direction in fulfilling the Great Commission He has left for us.
THE SUPERNATURAL SOURCE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE EXALTED JESUS CHRIST
THE SOVEREIGN SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AUTHENTICATION OF JESUS AS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST